The all things Anime related thread.

[lsg1r]

Denpa Onna - I have absolutely no idea what is going on in this series, it just seems completely random, the characters are kind of interesting though. I wonder if it will actually go anywhere, or carry on being completely random.

I completely agree that it's a random series but I actually think it has the best intro out of all the ones I'm watching

I'm still watching, ****, deadman wonderland, denpa onna, c the long title, ao no exorcist, a few from last season and x men which I'm not quite sure on. I like some of the looks of the characters in x men but I'm not quite sure on wolverine's, he's too 'beast' like. I'm also not 100% sure the 'japanese' style of wolverine works either but then it could just be I'm so used to hugh jackman playing him that it's his character now.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Haha, and this is exactly why I'm waiting til next season to start this season's shows. I can filter out shows that turn out not to go anywhere

Finally started watching TGTLTT today, not finished yet as watching it with both my younger brothers (the middle one has been into anime and manga for years, long before me, and the youngest one is just reaching the age now where he appreciates these aren't 'just cartoons' but are aimed at a different audience).

Enjoying what I've seen so far, and its got it's funny moments, not a massive fan of the slice-of-life style, which means some of it is dragging a little, but its actually quite a nice film. That said, from the 50 minutes I've seen of it so far, I think I prefer Summer Wars

Also finally onto the home stretch with Index II and into the second half of the series. I'll withhold my appraisal of that til it's finished


On a vaguely connected note, I'm also playing Yakuza 3, it's extremely Japanese, but really enjoyable

 

[memyselfandi]

A few license announcements from th US yesterday ....

Funi have Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? And the FMA:B movie from probable 2012 release.

Sendai have Amagami SS and MM! For release starting in September

Amagami is a definite for me ... The others are possibles (although I haven't seen FMA:B at all yet to decide on it's movie ...

 

[manveruppd]

Amagami is a definite for me ...

Got a little overexcited when I saw this, cause I misread it and thought you said "Aragami", which was a (live action) swordfighting flick by that Kitamura guy which was on of the most impressive action movies I've ever seen - an anime adaptation of it could have caused me to go into nerd-spasms!

I looked it up though and it seems to be some kind of harem comedy, am I right? If so I might check it out cause it's been awhile since I saw a good one of those.

Seeing as I dragged this post off-topic and started talking about live action sword-fu movies, I might as well mention that I'm going to watch 13 Assassins tonight. It's not anime, but Miike Takashi is one of very few guys who can make live actors look like they're in an anime so it kinda counts! Apparently this one's a more realistic movie so it'll have less of his over-the-top violence and insane action but I'm still looking forward to it!

On a vaguely connected note, I'm also playing Yakuza 3, it's extremely Japanese, but really enjoyable

Well seeing as I'm hopelessly off-topic already I can't pass up the chance to say that if you like the Yakuza games you'll love Takeshi Kitano's latest film: Outrage! It's a return to his older gangster-themed violent movies, but it's in some ways gentler and more emotional. More like a Japanese version of The Godfather than his own earlier stuff.

Sorry about the off-topicness!

 

[memyselfandi]

Got a little overexcited when I saw this, cause I misread it and thought you said "Aragami", which was a (live action) swordfighting flick by that Kitamura guy which was on of the most impressive action movies I've ever seen - an anime adaptation of it could have caused me to go into nerd-spasms!

I looked it up though and it seems to be some kind of harem comedy, am I right? If so I might check it out cause it's been awhile since I saw a good one of those.

Not really. Amagami SS isn't really a harem comedy in the traditional sense ... well for a start it isn't really a comedy at all.

It's split into arcs with the male character woo'ing each of the female characters ... but, unlike in a normal harem series, everything resets at the end of the arc and the next arc starts as if the previous one(s) had not happened. The staring female character in one arc will show up as a minor character in another arc but as everything has reset their previous relationship will not have existed any more.

It's more romantic drama than romantic comedy, although it does have its funny moments.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

@manveruppd

Watched 13 Assassins a week or two ago myself. Not a bad film actually (given I went in knowing next to nothing about it...even that it was a Japanese film not an American one) although it does feel like it's perhaps 10 minutes-ish too long.

If I remember will check out Outrage, as I'm definately enjoying Y3, one of the few games I've really enjoyed on my PS3.

Andi has already said what needs to be said about Amagami, although I think there are extra scenes/episodes available now compared to the TV broadcast version (from the DVDs).


Finished watching TGTLTT today. My thoughts generally continued today, a nice film actually and it rounds out nicely towards the end, although typically of Japanese/Asian media its got a much more ambiguous ending. There are some hints and suggestions there, but nothing fixed.

I still think I prefer SW as, from my semi-nostalgic memories, the main plot and what you need to know seems more selfcontained, without being overbearing, whereas TGTLTT is a bit more slice of life, and obviously as I've mentioned a little ambiguous at the end.

