Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:49 pm Post subject: Anime Showcase
Given the example of Paz's thread below, I thought that given there are those amougst us who are wanabe (or not so wanabe) Otaku, how about a thread were we refer people to anime shows that we have discovered?
here is what I have just started watching over the last couple of days:
Full Metal Panic
(yay! I can do pictures now!)
The premise is pretty simple, a young soldier, Sousuke who has been a mercenary from a young age is assigned his new mission: protecting a girl in a Japanese school. For some reason she's wanted by a secret conspiracy as she is a 'whisperer'. But little does Sousuke know, adapting to the life of an average school kid may be more of a challenge that protecting his charge...
The premise may sound cheesy, but the two protagonists are engaging and original, they manage to be recognizable without falling into the normal stereotypes. There is as much emphasis on farcical comedy as there is action, but there is a lot of both and even after watching a few episodes, I can't wait to see how the relationship between Sousuke and Chidori grows.
The origonal manga is very well thought of in anime circles (or so I hear) and it's certainly living up to it's reputation so far.
Sorry, was that not meant to be an existential question??
I would say if it's animesque that that would be ok. So: SpongeBob Square Pants is a No, Avatar would be a yes. I'm more inclined to suggest stuff that people have not heard of.
Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 948 Playing: Pathfinder Society Planning: Aces and Eights: Shattered Frontier
Location: Northwich
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Anime Showcase
HDimagination wrote:
The premise may sound cheesy, but the two protagonists are engaging and original, they manage to be recognizable without falling into the normal stereotypes. There is as much emphasis on farcical comedy as there is action, but there is a lot of both and even after watching a few episodes, I can't wait to see how the relationship between Sousuke and Chidori grows.
Having coincidentally just started watching this myself (reached episode 10 at the time of typing) I can concur with regards to the accuracy of this review.
Like an awful lot of mech anime (Escaflowne, Code Geass, arguably Evangelion) the mech element isn't really an essential plot element, but a nice addition on the side. This time it and the action is ultimately the addition to a fairly well done rom-com. The scenes between Sousuke and Chidori are touching and well done, and both parties seem natural, one in their bossy normalcy, and one in their stoic stiffness.
The action doesn't quite meet the highs of other mech animes (so far anyway) but even there the focus is on the characters rather than the fights, which means it continues to draw you in, even if action anime isn't your thing.
One thing that is worrying me a little however, is the slow development of a love triangle (those looking at the poster can take a flying guess at the persons involved). This means it drifts a little closer to harem anime, which, while not intrinsically bad, is a very well populated and tough field to emerge well from.
AFAIK the anime is based of the light novels rather than the independant manga, but there are quite a hit in Japan IIRC.
Will post my own pick soon! _________________ The Master can blow me, Monkey-Suit. Bloodrayne 2
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 408 Running: Mage: the Awakening
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:
I believe I've already mentioned Ergo Proxy to some of you but I figure I should mention it here.
I can't offer a full review as it's technically one I'm intending to watch more of having seen the first two episodes (I'm easily distracted with regards to watching a whole anime series through and wasn't helped by the fact that the site I was watching it on was taken down).
For what it's worth it's Cyberpunk with a large helping of mystery and a side of paranoia.
The story initially takes place in a futuristic dome city called Romdo,[1] built to protect its citizens after a global ecological disaster. In this utopia, humans and androids (AutoReivs) coexist with each other peacefully under a total management system. A series of murders committed by berserk robots infected with the Cogito virus are starting to jeopardize the delicate balance of the social order. Behind the scenes, the government is conducting secret experiments on a mysterious humanoid lifeform called Proxy, which is believed to hold the key to the survival of mankind. _________________ I'm here to kick ass and take names! If that's okay with everyone...
I liked Ghost In The Shell Stand Alone Complex. It's set in a world very alike but less dark than the famous Manga movie, and expands on the concept in a contemporary way. The result of this, within the episodic format, is to produce stand alone science-fiction tales that play up the technology and play down the philosophy of the lengthier incarnations. There are some cute blue gun-bedecked robots called Tachikomas who provide some light relief, and just about manage not to be irritating.
The cast is similarly lightened from the movies, creating more sustainable dynamics between characters. The first season builds toward an on-going plot arc at the end and a satisfying conclusion IMHO. _________________ http://woogledesigns.livejournal.com
Don’t believe in yourself, believe in me, that believes in you!
Living in a dreary underground village, Simon spends every day digging deep into the earth to make more room for the village to expand. The only person who has any time for him is his ‘big brother’ Kamina, who dreams of tunneling upwards, to a mythical place known as the ‘surface.’ On the day that Simon finds a drill shaped talisman, and a large face buried in the rock, a bestial robot crashes through the ceiling of their village, followed by Yoko, a girl wearing very little clothing and carrying a big gun.
That begins their quest to liberate the human race from their life of oppression beneath the surface, and the strange allies, and even stranger enemies that they meet along the way.
This show manages to distil everything that makes anime great: giant robots, rock and roll, grand gestures and nail biting action. Everything here is turned up to 11 and beyond, circling back around from parody into strange new worlds of awesome. It starts out as fairly typical super robot fare, heroes wandering the earth fighting a different enemy every week, but as the characters grow (and yes, they really develop) and the plots become deeper I found myself invested with these characters a lot more than I have with any other anime.
There is a lot of hype about this show online, which put me off watching it initially, but I am very glad I did.
To push beyond the impossible, that is the Dai Langan Way!
Last edited by HDimagination on Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
Anybody know of any English dubs of Spice &Wolf? I read about that today and it looked interesting. _________________ http://woogledesigns.livejournal.com
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 408 Running: Mage: the Awakening
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject:
Was bored so I did some googling and it seems since that one is fairly new it's not been dubbed yet although according wikipedia it has been licensed for a dub.
You're either going to have to wait for them to dub it or watch it in subtitles. _________________ I'm here to kick ass and take names! If that's okay with everyone...
Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 948 Playing: Pathfinder Society Planning: Aces and Eights: Shattered Frontier
Location: Northwich
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:
Gileh wrote:
Anybody know of any English dubs of Spice &Wolf? I read about that today and it looked interesting.
Ninja'd by Kamikazegerbil but will just elaborate a little more.
Spice and Wolf has been licenced in the US by Funimation and they are streaming at least some of the episodes for free there. Unfortunately, without a US ISP you won't be able to watch them.
There is a US DVD release planned for the 22nd of December, which could mean you could order it from there if you are...you know...honest.
Alternatively a DVD release might mean high quality copies will apear on various streaming sites but at the moment Funimation will be clamping down on them. I actually found German dubbed episodes of S&W rather than English dubbed ones.
NEO (the closest the UK has to an anime and manga magazine) hasn't mentioned anything about a UK release, so I think you will have to remain vigilant/patient.
_________________ The Master can blow me, Monkey-Suit. Bloodrayne 2
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