• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Winter-Spring 2014 Anime |OT3| People incapable of guilt usually do have a good time

Status
Not open for further replies.

SDBurton

World's #1 Cosmonaut Enthusiast
Soul Eater Not
Damnit SDBurton.

hh2nVsq.png
9uvexqG.png

Nibu = You, Deko = Me

Soul Eater Not! - 01


Yeeeeeeeeah this is my show of the season. Delivered everything I wanted and more. And seriously a
white halberd for her weapon form? Can't get any purer than that!
 

Chariot

Member
Juxtapose the core portrait the story paints of the roll society plays in terrible things happening to people in open view during terrible times to that of Psycho Pass crosswalk beat down in a supposedly ideal society where people still do nothing not because they can't afford to.

I wonder if the reality of the past has any input into pure works of fiction like that?

Don't ask :( I was thinking about how angry the main character from Pyscho Pass made me even though I was supposed to be angry at the serial killer. Even with this realization, I'm still not able to empathize with hatred of the little sister :(
Urobuchi made one perticular scene actually because a friend if his was murded on the street without anybody giving a shit.
Well, and then there are Kitty Genoveese and the Bystander Effect. Sadly, this isn't a thing limited to the past.
 

Shergal

Member
The heaviest part of Grave of the Fireflies is reading that one interview

Nosaka said that in the story, Seita "got increasingly transformed into a better human being" since he was trying to "compensate for everything I couldn't do myself" and that he was never "kind like the main character." Nosaka explained that "I always thought I wanted to perform those generous acts in my head, but I couldn't do so." He believed that he would always give food to his sister, but when he obtained food, he ate. The food tasted very good when it was scarce, but he felt remorse afterwards. Nosaka concluded "I'd think there is no one more hopeless in the world than me. I didn't put anything about this in the novel."

I also think it's interesting how the express purpose of both Nosaka and Takahata was avoiding a film where "the main character is placed into cruel situations for no other reason than to provide a cathartic focus for the audience's sympathy" (sic), yet that is exactly how the film was perceived upon release, and even the critics who are most adamant with their praise seem to think of it as an anti-war tearjerker.
I guess Takahata just failed. I do think it's one of his weakest works, although that doesn't mean much when speaking of this director.
 

cajunator

Banned
No, I was angry at Seita for being such a little shit. I didn't care for the girl at all.

Pretty much this:

i feel the same. Though I cared about the little girl's plight. But I was simply mad at seita and his stubborn pride.

If that's what I have to settle, no thanks. The relationship in Spice And Wolf was great, the banter and evolution of their feelings for each other was absolutely brilliant.

In Maoyuu, we have unnecessarily large tits, paired with boob physics, and a squeeing fem mc trying too hard to be moe whenever she's near the protagonist.

Good thing the author wrote Log Horizon (at least if I recall correctly), because this show had good economics but I didn't like a single recurring character.

I want Spice And Wolf 3. I'll sell my soul for it.

yeah I didnt like the over reliance on plot either.

haly: Where your argument falls short is the lack of Korbo.

Correct. This is the #1 problem with MMY.

Burning through The World God Only Knows season 2, forgot how watchable this series is. And elsie is just too cute :B

this series is so easy to marathon. I love shows that flow. Doesnt hurt that Im squeeing 90% of the time its on.

Oh, I'm doing it wrong.

Me too :(
 
Is it really that hard for anime to do exposition well?

I always cringe when in a first episode they need to do stuff like

"Hey protagonist how are you doing?"

"Well not too terribly well. You know ever since I lost that important thing that defines my whole character, my family has been getting on my nerves"

"But protagonist you are the best person at X and Y, and you were the #1 person in Z, why would you say that? As your childhood friend who has known you for so long, like since we were kids, I know you can do better ever since you saved me from that hurricane that took the life of my pet rock"
 

Blusby

Member
Black Bullet Ep 1: LN Dialogue/10 (Yikes)
Soul Eater Not! Ep 1: Well I certainly know now what I will Not! be following this season.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
Look, if these guys were any good at writing they wouldn't be working on anime.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
You don't have to follow the source material to the letter. It's the hallmark of a good adaptation that compensate for the flaws of the original work!
 

duckroll

Member
Hozuki vs Hakutaku Round XV - Episode 12


Wow, what a threat. This episode has a Lilith/Beelz/Satan story and a Hakutaku origin story! Lots of great scenes here, but I think the best moment was when Hakutaku drew that awful Chinese vampire. This is definitely one of the more creative anime comedies out there. So good.