One thing I do have to comment though is how LAZY the subtitling was at points. I was actually pretty dissapointed for a professional release.
At least a couple of times things were said quite clearly by one of the characters off screen (voice usually came out the rear or was in the distance), but no subtitle translation was provided. (unless my player wasn't displaying them properly but I doubt thats the case)

 

[manveruppd]

@Manveruppd

Watched 13 Assassins a week or two ago myself. Not a bad film actually (given I went in knowing next to nothing about it...even that it was a Japanese film not an American one) although it does feel like it's perhaps 10 minutes-ish too long.

Ha! Really? I was actually annoyed because I heard that they cut 15' out for the Western release. In fact I'm only going to see it at the cinema cause I couldn't find a subbed Hong Kong DVD to import!

One thing I do have to comment though is how LAZY the subtitling was at points. I was actually pretty dissapointed for a professional release.
At least a couple of times things were said quite clearly by one of the characters off screen (voice usually came out the rear or was in the distance), but no subtitle translation was provided. (unless my player wasn't displaying them properly but I doubt thats the case)

Is that about SW or tgtltt? (EDIT: or 13 Assassins???) I saw Summer Wars at the cinema and didn't notice any issues like that (although usually the subtitling for the theatrical release is completely different than the ones on the dvd...)

Not really. Amagami SS isn't really a harem comedy in the traditional sense ... well for a start it isn't really a comedy at all.

It's split into arcs with the male character woo'ing each of the female characters ... but, unlike in a normal harem series, everything resets at the end of the arc and the next arc starts as if the previous one(s) had not happened. The staring female character in one arc will show up as a minor character in another arc but as everything has reset their previous relationship will not have existed any more.

Huh! Strange... but pretty appropriate for a series adapted from a video game I guess!
Guess my search for some new comedy continues....

 

[memyselfandi]

I can't say I noticed any issues with the subtitling on TGWLTT on either the R1 DVD release or the UK BD release personally but I agree with you that Summer Wars is probably a slightly better film overall, (although I love both of them).

Watched a couple of things this weekend ...

Shin Koihime Musō: Otome Tairan - the third series of Koihime Muso. This carries on from the previous season and the "evil enemy" is something we have come across previously. The series is comedy, action and oppai ... lots and lots of oppai ... Season three, isn't in my opinion as good as the first two series. The first half of it is to fragmented and has no real flow ... I have no issue with the plot but the way they followed three groups was just to bitty at times. Everything came together in the second half of the series which turned it around.

The series does also suffer from a common problem across all of the Koihime Muso series ... sheer number of characters! Unless you have been paying attention across all of the series then you will spend half the time wondering who half the cast are ...

Overall I like the series but it does suffer from only being one cour per series when it could easily have been twice that, especially with the size of the cast.

The other thing(s) I have been watching are the OVAs for Sakura Wars. I've gone through all the OVAs which have been released in the US/UK so according to Wikipedia that covers:
Sakura Wars OVAs
Sakura Wars 2 OVAs
Sakura Wars: Sumire
Sakura Wars: Ecole de Paris

Overall I thought that they were generally ok. But I think that the TV series and movie were both a lot better than all of them. Some of the OVAs were ok but some of them were pretty weak on the plot front. The TV series though had the time to have a depth of plot which was missing here.

 

[memyselfandi]

Huh! Strange... but pretty appropriate for a series adapted from a video game I guess!
Guess my search for some new comedy continues....

Asobi ni Ikuyo
Baka to Test
Seitokai no Ichizon
Seitokai Yakuindomo
Shinryaku! Ika Musume
Working! (aka Wagnaria! on R1)

Although you've probably seen all of them ...

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Is that about SW or tgtltt? (EDIT: or 13 Assassins???) I saw Summer Wars at the cinema and didn't notice any issues like that

I was referring to TGTLTT. It wasn't too often but there were a few parts on the bd where it was clear someone was talking but no text to translate was present.

And yeah both the friends who went with me to see 13 assassins felt a little over long as most of the film is build up for the end, without necessarily much chance to shine before this. I guess I would have added a few scenes myself but the additions would have been to highlight the team being collected and their strengths, whereas only one of the characters was really given an opportunity to show you why he was there before that ending.

Not a bad film mind.

Edit: Getting close to finishing Index now and I think Im going to miss it.
Not because of the plot/story arcs which haven't been as impressive as I was hoping given how much Id heard about the series, but because the cast of characters won me over. As someone who has also had periods of bad luck legendary amongst my friends (and a virtual catch phrase of 'why me?' at the time although I admit such misfortune/so unlucky does have more of a ring about it), I could definately connect with Touma, Index is onetrackminded but likeable and Mikoto is, as I mentioned before, one of JC Staff's line of emminently likeable Tsundere's who do more than just act like a stereotype.
With Rie Kugiyama's frequent work with JC I wonder if they did consider her for the role... especially as she appears in Index II.

Im not sure if the books are being translated, or if they will do another series but it would be nice to follow these characters further.

 

[manveruppd]

And yeah both the friends who went with me to see 13 assassins felt a little over long as most of the film is build up for the end, without necessarily much chance to shine before this. I guess I would have added a few scenes myself but the additions would have been to highlight the team being collected and their strengths, whereas only one of the characters was really given an opportunity to show you why he was there before that ending.

