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Winter of Anime 2013 |OT -6| How much lower can we go?!

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Syrinx

Member
Yuri Bear Storm? So it's gonna be like...bear girls in love?

I don't know how to feel about this.

According to BluWacky it's bears who turn into girls.

I suppose the question would be whether they were lesbians while they were bears or if they become lesbians after becoming human girls.
 

BluWacky

Member
[From the New World] - Overall
He made very little to attempt to play to the traditional otaku fanbase and this shows in the dismal sales that the series achieved.

Do you think there would have been a way for another director to do this, given the story is a (mostly) faithful adaptation of the novel? I suppose if, like the manga, the story had made the sexual elements more graphic, it might have been more appealing, but I'm not sure what else could have been done to the storyline to make it of a more general appeal. Perhaps it would have had to have been entirely artistic things - more "typical" character designs, or something.

As some have already said, just take a look at Pyscho Pass to see how a work can flounder terribly by succumbing to such problems.

Psycho Pass's problems, IMO, are really down to the writing, far more so than the direction. Shiotani clearly isn't the world's greatest director, but Psycho Pass basically ended up with nothing interesting to say about its characters or setting.

For me, Psycho Pass started in completely the wrong way, not just with the relentless exposition being spouted at Akane but also because it's immediately very obvious to the audience what is wrong with the Sibyl System. From The New World is similarly dystopian in outlook, but the show continues to withhold all its cards from us until even the very last episode. It's no fun to watch shows about dystopias when you know where it's all gone wrong immediately, IMO.
 

madp

The Light of El Cantare
Just the concept of Yuri Kuma Arashi makes me feel like it's a reverse Tonde Buurin......or something.
 

Shergal

Member
Do you think there would have been a way for another director to do this, given the story is a (mostly) faithful adaptation of the novel? I suppose if, like the manga, the story had made the sexual elements more graphic, it might have been more appealing, but I'm not sure what else could have been done to the storyline to make it of a more general appeal. Perhaps it would have had to have been entirely artistic things - more "typical" character designs, or something.

All about aesthetics. Like you say, if the designs were more mainstream (not that they're particularly alienating), the sexual appeal was more prominent, and maybe the direction was more in line with the style of most otaku-friendly shows, it would have done better.
I don't think this type of story is something that would sell well either way, so I agree that it's down to the source material. But I can't think the producers were expecting SSY to be a hit.
 

Joe Molotov

Member
According to BluWacky it's bears who turn into girls.

I suppose the question would be whether they were lesbians while they were bears or if they become lesbians after becoming human girls.

Lesbian bears are a part of the bear community I'm not familiar with, but I trust Japan to find it.
 

Jex

Member
Do you think there would have been a way for another director to do this, given the story is a (mostly) faithful adaptation of the novel? I suppose if, like the manga, the story had made the sexual elements more graphic, it might have been more appealing, but I'm not sure what else could have been done to the storyline to make it of a more general appeal. Perhaps it would have had to have been entirely artistic things - more "typical" character designs, or something.
It would probably require different designs, some serious pandering and a much more light hearted approach (which can then turn dark in some kind of clichéd Urobochi way). I doubt that would have saved the show but it might have made it less of a total bomb.

In other words, be less faithful and less serious.
Psycho Pass's problems, IMO, are really down to the writing, far more so than the direction. Shiotani clearly isn't the world's greatest director, but Psycho Pass basically ended up with nothing interesting to say about its characters or setting.

Perhaps I may have not been quite as eloquent as I had hoped, but by talking about the pure story I meant that I was talking specifically about the writing. I've spoken at length about the direction in earlier posts. In other words, I agree with you, or rather you agree with me. I think.
 

Syrinx

Member
Lesbian bears are a part of the bear community I'm not familiar with, but I trust Japan to find it.

I remember there was a Ricky Gervais act I was watching where he pulled out a book done by a researcher on the topic of gay sex in the animal kingdom. I don't remember him pointing out bears, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were there in the book.
 