Hozuki Festival - Episode 13 (End)


I wasn't expecting the series to end on any specific note, but it's pretty cool that the final episode had a sort of climatic tone. Both stories felt like a sort of conclusion to the themes in the series while also representing the cycle continuing on, which is pretty nice. The main take away from this series is that you should never accept anything Hozuki offers as food or drink, or even a favor. He's the biggest troll in hell. Lol.
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
Branduil, we need a .webm of THAT scene from Tokikake.
 

Link Man

Banned
Hanamaru Kindergarten 1

iCwYTG85Qz8AU.jpg


Dawwww! This is a nice show to unwind to after a hard day's work.

Actually surprised how much they're focusing on the adults. Kinda wary that the teaching staff is going to turn into a harem for Tsuchida.

Wait, this is Gainax?
 

dimb

Bjergsen is the greatest midlane in the world
They still have people working there? Seemed as if half of them went to Khara and the other half to Trigger.
hanamaru kindergarten is over four years old. gainax put out mahou shoujo taisen today, but it seemed unfair to say it was awful because i'm not close enough to the subject matter.
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
The heaviest part of Grave of the Fireflies is reading that one interview

I also think it's interesting how the express purpose of both Nosaka and Takahata was avoiding a film where "the main character is placed into cruel situations for no other reason than to provide a cathartic focus for the audience's sympathy" (sic), yet that is exactly how the film was perceived upon release, and even the critics who are most adamant with their praise seem to think of it as an anti-war tearjerker.
I guess Takahata just failed. I do think it's one of his weakest works, although that doesn't mean much when speaking of this director.
It's interesting, because I think he's sympathetic because he stands in for what we might end up doing ourselves in that precise situation. I think it's brutal honesty is what makes it sympathetic, even if that's not what was intended. The only way to turn the audience against him would probably to have had eat in front of his sister and then laugh at her as she cried or something.

I mean, it's like that movie Alive, where you would think eating another human being would be disgusting. Yet placed in that situation yourself, you could imagine a case where if you were starving and your only source of food was a dead body, you'd do it because there is no other alternative.

Is it really that hard for anime to do exposition well?

I always cringe when in a first episode they need to do stuff like

"Hey protagonist how are you doing?"

"Well not too terribly well. You know ever since I lost that important thing that defines my whole character, my family has been getting on my nerves"

"But protagonist you are the best person at X and Y, and you were the #1 person in Z, why would you say that? As your childhood friend who has known you for so long, like since we were kids, I know you can do better ever since you saved me from that hurricane that took the life of my pet rock"
It's not just anime. It's all SyFy where the author doesn't believe enough in their world building so they need to shove exposition into their character's mouths.

It can work, but it's rare. Like, Aria has episodes devoted to explaining how humans terraformed Mars, but it's put into the context of the wonder and amazement, the power of human ingenuity and hard work, so it has a thematic resonance that it pays off.
 
It's not just anime. It's all SyFy where the author doesn't believe enough in their world building so they need to shove exposition into their character's mouths.

It can work, but it's rare. Like, Aria has episodes devoted to explaining how humans terraformed Mars, but it's put into the context of the wonder and amazement, the power of human ingenuity and hard work, so it has a thematic resonance that it pays off.

I think it works when the character is a kid. Like in Dune. Though I think I heard some people say there's too much info in that novel. I didn't notice.

I loved it though. The novel. Not the movie.

[IG]http://i.minus.com/iecPumZPqnkuA.jpg[/IMG]

Watching that tomorrow, decided.
 