It was excellent, I really enjoyed it! But I agree that it was slow to take off, spent nearly half the film setting itself up. Apparently the deleted scenes were set in a brothel, don't know if it was a scene that happened on their way to the combat, more character development for the errant nephew, or more rape and murder by the evil *******.

 

[Phatjayunoi]

13 Assassins is a nice throwback to old-school Samurai films.

Sure it would have been nice to have seen more about the many cast members and the assassins team, but then the lack of backstory for most of them fits the theme of the film very well, which is the major flaws of the feudal caste system at that time period. The shame of the Bushido code and just so many wasted lives.

The ending certainly serves the message well if one can understand it, plus a little bit of spiritual folklore thrown into it.

The series does also suffer from a common problem across all of the Koihime Muso series ... sheer number of characters! Unless you have been paying attention across all of the series then you will spend half the time wondering who half the cast are ...

Yeah that is one major problem about it, but then if you are very familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story, then it shouldn't be a problem, apart from the Japanese equivalent names and when it's girls also.

At least female versions of the Sengoku Period are much easier to understand when it comes to the characters.

 

[Demoniser]

Watched the first few episodes of Nichijou, funny stuff.

It's a really silly and stupid series but very entertaining to watch, and it's easy on the brain.

it's nice to see KyoAni try something with such a different visual/narrative style to their other anime adaptions.

 

[saitrix]

Just you wait for the deer scene in ep6, had me in stitches.

 

[demonix]

Which would mean that I should really catch up since I've only watched the first episode (plus there's a few series on crunchyroll I have to watch or complete).

I also caved in and got the first volume of k-on (DVD not blu ray since the BD version is region locked) after going through most of the first volume of the manga.

 

[memyselfandi]

Nichijou has a definite marathon when completed watch for me ... the first couple of episodes sent me to sleep more than anything else. I'm willing to give it another chance but it's not a high priority for me at the moment.

Latest Iroha was very good though ... with a cliffhanger ending

 

[memyselfandi]

Well if UP is listing them too that's a good sign. I'm waiting til they come out s2 dvd before ordering though as money is a little tight right now as I'm saving for a holiday and also I'm interested to see what cut of the last episode they used, as they made an edit between tv broadcast and Japanese bd.

On the plus side I'm glad its sold well enough for them to solicit a bd release as despite the change in art between the series its rarely ugly.

One thing you might be interested to know .... if you order from TRSI (*) ...

Gift With Purchase: Pre-Order the L.E. Spice and Wolf Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray Combo, Receive Holo Coin
Posted on: Monday, May 23, 2011

Pre-order the Limited Edition Spice and Wolf Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray Combo Collection, and while supplies last, also receive a new collectible Holo coin. This set is scheduled for release August 2, 2011, so place your order today!

All customers who already pre-ordered this item will automatically receive the coin.

(*) I assume that this is TRSI only, these sort of things are normally limited to one or two specific vendors.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Ahhah, I'd actually noticed the Limited Edition already and had been discussing it elsewhere (only reason I haven't ordered is my holiday next month), as we'd been wondering what the differences would be

The coin is different to the one I have too, so quite tempted >.<

I'll likely end up buying both S&W seasons on Blu, will be my 3rd copy of S1 hehe. The 2nd season is a combi too which is quite nice.
I'm hoping the BDs will have 5.1 JP mix as well as the 5.1 eng audio.

Do wonder, besides the coin, what will differentiate the limited edition from the normal though. Got no qualms with paying the $3 just wonder what you get

 

[memyselfandi]

Finished a re-watch of Kashimashi last night. Nice little series along the lines of boy meets girl, boy gets crashed into by a large space ship and has his body rebuilt as a girl (not by his choice), relationship chaos ensues. It's a good series with several sections which are quite emotional due to how the relationships change due to the change in gender of the main character. I quite like it, it's not a top tier series but it's a reasonably good watch. Note I have the original singles release, it has now been re-released with a dub.

@ANDARIAL. Had a nice package come today. Maria-sama ga Miteru The Movie Perfect Book. Nice A4 book packed full of pictures of the cast, interviews (with the original author, the cast and the director (I think for the last ... it is all in Japanese of course!)), art work and behind the scenes photos. There's several pages on each of the characters (who would be instantly identifiable even if it didn't give their titles in French for most of them) and there are pictures from various scenes from the film which are also recognisable from the anime. I've dropped you a mail with a link where you can see some pictures of the content (which I can't link to here (it's a sale on a popular auction site)). It is a really good book and I'm looking forward to the films release on BD in July.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Finished Index 2 this evening and I stand by my previous statements. The characters are interesting and the premise is a fair one but the plotting and pacing of the series can be a bit all over the shop. The last few episodes of Index II especially felt like a mishmash of characters and plot points pulled from likely more than one book.
I would hope they'd do another series or something as otherwise they've left the anime in a bit of a mess really.

Not a terrible series but not sure it necessarily warrants all the fanfare.