Ultimadrago

Member
Vividred Operation 10-11

lole6c83.png
lololxrcya.png

:lol
also much Prof. QUALITY in Episode 11

businesscookiedel0k.gif
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
From the New World END

I felt the first couple of minutes were rushed but it was effective in communicating what happened. Sadly a certain didn't have a major impact but I felt that was because they didn't properly build up to it, rather it just happened. Still it was good.

The overall ending was very good and wrapped up everything in a conclusive manner. All the plot threads and unanswered questions are answered but there are openings to make your own conclusions on how things really went down. There's a lot of philosophy here and one has to wonder the moral implications that lie within the world created here. I think this story wasn't really about the characters or how the plot progressed but the themes that were introduced from the beginning and how they interact with the world. It's a really interesting way of looking at this piece.

I'd say that the anime doesn't really do a good job in trying to show everything. Poor direction I think definitely was a part of it. Still I felt the payoff was definitely there and I enjoyed the show overall in the end.
 
Cuticle Detective Inaba 12 (end)
tumblr_mk4bvcqrLO1r9dusdo1_500.gif


Darn why'd it have to end, it was so good and many great moments for the whole cast and even the chuunibyou character (best voice), Kei Nozaki (best character). Easily delivering the most fun each week these past twelve weeks and it was such a good ride. All around excellent cast and personalities on each side and even the side characters. I cant even think of anything wrong, besides the cameos of manga characters in the final episode...season 2 please?

Definitely will buy as soon as possible when Sentai releases it here, it better be on Blu ray please. 10/10.
 

Mature

Member
Trying so hard to avoid these SSY impressions until I watch it!

Gunbuster
Hey, this was cool. I can definitely see the stuff that bleeds over into NGE. I didn't think this was anything that special, though. It was a lot of fun with some neat Sci-Fi concepts and seriously bad ass mecha animation (when it wasn't being summarized in a picture montage). Just another step towards beating my Gainax backlog. I'm doing Diebuster now and probably TTGL later.
 

Instro

Member
On the subject of From the New World's ending, there's a couple things left a bit unresolved.

What happened to all the children stolen from the nursery? The audience is just left to assume that they were recovered I guess, seems like a pretty big oversight though. The fate of Maria and Mamoru is kind of left hanging although we can assume they are dead. I would have liked a little more clarity on what was happening with Saki's powers, she apparently was able to see the future and talk with a dead person. Ultimately my last two issues are pointless in the overall scheme of the show, and its probably best left to the audience, but I do think the nursery children bit seems like and issue since it was a big reason for the group to travel to Tokyo and the end game for Squealer.
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
Trying so hard to avoid these SSY impressions until I watch it!

Gunbuster
Hey, this was cool. I can definitely see the stuff that bleeds over into NGE. I didn't think this was anything that special, though. It was a lot of fun with some neat Sci-Fi concepts and seriously bad ass mecha animation (when it wasn't being summarized in a picture montage). Just another step towards beating my Gainax backlog. I'm doing Diebuster now and probably TTGL later.

Time dilation science fiction is just so old school, which is why it stands up for me. I mean, I'm not one for hard scifi, but when something goes for it and does it well, I can appreciate it.
 

Nekobo

Member
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.
 

cajunator

Banned
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

Ask him to make more accel world and put more skyRaker in it.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

Cool. I'll think of questions later.
 

Branduil

Member
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

Oh man. I need to figure out how to phrase my questions in a way that won't get you kicked out.
 

BGBW

Maturity, bitches.
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.
It's time for another episode of Good Idea Bad Idea.

Good Idea:
Coming up with questions to ask Reki Kawahara.

Bad Idea:
Asking AnimeGAF to come up with questions to ask Reki Kawahara.
 

Soma

Member
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

"How do you feel about being everything that's wrong with modern anime?"

- luv animegaf
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
It's time for another episode of Good Idea Bad Idea.

