HTF Anime Discussion Part VIII - Page 9

The problem with Wolf's Rain is the fact that you can sense Bones taking all the best people from the show and placing them into Scrapped Princess since both were released simultaneously.

So the show started its degeneration when the recap episodes started occuring (all 4 back to back recap episodes). Funny part was, there was this huge 3-4 week hiatus right before the recap episodes occured, where they played all the other series' special episodes (winter/Christmas eps).

Sad...really....such a great premise as Wolf's Rain became a failure they had to finish up.

The reason why Someday's Dreamer was recommended by many of us is because it goes back to the old days of anime when stories were more character driven than plot driven. Basically an old technique brought back into the new millennium. Not many anime nowadays are character driven anymore like they used to be.

Well, for me, it is because it doesn't go anywhere. Certianly some nice production values, and some interesting characters, but ultimatly pointless.

Jason

Maybe that's what it is (for me anyway). The fact that the characters are interesting and I have always had a great love for wolves in general so this is right up my alley. I have not seen the last two volumes so don't know how it wraps up. Will have to mention it later AFTER I have completed the whole thing for a qualified opinion I suppose.

The first disc of Scrapped Princess was quite excellent so I can't really complain that they dumped more talent into that either. Must have been a tough decision for them.

Was in the mall and saw a Newtype magazine. $13. No DVD. I had forgotten about that whole thing and was all excited when I saw Inu Yasha on the cover (had just bought a lavendar Inu Yasha shirt from Hot Topic) and saw the price and was like "forget that". The bookstore can keep it.

Hmmm and you know, I don't think the world would be boring if everyone liked the same things. The person I get along with the best in the whole world likes the same *exact* things that I do, we're so close in that aspect that its scary. From anime to movies to music to whatever, our preferences and likes/dislikes are 99% of the time equal. It's real weird, and it's not like our tastes are typical stuff either. He says that Berserk was awesome and that I should watch it next so I guess I will. When Kiddy Grade is done. I'm having to rewatch a few episodes because I realize....that I had forgotten most of it. Poo.

Alanna:

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. My wife and I have some of the same interests, but we also have a lot of different ones, too. I think it's an opportunity to grow as a person.

All:

Back on topic . I rewatched the first two disks of Argentosoma this morning. A fine series, where the character interaction is more important than the mecha action. As an aside, the Greek letters used in the OP titles are incorrect. It actually spells out 'Ap(eh)entosoma'.

John.

John: I guess my opinion is a little warped because I've lived with someone for 5 years that shares almost zero of my interests. Which is no fun at all sometimes but also proves that opposites do attract. So to me its really awesome to be around someone that isn't constantly complaining about your choices of entertainment or making fun of it.

Now I'm interested in Argentosoma =)

Speaking of Kiddy Grade, I've watched discs #6 and #7(after debating whether to restart or not. Decided not to bother.) I finally understood why the characters were the way they were. Started disc #8 then fell asleep after 1 episode. Good stuff, and I'll re-watch and hopefully finish it tonight...

Also read a crapload of manga this weekend. Finally caught up with Rurouni Kenshin (which is upto vol. 14 here in the US) and it's as good and in some ways better than the anime. Once again, if you enjoyed the anime, you'll definately enjoy the manga (and manga's pace is faster). For those who haven't seen the anime, manga's not a bad place to start.

One thing to note: once the manga is done here, Kenshin anime will probably be cheaper than the manga. But unlike the anime, Manga continues the complete story and finishes it (i.e. no filler). So both formats have their strengths. The surprising thing is how closely the anime follows the manga and how well it works in both formats.

Also started and read upto vol. 5 of A.I. Love You. Fun light comedic stuff, and reading it you can tell that Akamatsu-san had a lot of fun with it.

Volume 7 of Bastard!! as always showcases Dark Schneider's penchant for violence, his lustiness, and his overly dramatic nature. And is hellaciously fun. In fact between Hellsing and Bastard!! I get my kicks for manga that's both funny as hell and also violent (in a pulpy way).

Woo: I just finished Kiddy Grade. Like, five minutes ago. Great series in my book, a little confusing at times (I had the same break as you did it seems if you stopped after 5 and then picked it up with 6 sometime later) and this was VERY confusing to stop off at this point. If anyone else is wanting to try this series, stop at disc 4 or 6. Not 5. That's like the worst one to pause your viewing at. Trust me on that. LOL The 8th disc has some good stuff too, and a satisfying ending even if there were some sad parts. I think I prefered the first half of the series over the latter half but I'd still rank it as an A series (for me anyway).



Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Alanna:

Pretty much agree with you on what's written in your spoiler'd part of your last post. And looking forward to finishing up the series. And for those who wanna follow the dub, can you comment on the dub of the series and how you enjoyed it? (I only watch subs, for the most part.)

Alanna:

I can see where you're coming from. I guess you haven't mentioned your SO giving you a hard time about watching anime for a while, so it went off my screen.

Woo:

Glad you liked Kiddy Grade. I agree about A.I. Love You. You can also see places where stylistically, he got better between A.I. Love You and Love Hina.

All:

I rewatched volume three of Argentosoma yesterday. I think I like this series for the same reason I like Gasaraki: The character interactions are more important than the action.

John.

Alright here's my two cents on the dub for Kiddy Grade:

The truth is, I like most dubs, unless they are absolutely abysmal with some embarrassing performances (like ah, Bastard! had some terrible voice acting and so did Dirty Pair Flash! - so much so that I watched it subbed). Kiddy Grade's dub was fairly good, the voice actress for Eclair really nailed the part, with all the right subtleties. It was enough for me to be sucked into it. Monica Rial as Lumiere was not a bad selection either, she has just the right flair of "elegance". Some of the bit players and other ES members are not as worthy, a few that could even make you cringe such as the stoic guy that is paired up with the hyper active punk (forgive me, don't recall their names). Both of them kinda suck. Ahh and Sinistra and Dextera just never seem to get enough screen time. Their voices suited the characters too. So its a tossup really. Great casting selections for the leads, but others are questionable. Since Eclair gets so much screentime and is a joy to listen to, I'd say its worth checking the dub out.

If ratings were like animeondvd or whatever, I'd give the dub a B. With Fruits Basket being perhaps my favorite dub to put things in perspective. Then again, lots of people complained about the dub for Utena and ah I have to say that I loved it. So take my two cents for what they are worth (probally nothing) hah.

John: Yeah my SO still complains about it constantly. I only really watch anime now when I'm sitting up with the baby or when he's at work so I don't hear about it as much as I used to. I promptly turn it off or pause it when he shows up to spare myself having to hear a recount of how horrible it is to everyone else later. I had a friend over for a few nights that watched Outlaw Star with me and they had seen it like.. wow I don't even know how many times because they could quote most of what was going to happen before it happened and it was just so cool actually watching with someone that enjoyed it too. Probally never happen again but it was a neat experience.

Woo: Perhaps a huge spoiler here.. don't read this unless you've seen the last episode of Kiddy Grade.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Just started Haibane....! It's awesome so far!

Alanna:

My wife's not really into anime, but she will watch it with me on occasion. She likes GTO and Tenchi Muyo!, and she's been watching Wolf's Rain with me. She also went and watched all of Love Hina on her own, which was a surprise.

I'm going to have to rewatch Kiddy Grade here just because you and Woo have been talking about it . It'll have to be after I get through tomorrow's Big Purchase, and after I finish up Argentosoma.

John.

John:
I think the first hurdle with Kiddy Grade is getting through that first episode. It bored me to tears. I had already purchased the first four volumes of it before popping a disc in and after checking the clock about ten times during the first ep I could only think "Oh dear..what have I done!" Of course it got much better after that. Which you probally know since I now notice you said "rewatch". LOL

You are lucky that your wife likes some of it atleast. My mother would watch it with me back in the day when I still lived with my parents.

Oh and still stuck on Kiddy Grade: I love the opening and closing songs to it! They are both awesome... and in English, so I can sing along each time... YAY!

Hmm I also liked the opener for Legend of Black Heaven (John Sykes is awesome) though it was too overused in the anime itself. Ceres, Celestial Legend's opening theme. Fruits Basket opener and closer (would sing along to this one every single time too. Outlaw Star. Chobits opener (LOVE that!) Almost every song having to do with Slayers that Megumi Hayashibara was involved with. The opener for Utena! Killer! I watched that everytime too. I am also digging the OP/ED for Haibane so far. Haunting. Nightwalker also had this cool jazzy/gothic thing going on that was pretty damn cool. Pretear! That was good too. And some of the Tenchi songs were absolutely adorable. I loved the opener for the Mihoshi special.

Some I loathed: Burn Up Excess, was so unremarkable I don't even remember it, except the fact I was hitting that skip button pretty darn fast. Fushigi Yugi: I attempted to try and skip this before "Miracle La" was crooned. Freaking HATED hearing that. .Hack//Legend of the Twilight makes me want to poke my ears out.

