Anime/Manga Thread

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by velvetx, Sep 27, 2015.

  1. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Anyone here hyped for Code Geass S3? I eventually accepted the ending of S2 as having played [you know what] straight, but hell, I don't care if this is a cop out, I want more Lulu&CC!

    Also, @Deep Funk, you might want to check out Iron Blooded Orphans. It was one of the better Gundam series, I feel, though a bit hard to swallow given the high episode count.
     
  2. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    I already finished Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans. One of the most violent and complex Gundam series if you ask me. Those last two episodes really hit you hard...
     
  3. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Ugh, hitting hard is an understatement. Definitely one of the more beautifully nuanced shows to come out in recent memory, kinds bites that it's over and all.

    Currently considering rewatching ERASED. That's one of the few series I'd recommend to anyone, anime fan or not, easily.
     
  4. Friday

    Friday Friend

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    I'm not sure if I'd call it complex. I would say that it felt as though there was some thought put into making it an untypical Gundam series, but too many important elements were poorly executed. Season one for for the most part was pretty bland and predictable, though they did finally get it right in the last episode. The side characters were too one-dimensional, especially those that were bent on revenge or getting stronger and so on, which gets tiring and cringeworthy. But i think what pissed me off the most was that almost every enemy boss died in the same episode which they appeared, and the ones that didn't failed to put up much of a fight either.
    Overall, it was in a sort of no-man's land for me: too clumsily-executed to be taken seriously, and not quite engaging enough to be really fun. Which was quite a waste, since I really wanted to like it.

    It's just 12 episodes. Go for it. I rewatched it with my parents n got them hooked.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
  5. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    Lately I've been on an older anime kick, catching up on highly rated series that aired before I got into the hobby. I just recently watched Hellsing Ultimate for the first time, and that was definitely a pleasant surprise, a really dark/mature anime. I also just watched another older Anime I thoroughly enjoyed, Black Lagoon - which is a cool take on normal guy becomes a criminal/smuggler.

    In terms of shows that are great story wise and have a wonderful score, I have also recently completed The Twelve Kingdoms, and I loved it. The soundtrack is also really beautiful. Here's a link to the opening theme: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxJ30X_1NUorNWVtUy1hZEFPYlU/view?usp=sharing

    As far as this season goes, I'm watching My Hero Academia and DB: Super, not sure what else I will find time for. My wife is the one who introduced me to anime, so she's more or less in charge of the 5 episode trials.
     
  6. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Black Lagoon is excellent! Love the show, and wish the mangaka would take the series off hiatus. Still, at least we got the Roberta's Blood Trail arc animated, which is something. As for re-watching ERASED, @Friday, my parents are very sadly biased against anime— I've been a fan since I was in my pre-teens, and some of the shite I watched... yeah :p

    Still, dad likes Ghost in the Shell and a few others, which is something at least.

    Anyone here watching Made in Abyss, btw? People keep recommending it, but the storybook art, while nice, doesn't really do much for me. I hear the story's excellent though, and something something Episode 10.
     
  7. Friday

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    I've been reading the Made in Abyss manga. Story's fine on the whole, keeps you curious though not completely captivated. What's putting me off from the anime is the CGI rather than the art.
     
  8. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    CGI isn't an instant dealbreaker for me, FWIW. I actually rather like the implementation in Knight's and Magic (which is cringe on multiple levels because it's the epitome of nerd escapist fantasy and has one hell of an irritating non-error in its title), which is one of the two "guilty pleasure" shows I'm following this season. Mecha designs are cool as hell, and the fight scenes are wicked. Kinda sucks that they're following RokuAka's insane story pacing, but the plot isn't what I'm following it for.

    Having said that, yeah, the CGI in Abyss doesn't seem to be the best. I'll probably pick it up if I've got free time, but all things considered, it probably won't be a priority for me.
     
  9. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    I have to disagree here. Spoilers ahead.
    • The protagonists in Gundam IBO start out as "human debris" and are almost cattle.
    • They square off against spoiled soldiers and nobles who perceive "human debris" as target practice toys.
    • Do you expect the Tekkadan group (in general Orga & Mikazuki) to feel at ease among politicians, officers and nobles?
    • Tekkadan faces the contempt of Gjallarhorn for carrying out their job (escorting the girl) and are looked down on.
    • Next up Tekkadan kicks so much ass Gjallarhorn gets scared while Tekkadan gets stronger and avenges its comrades to survive.
    • Mikazuki symbolises the ruthless determination necessary to break Gjallarhorn despite all odds. He kills or lets you live.
    • "Human debris" fight back, scare the nobles and politicians and nearly beat the old hierarchy to pulp by sheer will-power.
    How is this not complex? The "human debris" angle, the revolution against all odds and pushing back the gate keepers of the old hierarchy to prove to the world you are a human being too. Seriously?

    Yes the plot and some characters lack some depth and refinement. Thing is the universe you can build within the constraints of the number of episodes has its limits. If you want to go Bleach fine. Gundam is not Bleach (with its 366 episodes!). You want long boss fights? Well then watch Goku vs Frieza again.

    The IBO angle offers something different than most Gundam series. Mikazuki is like Heero Yuy in Berserk mode with the common sense of Duo Maxwell. This was a gritty Gundam story. Not a smooth narrative like most tend to be.