Madoka 7
Madoka-7.png

I'll take an apple.... and eat it!
Thoughts during episode:

- Dude....... F this cat thing. Seriously.
- Sayaka.... If anyone has deserved to be depressed ever it's you. Your situation is messed up.
- What will you do Madoka now that you know this?
- Sakura why are you always eating? Don't know why I just noticed now. Oh well. Nothing wrong with that.
- Ha! Just as I mentioned that. She takes food very seriously.
- Now I know why she got mad about the food getting thrown.
- Wow.... I would say that's pretty tragic but it was told in such a matter-of-fact way that it's just a dark story.
- Ah ha! There's my Sayaka-chan.
- Oh come on Sayaka! You got this. Just go talk to the dude.
- Say what Hitomi? Don't take this lying down Sayaka!
- Actually that's really nice of her. What a good friend.
- Awwwww Sayaka. Don't say that. :(
- No Sayaka. Why are you being like this?
- This is just sad to watch unfold. Not tear inducing sad. Just "oh this is really unfortunate" sadness.
 

Jintor

Member
Is it really that hard for anime to do exposition well?

I always cringe when in a first episode they need to do stuff like

"Hey protagonist how are you doing?"

"Well not too terribly well. You know ever since I lost that important thing that defines my whole character, my family has been getting on my nerves"

"But protagonist you are the best person at X and Y, and you were the #1 person in Z, why would you say that? As your childhood friend who has known you for so long, like since we were kids, I know you can do better ever since you saved me from that hurricane that took the life of my pet rock"

I've been reading the first few chapters of a LOT of generic fantasy/pulp novels this week (research). I can assure you it's not just anime's problem. You won't believe the amount of books that start with the narrator basically spelling out their own backstory or whatever instead of bringing it in naturally.
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
I think it works when the character is a kid. Like in Dune. Though I think I heard some people say there's too much info in that novel. I didn't notice.

I loved it though. The novel. Not the movie.

Watching that tomorrow, decided.
But the movie has Captain Picard! The miniseries was cool.

I think novels have it the hardest, in terms of dealing with how to handle exposition. I'm going to have to take Jintor's word for it though, since I haven't read a syfy/phantasy novel in ages.
 
Currently I've been reading a fantasy series. Doing it slowly since it's the bottom of my hobbies priorities, but they actually didn't do as much exposition as they needed to at first. So you're left wanting to know more and more. And in the other novels they try to explain it more bit by bit. It's fucking great, but admittedly a bit stressful at first. If anybody is curious, read the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Personally like it more than Song of Ice and Fire.
 

cajunator

Banned
Is it really that hard for anime to do exposition well?

I always cringe when in a first episode they need to do stuff like

"Hey protagonist how are you doing?"

"Well not too terribly well. You know ever since I lost that important thing that defines my whole character, my family has been getting on my nerves"

"But protagonist you are the best person at X and Y, and you were the #1 person in Z, why would you say that? As your childhood friend who has known you for so long, like since we were kids, I know you can do better ever since you saved me from that hurricane that took the life of my pet rock"

Kinos journey did it right.

Hanamaru Kindergarten 1

iCwYTG85Qz8AU.jpg


Dawwww! This is a nice show to unwind to after a hard day's work.

Actually surprised how much they're focusing on the adults. Kinda wary that the teaching staff is going to turn into a harem for Tsuchida.

Wait, this is Gainax?

Yes this is what happens when Gainax attempts to be adorable. They succeed.

Madoka 7

Thoughts during episode:

- Dude....... F this cat thing. Seriously.
- Sayaka.... If anyone has deserved to be depressed ever it's you. Your situation is messed up.
- What will you do Madoka now that you know this?
- Sakura why are you always eating? Don't know why I just noticed now. Oh well. Nothing wrong with that.
- Ha! Just as I mentioned that. She takes food very seriously.
- Now I know why she got mad about the food getting thrown.
- Wow.... I would say that's pretty tragic but it was told in such a matter-of-fact way that it's just a dark story.
- Ah ha! There's my Sayaka-chan.
- Oh come on Sayaka! You got this. Just go talk to the dude.
- Say what Hitomi? Don't take this lying down Sayaka!
- Actually that's really nice of her. What a good friend.
- Awwwww Sayaka. Don't say that. :(
- No Sayaka. Why are you being like this?
- This is just sad to watch unfold. Not tear inducing sad. Just "oh this is really unfortunate" sadness.

Despair.
 