Anyone else have favs or dislikes?

Alanna:

Megumi-chan also does the OP and ED songs for Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, which I enjoyed. The OP for Ghost in the Shell: SAC is one of my current faves. My wife and I didn't mind the OP/ED songs to Fushigi Yuugi, but after hearing them two dozen times or so, we just skipped past them .

John.

I think Megumi did the first Nuku Nuku too and I seem to remember enjoying that song (been a LONG time since I have seen that!) Haven't seen Abenobashi or GitS: SAC yet so I can't comment on them.

Another I hated was Galaxy Angel. It was one of those zany wacky songs if I remember right and also Azumanga Diaoh. Ew.

I think I have the domestic Nuku Nuku soundtrack. And your translation is pretty much on the ball....

I am an old school fan, and have been a fan of Megumi Hayashibara for a long time. Love most of her OP/ED performances from a wide variety of shows. Alanna, I'd bet you didn't mind the Slayers TV OP/EDs - I think a bunch of those were sung by her. And yes, hearing the OP of a tv series for 51~2+ times does get old, no matter how good the song is. Which is why for the most part, I only watch op/eds only once for long series when I marathon. Besides, the time does add up....

Finished KiddyGrade last night. A good show, with interesting visuals and fun characters.But I feel that ....

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Alanna, as to your question, I am not sure. I am thinking that.... Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Woo:

Glad you liked Kiddy Grade.

All:

Since it's Tuesday again, and our usual Tuesday question hasn't been asked in a while, here goes: What, if anything, will you be buying this week?

I've got a rather full plate this week. Assuming availability, of course, I'll be picking up:

Appleseed 2-disk SE, and
Paranoia Agent vol. 4

I also would like to get:

Tenchi in Tokyo vol. 8 to finish up the series, plus
Sakura Wars OVA

Plus, some potential series to get in one swell foop:

Burn Up Scramble
Fruits Basket
Ikki-Tosen
Mao-Chan
Requiem for the Darkness
Saikano
Sakura Wars OVA 2 Assuming that I can get the 1st one
Stratos 4

Plus at least one or two new series to start:

X TV
s-Cry-ed
Kaze no Yojimbo
Super Gals!
Kaleido Star
Chrono Crusade
Gundam SEED
Stelvia
Witch Hunter Robin

And maybe a movie or two and/or more volumes of Saiyuki.

John.

JohnAD:

Heh - I'd say avoid Ikki Tousen, if for no other reason that you should collect Fighting Spirit (currently up to volume 5) instead, or Slam Dunk instead. Sports anime is awesome :wink: . Fanservice with incomprehensible plot and numerous ass/breast/panty shots isn't (I've seen two discs, and own all of Ikki Tousen, and I am letting you know - it's a mediocre series at best). A better show (not by much but fun nonetheless) of a similar genre is Tenjou Tenghe. It at least has a followable plot.

I am also interested in teh Burn Up series, and Hand Maid May, as I don't have enough of the "Maid" genre. And Mao-chan is good for the little ones, so that's worth the purchase. It's pretty short as well.

Also, I am of the honest belief that no anime fan's collection should be w/o a sports series, as IMHO they are really fun to watch. Some series that I'd recommend are:

Princess Nine -HS girls on the road to Koshien (the legendary stadium where the finals for HS baseball takes place.) Has lots of drama, and is fun to watch.

Fighting Spirit - Follows the travails of one Ippo Makunouchi, who decides to take up boxing after being saved by a boxer from a local gym. The highlight of this series is the awesome boxing matches and fleshing out of the opponents. The moves are fairly realistic, and fun to watch. currently upto volume 5 with an ep count of 5 per disc. Highly Recommended.

Slam Dunk - haven't seen this one, but this one involves a basketball prodigy and his entry into HS basketball and stardom. Perhaps Kong can comment on this (assuming he has seen it)

Hikaru no Go - The travails of a young boy who decides to host the spirit of a Legendary Go Player, and eventually develops a love for Go himself. Currently only avail as a manga in US, and I think Viz or ShoPro has the license....

Yakitate! Japan - The miracle of Solar Hands of Azuma Kazuma and his quest to make a Japan ( a native breaad that captures the spirit of Japan, like French bread for France).

Edited to add comments on sports anime and to correct spelling.

Woo:

I don't mind mindless T&A every so often . I'm really not into sports anime (or videogames for that matter), which is somewhat ironic, since I did football and wrestling in high school. Tenjou Tenghe is on my list, but since it doesn't start to come out until next month, obviously I'll have to wait.