Good Idea:
Coming up with questions to ask Reki Kawahara.

Bad Idea:
Asking AnimeGAF to come up with questions to ask Reki Kawahara.

There are legitimate questions that can come from this community. I care and have a few questions I'd love to ask.
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

Haha.

I assume you won't be able to ask any penetrating questions, because he's Japanese and they don't do those kind of interviews (well, come to think of it, it's not like American nerd culture producers are all that forthcoming either unless they go insane or are begging for money on Kickstarter), but I'd actually like to know what he thinks about the ethics of selling shallow power fantasies to a group of people that are essentially out of touch with reality and are desperate to have their lives affirmed and re-affirmed.

(Not to be a dick or anything! lol)

I guess a more "realistic" question would be who would win in a fight, Kirito or the guy from Accel World?
 

Dresden

Member
Haha.

I assume you won't be able to ask any penetrating questions, because he's Japanese and they don't do those kind of interviews (well, come to think of it, it's not like American nerd culture producers are all that forthcoming either unless they go insane or are begging for money on Kickstarter), but I'd actually like to know what he thinks about the ethics of selling shallow power fantasies to a group of people that are essentially out of touch with reality and are desperate to have their lives affirmed and re-affirmed.

(Not to be a dick or anything! lol)

I guess a more "realistic" question would be who would win in a fight, Kirito or the guy from Accel World?

Just read this.

Worse still is the genre's treatment of the girls unlucky enough to share space on the page with Mary Sue. Having established that love and worth are inextricably intertwined, any girl who appears on the scene must of course desire one of Mary's love interests; for this, invariably, she must be punished. Each outline I received featured three or more such characters – ditzy, shallow, usually blonde, existing only to salivate over Mary's harem before promptly being rejected or killed off. Genuine female friendship is nonexistent – Mary might, at best, have an anodyne hanger-on to make her look good in comparison – in the world of the YA novel, other women are stupid, jealous, or evil; they exist only to affirm Mary's sovereign desirability.
 

Branduil

Member
I'll be interviewing Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara at Sakura-con next weekend. I'm currently coming up with questions to ask, so if you guys have any questions you'd want me to ask, let me know. I'll be sure to give credit for that, too.

Okay, I have one.

Throughout the series, Kirito is portrayed as a loner who doesn't want to get close to people. Despite that, cute girls are always being attracted to him, and he doesn't seem to have any real personal flaws. Do you feel like there's any contradiction between him being lonely and yet being a really powerful and nice guy who's popular with women and can even make his own sister fall in love with him?
 

Mature

Member
Time dilation science fiction is just so old school, which is why it stands up for me. I mean, I'm not one for hard scifi, but when something goes for it and does it well, I can appreciate it.
Yeah, it sure felt old school at it's core. Sort of like a love letter to that sub-genre, which I wouldn't put past old school Gainax. One thing I've noticed from watching some of these older Gainax works is the creativity behind them really reeks of a personal fandom. You can really tell it's something born of passion. And if Otaku no Video is any indication of their ethic, that's certainly true.
 
On the subject of From the New World's ending, there's a couple things left a bit unresolved.

What happened to all the children stolen from the nursery? The audience is just left to assume that they were recovered I guess, seems like a pretty big oversight though. The fate of Maria and Mamoru is kind of left hanging although we can assume they are dead. I would have liked a little more clarity on what was happening with Saki's powers, she apparently was able to see the future and talk with a dead person. Ultimately my last two issues are pointless in the overall scheme of the show, and its probably best left to the audience, but I do think the nursery children bit seems like and issue since it was a big reason for the group to travel to Tokyo and the end game for Squealer.

I thought, assuming you mean talk with shun, that Shun said he placed a piece of his being in her, in one of the previous three episodes?
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
Sounds like Lovecraftian horror to me. That's not sci-fi.
It's all SpecFi.

dilation no aware.
It's why I liked that TO OVA!

Yeah, it sure felt old school at it's core. Sort of like a love letter to that sub-genre, which I wouldn't put past old school Gainax. One thing I've noticed from watching some of these older Gainax works is the creativity behind them really reeks of a personal fandom. You can really tell it's something born of passion. And if Otaku no Video is any indication of their ethic, that's certainly true.
Yeah, it's an 80s production of a 50s-60s science fiction gimmick. lol

And you know, I figure in a couple of decades, there will be all these "god particle" science fiction animes! The books are already there!

Worse still is the genre's treatment of the girls unlucky enough to share space on the page with Mary Sue. Having established that love and worth are inextricably intertwined, any girl who appears on the scene must of course desire one of Mary's love interests; for this, invariably, she must be punished. Each outline I received featured three or more such characters – ditzy, shallow, usually blonde, existing only to salivate over Mary's harem before promptly being rejected or killed off. Genuine female friendship is nonexistent – Mary might, at best, have an anodyne hanger-on to make her look good in comparison – in the world of the YA novel, other women are stupid, jealous, or evil; they exist only to affirm Mary's sovereign desirability.
Holy fuck bro. This is basically all harem anime ever made. lol
Even SAO had this with that Klein guy.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
There already is.

It's called the Minovsky particle.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
GN particles are just modernized minovsky particles.
 

Branduil

Member
From the New World 25


Squealer didn't deserve that kind of barbaric punishment.
:(

A great ending to the series helps to salve some of the wounds from its inconsistency as a whole. This episode was quite satisfying in how it addressed all of the themes present throughout the series.
I was happy to see that Squealer was a true freedom fighter to the end. Queerats certainly aren't the ones who come off looking bad after that trial.
The revelation of
queerat origins
was something pretty much everyone had figured out already, but it worked really well in the context of the previous scenes and helped to establish just how disgusting their civilization is. And I loved bringing everything full circle with Dvorak at the end.

Overall, it's pretty obvious the series was too ambitious for Ishihama to deal with, especially with the inexperience of his staff and the production schedule/budget issues. Even so, I think the series is enjoyable and worth watching, because it tells a story that's so rare in today's anime, and does it with an unusually mature attitude. When the show is good, it's really, really good. And we may never see anyone try something like this again with how it sold.
 
One Piece 586

Rather impressive episode that definitely enhances the source material. Seeing Room and such in action, having the voices on the characters when the switcheroo takes place and just the visuals for all the slicing made it more interesting than the manga. Cant wait to see things go down in 587
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
The whole Shun thing is metaphorical, I hope, like Mufasa and Simba.
 

Syrinx

Member
K-ON!! 27

So apparently when you're a high school girl in a slice-of-life anime you can just randomly decide to go on an overseas vacation. Never mind all that "being a minor" and "having money" stuff. Well, Mio addresses needing parental consent for the passports, but it didn't show anything. Why do I find it hard to believe that all of their parents would just let them do this? And what about money? Are they just gonna borrow a shitload of money from Mugi? That's kinda taking advantage of her though, to say the least. And why aren't Ui and Nodoka and Sawako going with them? If it's a movie, you need everybody, dammit.

I wanted to make a joke asking why they are going to Britain if Yui wants to go anywhere with yummy food, but I didn't want to anger BGBW.
 

Branduil

Member
Considering
the reveals at the end it's definitely a work of science-fiction

It's not the same as what I'm talking about though, which is straightforward science-fiction which deals with a theoretical future technology and its implications for humanity. I thought from the beginning that kind of story might be a bad fit for Urobuchi and it looks like I was right.
 

CorvoSol

Member
GaoGaiGar 30

HOLY EFF. How did this show go from being a monster of the week show to a no-holds-barred totally awesome battle to the death against the embodiment of evil and horror to a heartbreaking and heartwarming finale in so short a time?

I mean DANG.

When
Mamoru and company thought Gai and the others were dead, I got all choked up. Seeing a kid cry over the apparent death of his heroes is pretty hard stuff.

DANG man. DANG.
 
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