The heaviest part of Grave of the Fireflies is reading that one interview



I also think it's interesting how the express purpose of both Nosaka and Takahata was avoiding a film where "the main character is placed into cruel situations for no other reason than to provide a cathartic focus for the audience's sympathy" (sic), yet that is exactly how the film was perceived upon release, and even the critics who are most adamant with their praise seem to think of it as an anti-war tearjerker.
I guess Takahata just failed. I do think it's one of his weakest works, although that doesn't mean much when speaking of this director.

Its easy to say right now that I would give the food to my sister but at that time who knows. I would hope that I would give the food to my sister. The guilt I would feel for being responsible for her death is just too much to even imagine. The poor guy has been living with that guilt for his entire life and even made a film about it. I respect that a lot.


Oh god no.
please don't have any pantyshots.
 

firehawk12

Subete no aware
Its easy to say right now that I would give the food to my sister but at that time who knows. I would hope that I would give the food to my sister. The guilt I would feel for being responsible for her death is just too much to even imagine. The poor guy has been living with that guilt for his entire life and even made a film about it. I respect that a lot.
I think this is, in part, why anti-heroes have suddenly surged in popularity. Although of course, the more fantastical elements of a character like Walter White expose the horrific wishfulfilment fantasies that some people seem to have as well.
 

cajunator

Banned
Madoka 8
Thoughts during episode:

- Alright Sayaka... calm down. Everything will be okay.
- Sayaka why are you being so dumb?
- This OP, I realize now, is quite deceiving. It makes it look like this happy go lucky show. Such a lie.
- Listen to Madoka. Otherwise she'll start crying again.
- The crazy eyes. She's got the crazy eyes. She's spiraling. She's not cleaning her soul gem. She's going
to turn into a witch huh? I assume there's more then one way for witches to be born beside having familiars growing into one. Seems fitting given how the story loves to go dark
.
- That damn cat thing. Seems like whatever is descending is pretty big. What about Sayaka? Spill it cat!
- Oh god. I am right huh? Not my Sayaka! F U cat thing. Go die in a fire.
- It's crazy eyes again. There's no coming back from the crazy eyes.
- Oh snap!
- Sayaka stop being dumb. You were my favorite. Do not resort me to Sakura.
- Oh F**K!!! I am right huh?
- Madoka why do you still talk to that thing? Drown it or something.
- "Turn me into a Mag--" WTF!!!!! HOLY S**T!!! Did that really just happen?
- Wait Homura is crying... for Madoka? Why? This better not go all time travel on me.
- What a cop out.
It was all an act
. Dude come on.
- Ahahahaha. "
Time magic
", I knew it was gonna be something like that.
- Uh oh! This looks like it might....
- ....I F**KING CALLED IT! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I didn't want to be right this time.
 

cajunator

Banned
Madoka 8

Thoughts during episode:

- Alright Sayaka... calm down. Everything will be okay.
- Sayaka why are you being so dumb?
- This OP, I realize now, is quite deceiving. It makes it look like this happy go lucky show. Such a lie.
- Listen to Madoka. Otherwise she'll start crying again.
- The crazy eyes. She's got the crazy eyes. She's spiraling. She's not cleaning her soul gem. She's going
to turn into a witch huh? I assume there's more then one way for witches to be born beside having familiars growing into one. Seems fitting given how the story loves to go dark
.
- That damn cat thing. Seems like whatever is descending is pretty big. What about Sayaka? Spill it cat!
- Oh god. I am right huh? Not my Sayaka! F U cat thing. Go die in a fire.
- It's crazy eyes again. There's no coming back from the crazy eyes.
- Oh snap!
- Sayaka stop being dumb. You were my favorite. Do not resort me to Sakura.
- Oh F**K!!! I am right huh?
- Madoka why do you still talk to that thing? Drown it or something.
- "Turn me into a Mag--" WTF!!!!! HOLY S**T!!! Did that really just happen?
- Wait Homura is crying... for Madoka? Why? This better not go all time travel on me.
- What a cop out.
It was all an act
. Dude come on.
- Ahahahaha. "
Time magic
", I knew it was gonna be something like that.
- Uh oh! This looks like it might....
- ....I F**KING CALLED IT! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I didn't want to be right this time.