You should go ahead and pick up Hand Maid May. I found it to be quite enjoyable. In addition, DDD still has the boxed set, which has a bonus CD-ROM of stuff. I haven't taken a look at the CD-ROM yet, as I've been too busy playing Jedi Outcast & Jedi Academy with Episode III coming out here soon.

John.

JohnAD:

Heh. Try watching Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) and then tell me that you aren't into sports anime. Or Yakitate! Japan. For me, so far, HnI the best sports series I've seen in my collection, and I highly recommend it not just as a sports series but as a anime series that is good for all anime fans. And if there was a jiggle counter on Ikki Tousen, it would need to have at least 3 digits for each disc or even 4 for the series.

Just got Appleseed LE, which is, in my opinion, a pretty cool tin box thing. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but it does have Japanese DTS, and I have no doubt that the PQ is going to be excellent.

For Woo and others that have seen Kiddy Grade to completion only:

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Woo: I think every Slayers OP/ED was sung by Megumi and so was alot of the songs in the OVAs and movies. Of course, I love them all. Just Be Conscious! The only anime soundtrack I ever bought was Slayers Try so that goes to show how much I liked it! I also have Wolf's Rain too but it came with the LE Box.

I can't see myself checking out sports anime either...none of it has interested me. The closest I would come likely is Kaliedo Star (if that even qualifies, I've seen it classified as such before). Oh and Burn Up Excess was horrible IMO. Just horrible! It was cheap but I still felt bad about spending the money on it and it was only $30! I don't know about W or the latest one that came out but Excess was just alot of really fake bazooka boobs bouncing around and airheaded characters. This boobage seemed to suffer from having individual lives of their own because they weren't exactly jiggling in unison all the time. LOL

Oh and how is Appleseed?. It's $13 at WalMart and was tempted to get it but wasn't sure if it was worth it.

Alanna:

You talk like that's a bad thing .

John.

Heh - I'd figure that be distracting for ANYONE of ANY SEX to watch ^_^;

Well, I'd say that sports is a valid genre to watch, especially for anime. The chance for drama to occur in a sports anime is huge, and Hajime no Ippo has a lot of drama and lots of humour. Most of the things I enjoy about the series comes from the interaction of Takamura (the boxer who saves Ippo), Aoki and Kimura (the two that get picked on teh most by Takamura), and Ippo (whose as naive and pure hearted as they can get.) And how each of them react to Ippo and their own opponents makes it so worth while, not to mention the fact that each opponent's background and motivation is laid out there.

So I'd say watch Ippo for both the outrageous humour and interaction between its main characters, the opponents' back stories, and the fights.

Well its not like they were attractive bazooka boobs but really weird looking ones that kinda moved independantly of each other. Very distracting. LOL And that was probably the most interesting part of the show. =P It didn't even fall under the Blood Breasts and Beasts to save it since it was bloodless and had no beasts.

Still am unconvinced about the sports genre. Sure its valid I'm sure but just doesn't interest me even though I know there can be alot of drama in sports.

Heh I should ship you my copy of Fighting Spirit #1 and #2. Or if you can get greencine, maybe you can rent it. Kaleido Star does involve acrobatics. But keep in mind that the sports formula can be used effectively for a variety of topics. (Such as Go in Hikaru no Go, for example, or Breadmaking in Yakitate! Japan.)

JohnAD:

Football? Wrestling? Do tell. ^^ That is like the antithesis of an otaku life. LoL Must've been pretty popular with the ladies, eh?

Also, avoid Ikkitousen like the plague. Worst, worst, god awful crappiest adaptation from manga to anime. Made me puke watching it. Yuck.


Alanna:

Appleseed the new one is well done on everything except for one dub actor who kept grating on my ears. But it is very well made for a remake of the original movie.


---

Btw, Slam Dunk was awesome. One of the most fun basketball series you'll ever watch. Just as good as one of the newer ones...Dear Boys...which I believe got a name change for domestic release.

Right now, popular sport manga is Air Gear about rollerblading.

Too many sports genre stories covering soccer/football, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, boxing, foot racing, car racing, gymnastics, rollerskating/blading, go, karate/martial arts, etc.. All of them have very good stories behind them and great characters.

If anything, for sports anime, give HIkaru no Go a try. That thing is sooooooooooooooo addictive. One of my ultimate favorite anime and manga for sports shows.

I can't believe someone took a boring (relatively...meaning slow going to the point of boredom waiting for your opponent to place his stupid piece on the board) game as "go" and turn it into something exciting.