    If you want every Gundam series to be a smooth and refined experience fine. My take on Gundam IBO is simple: it was gritty, had heart and reminded me of an ultra violent 1980-ties action film that celebrated mecha-anime destruction at its best. A good Gundam series that outshone its flaws...
     
  10. Friday

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    I suppose you could call it complex, if you looked at it like that. Problem is, I have encountered the same type of plot too many times, both within and outside of anime, and Orphans didn't add anything on to it, or execute it well enough for me to empathise with the characters. Also, I couldn't quite sense that desperation that ought to come with the "revolution against all odds", which is where better choreographed fights would have come in handy. I don't need multi-season long boss fights, but it would have been nice if more of the bosses had actually put up a real fight, than look like playground bullies who fall within seconds of meeting Mikazuki or maybe Gaelio. The biggest disappointment from this is that Orphans was actually capable of pulling it off, such as in season 1's final face-off against Ein and even the related side-skirmishes; it just didn't pull off that sense of excitement often enough, though at least season 2 performed slightly better in this aspect.

    Not really, a good script can flesh out characters in shorter seasons. Look at Code Geass, Fate/Zero, or if you don't mind stretching episode count a little, FMA/Brotherhood. Sometimes they can make you hate or love a character with fervour within minutes, and regret their deaths even if they only just appeared in the same episode; for Orphans, I mostly felt slightly annoyed (or very annoyed with Ein's "Lieutenant Crank!"), and when they died I just thought, "Oh, he's dead." Exceptions were Shino, Lafter, Naze and Amida, Orga, Mikazuki and Akihiro.

    Orphans may have good vision, but ultimately failed to pull it off well enough for it to be a good anime.
     
  11. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    What is good anime? I have watched way too much to have high standards.

    If you want the narrative to be smooth and refined from plot to extended universe there is something like Bleach (at the cost of filler). If you accept there is diversity you can stop comparing everything to Cowboy Bebop and enjoy Kill La Kill and Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans.

    I enjoyed all three for their own merits. Cowboy Bebop is as perfect as it gets. Kill La Kill makes little sense but way too much fun. Gundam IBO is a gritty take on the the Gundam story line and behind the grit and violence there still is that lifeline of hope.

    Have fun expecting anime to be "perfect."
     
  12. Friday

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    I don't expect anime to be perfect. I have enjoyed many less-than-stellar anime and manga myself, such as Uchouten Kazoku S1/S2, Yakitate Japan!, Red Data Girl and Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi to name a few. I have no issues about anyone else enjoying Orphans, and I'm glad for you and anyone who had fun during those 20-odd hours since that's what really counts in a hobby. But it was often more frustrating than enjoyable for me, in part due to the expectations that I had for it, and I can't in good conscience see it recommended without a word of warning of its flaws, much like I won't readily gush over Uchouten Kazoku to anyone seeking an anime recommendation.

    I will, however, shill the hell out of Gintama, or at least the pre-2016 episodes, before the scene pacing started getting weird.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2017
  13. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Just started watching Gintama. It is way too funny. It is almost a parody yet still has a coherent narrative. Also the episode titles are hilarious...

    Just finished the Akame Ga Kill manga. The manga is much better and gorier than the anime but the ending had less impact. A bit too happy and open.
     
  14. nithhoggr

    nithhoggr Author of the best selling novel Digital Jesus

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    Currently trying to get my girlfriend into Love Live, though I'm not sure she'll stick with it -- she tends to like much maniler anime than I do. She's into more sci-fi or sports anime, whereas I tend to go for slice-of-life comedies or romance. Great anime, though...I love the characters, and the music's top-notch.

    Anyone else watching Centaur no Nayami this season? It's a really sort of fascinating setup...a comfy schoolgirl slice-of-life set in a dark, quasi-dystopian setting where humanity evolved into several different subspecies (including centaurs).
     
  15. Yeskey

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    I can't believe Aho-girl, Tsurezure Children, and Restaurant to Another World are over. Not only that, but New Game!! and Made in Abyss end in the next two weeks too! Damn what am I going to watch this fall!?
     
  16. chakku

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    Something good like Kekkai Sensen S2 or Dies Irae I would hope.
     
  17. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Slowly enjoying Gintama. 2 to 4 episode max each time. Binge watching is not good for my schedule.

    Also watching Gundam G Fighter now. Yeah that old crappy looking series from 1994. It starts sloppy and seemingly without plot but there is a good story. Also some unique gundam designs pop up there. There is some grit to the story that is kind of charming. The protagonist is fighter who talks more with actions than words. That is departure from the usual protagonists in the Gundam series.
     
  18. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Hah! Gundam G is one of the more interesting entries in the franchise. Quite a bit more lighthearted than most other Gundam series. Also, Allenby is adorable XD

    Never got into Gintama. Bit too much of an investment. Might get around to it one of these days.
     
  19. chakku

    chakku Friend

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    Crappy looking? The BDs look amazing.

     
  20. abraxas666

    abraxas666 Friend

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    Just completed Knights of Sidonia in Netflix, not sure hot it flew under the radar for me since I am a huge fan of Tsutomu Nihei.
     

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