;_;
 

dimb

Bjergsen is the greatest midlane in the world
black bullet 01
the execution here is more competent than the source material deserves. the show has its moments visually, and the music seems really good, although it's not played up as much as it should be.
 

Link Man

Banned
Madoka 8

Thoughts during episode:

- Alright Sayaka... calm down. Everything will be okay.
- Sayaka why are you being so dumb?
- This OP, I realize now, is quite deceiving. It makes it look like this happy go lucky show. Such a lie.
- Listen to Madoka. Otherwise she'll start crying again.
- The crazy eyes. She's got the crazy eyes. She's spiraling. She's not cleaning her soul gem. She's going
to turn into a witch huh? I assume there's more then one way for witches to be born beside having familiars growing into one. Seems fitting given how the story loves to go dark
.
- That damn cat thing. Seems like whatever is descending is pretty big. What about Sayaka? Spill it cat!
- Oh god. I am right huh? Not my Sayaka! F U cat thing. Go die in a fire.
- It's crazy eyes again. There's no coming back from the crazy eyes.
- Oh snap!
- Sayaka stop being dumb. You were my favorite. Do not resort me to Sakura.
- Oh F**K!!! I am right huh?
- Madoka why do you still talk to that thing? Drown it or something.
- "Turn me into a Mag--" WTF!!!!! HOLY S**T!!! Did that really just happen?
- Wait Homura is crying... for Madoka? Why? This better not go all time travel on me.
- What a cop out.
It was all an act
. Dude come on.
- Ahahahaha. "
Time magic
", I knew it was gonna be something like that.
- Uh oh! This looks like it might....
- ....I F**KING CALLED IT! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I didn't want to be right this time.

;_;
 

Eusis

Member
I should probably just take a break from this thread and marathon that series at least. It seems to be on every streaming service now, I almost expect that you could get the WWE one and find Madoka on there too.
 

cajunator

Banned
I should probably just take a break from this thread and marathon that series at least. It seems to be on every streaming service now, I almost expect that you could get the WWE one and find Madoka on there too.

Madoka is worth a marathon session but it has enough depth to reward rewatches with all the symbolism visible throughout. There are sites dedicated to all of it.
 
I still say anime depicts strong female characters a lot better than many other mediums.

Sorry, but the extremely negative sexist stereotype accurately depicted in that comic correctly describes virtually every single "strong" female anime character in anime.

http://i.imgur.com/gxY1O5i.png

The only exceptions, really, are girls in series which have no significant male characters. And that is a separate stereotype of its own.
 
Sorry, but the extremely negative sexist stereotype accurately depicted in that comic correctly describes virtually every single "strong" female anime character in anime.

http://i.imgur.com/gxY1O5i.png

The only exceptions, really, are girls in series which have no significant male characters. And that is a separate stereotype of its own.

That's why I love Xam'd. Nakiami is the best female character in any anime I've seen and is a real exception with no cop outs whatsoever.
 

Bikkun

Neo Member
Marvel's Avengers Disk War 01

This is a super cute first episode and I'm personally interested in seeing more. The fact that Marvel heroes actually do exist in this world is great and opens up plenty of possible stories. Especially with the X-Men being touched upon in the first episode.

Hey, SeraphisCain, wouldn't it be amazing if Moon Knight appeared? >_>
 

Eusis

Member
Madoka is worth a marathon session but it has enough depth to reward rewatches with all the symbolism visible throughout. There are sites dedicated to all of it.
I mainly just want to avoid spoilers for a well regarded series before I see it, though yeah I'd obviously rewatch if I like it enough... though WHEN I would is a different question.
Sorry, but the extremely negative sexist stereotype accurately depicted in that comic correctly describes virtually every single "strong" female anime character in anime.

http://i.imgur.com/gxY1O5i.png

The only exceptions, really, are girls in series which have no significant male characters. And that is a separate stereotype of its own.
Well, some series like Full Metal Alchemist are pretty good while having prominent male characters and being shonen, but usually you would have a better job done when a woman creates it.
 

Chariot

Member
Well, some series like Full Metal Alchemist are pretty good while having prominent male characters and being shonen, but usually you would have a better job done when a woman creates it.
I dunno about that. Most female shoujo protagonists make me cringe, even if written by women.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom