Discuss our various articles in this thread.
Hey guys, the year is almost done, we've added some new blood to the staff, and we have had plenty of reviews done over the year.
Do you guys have any favorites? I'll get a bit more into mine in a few.
I asked this before but didn't get much of a response.
But do you guys have any personal favorite reviews or features from the year? Anything that you did or maybe someone else on staff took on?
If you want a reminder of everything we did this year, here we go.
Reviews (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=16)
Features (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=24)
I liked just about everything you guys did this year, and I'm especially proud of my Disney Afternoon articles. I'll try to add some more later.
16 reviews and 24 features. Not a bad amount of output.
I did like in the period between July and now we had an average of about 3 reviews per month. I thought they were all pretty solid though I couldn't choose between mine since they were pretty different but I think Avaitor's best was the Tangled review, Insommy's was Summer Wars, and Foggle's was Ookami. Great job this year, guys.
Feature-wise, they were all pretty crazy and all over the place (in a good way), but my personal favorites were Chalmy's Tiny Toon pieces, EK's 2 Stupid Dogs article, and Avaitor's Disney Afternoon series.
I think this was a banner year for the blogs. I added three great new members to the blog who contributed a lot to them, and Foggle and I put out some pretty good reviews and features. EK only had one feature, his 2 Stupid Dogs one, but that was also really good.
My only regret was the lack of material Daemon put out in 2010, but he pulled a lot of weight in 2009 and already started the year off with a bang in his Nicktoons feature (good job, btw), so I can't feel too bad. His Mad review, the one thing I can think of that he did, was fair as well.
I loved your K-ON and Batman: TB&TB review, Desen, as well as your Duckman feature, which reminds me that I need to check more of it out soon. I also enjoyed Insommy's Summer Wars and Eden of the East reviews, both yours and Chalmer's THOH lists, and Foggle's Soulja Boy critiques. I could just say that I liked every article this year, but these were among my personal highlights.
Yeah, it was pretty cool working on these things, although I guess we kind of crapped out on the Christmas features(oh well). I still really want to do a review of How I Spent My Vacation, so I'll get working on that in a little bit, and I am pretty stoked to do the Nicktoons ones too, if we are still going through with that.
As for this past years, of course I liked my own, but yeah, DLA's Disney Afternoon reviews were really good, considering the amount of shows he had to do in a couple of months. All in all though, I think we did a good job, and the articles are still worth checking out months later(I coincidentally re-read Foggle's piece on Soulja Boy and anime today, for whatever reason).
Insommy kind of exploded with content in the last few weeks. It was stunning how much he put out, really.
This year I'll try to aim for about at least one review a month and a feature at least every two or three months to get a constant stream going. I still have to finish my Ren & Stimpy part of our masochism feature, and I'll probably be working on a review in the near future. (Hopefully within the next few weeks)
Are we still doing that masochism thing?
I don't even know what I'm doing now.
I was really looking forward to reading you Masochism review, if only to see Desensitized reaction to being forced to watch Ren and Stimpy. Really, I only remember that and you guys making Insommy watch the bad parts of CN, which should be interesting considering the time frame.
I'm still doing my R&S part of the review if you guys want to choose something else to do that's fine.
I can't actually remember what anyone else was doing other than I wanted Foggle to do Kiba.
I was apparently supposed to watch some Peach Girl anime or some shit. I don't really know.
My CN part's kind of down the drain given that it's since been showing cartoons of actual quality, and Johnny Test is more boring than rage-inducing for me, so no fun out of a review for that.
Okay.
Wanna watch Fish Hooks, and see Maxwell Atoms and Greenblatt on a bad day?
I think Chalmy should get something better. I kinda just pulled that one out of nowhere.
Quote from: Avaitor on January 04, 2011, 12:39:44 AM
Okay.
Wanna watch Fish Hooks, and see Maxwell Atoms and Greenblatt on a bad day?
Dude, I was going to suggest the same exact thing.
Also, since I heard the crew of Foster's is working on Fish Hooks, time to see how much Craig and Lauren held their hands during the production of Foster's.
I think Chalmey should watch something that is the very thesis on the bad of anime, but not something too obvious or a hentai series.
Any ideas?
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
I've already seen bits of that anyways. Nothing that special.
Clannad.
I was just kidding, anyway. I'm not really sure what to recommend.
I would say Naruto, but I figured you would want to start with something smaller.
You know what's a good way to find crap?
MAL (http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Baby_Naruto)
Go crazy.
Make him watch School Days. Its only 12 episodes long but its bad enough to make him despise anime forever.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on January 04, 2011, 01:01:08 AM
Make him watch School Days. Its only 12 episodes long but its bad enough to make him despise anime forever.
Nah. Like Avaitor said, we need to find a less obvious choice.
Hmm, and what should I review?
Want me to go deep into the Hanna-Barbera or Filmation vaults and find something awful, or is there anything in particular you want to see me take on?
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on January 04, 2011, 01:01:55 AM
Nah. Like Avaitor said, we need to find a less obvious choice.
What would constitute as not so obvious, then? Green Green?
I'd consider Green Green obvious ecchi with annoying pervy sidekicks. Just watch the opening credits, and it's obvious what minimum number of brain cells are required to figure out the series.
Something you might like: Soul Eater
Something that's really popular that I have no clue what it's about: Gintama
Something that's current that seems to attract otaku junkies: Ore Imouto
Something that's current that seems wrong but somehow adults might like it: Yosuga no Sora
Personally, I'd like a briefing on all those Ghost/dead people related stories: Ghost Hunt, Ghost Stories, Corpse Princess, High School of the Dead. Are any of these worth watching? Are they as thrilling as Higurashi, episodic as Hell Girl, or more like Red Garden?
Okay, so Desen is watching Ren & Stimpy, Chalmers is watching School Days, and I think Insommy is watching Fish Hooks.
What are EK, Foggle, and myself going to watch?
Cool. Would love to see Fish Hooks or Phineas and Ferb reviewed. They seem to promote the heck out of it along with whatever Suite Life and Jonas stuff they have going on.
Foggle is watching Kiba.
You and EK should choose for each other. :thumbup:
Well EK gave Chalmers his choice, and Chalmey and I are working on something for him.
Let's see what you guys can come up for me.
I'm coming out strong.
Genocyber.
Kiba, Episode 1 (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/01/ludovico-trials-trek-through-shitty.html) is up.
It gets worse.
Good lord, that was just the pilot?
This will get good. ;D
Hilarious review. I will say that the commentary kind of felt like it would be more suited to a video review than a written one, but it was still entertaining to read, nonetheless.
It kind of sucks that your only exposure to shounen has been the bad ones, but I can't blame you for your distaste of the genre after enduring titles like these.
Oh, BTW, I wanted to congratulate you, Foggle. You've officially made it further than I ever did in Kiba. I wasn't even able to make it past the first 10 minutes of the first episode (and let me just remind you that this was WAY back when I actually used to like Naruto....just keep that in mind....).
I actually did originally want to do a video review for this feature, but I don't really have the time to right now. :??:
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on January 09, 2011, 09:31:38 PM
It kind of sucks that your only exposure to shounen has been the bad ones, but I can't blame you for your distaste of the genre after enduring titles like these.
Well, Full Metal Panic is considered shounen, and that's in my top 10. I also really liked Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin (as well as Trust and Betrayal) when I watched them way back when (I'll go through them again someday). ;)
Let me just say that I literally only watched this show because of exposure to asbestos and paint fumes during down time at my old job. I don't actually know why I watched this show.
I actually forgot how little this show actually explains things with this review and how human beings are actually treated as plot points and nothing else. Not to forget all the undeserved pretentious babbling for no reason.
By the way, this was made to advertise a card game in Japan. Can you tell?
Full Metal Panic is actually kind of weird in that regard. Some sources say its shounen, some say its seinen, and some say its neither.
Most fans just settle for calling it a sci-fi/mecha/drama/comedy series. That's how I define it, myself. Though, it should be noted that both the 1st season of the anime and Fumoffu get classified as shounen, whereas TSR doesn't fall under that category (and for obvious reasons).
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on January 09, 2011, 09:38:52 PM
Full Metal Panic is actually kind of weird in that regard. Some sources say its shounen, some say its seinen, and some say its neither.
Most fans just settle for calling it a sci-fi/mecha/drama/comedy series. That's how I define it, myself. Though, it should be noted that both the 1st season of the anime and Fumoffu get classified as shounen, whereas TSR doesn't fall under that category (and for obvious reasons).
Yeah, I suppose it does seem more appropriate to categorize TSR onward as seinen.
Quote from: Desensitized on January 09, 2011, 09:39:02 PM
By the way, this was made to advertise a card game in Japan. Can you tell?
:lol:
Quote from: Desensitized on January 09, 2011, 09:39:02 PM
Let me just say that I literally only watched this show because of exposure to asbestos and paint fumes during down time at my old job. I don't actually know why I watched this show.
I actually forgot how little this show actually explains things with this review and how human beings are actually treated as plot points and nothing else. Not to forget all the undeserved pretentious babbling for no reason.
By the way, this was made to advertise a card game in Japan. Can you tell?
But the sad thing is that even other anime made to advertise products have been much better than this. I mean, Pokemon is terrible but at least it doesn't do anything to make me hate it with a passion within the first 10 fucking minutes of the first episode. And then there are shows like Digimon which go far beyond just trying to advertise something and treat their audience seriously with some unique ideas and fairly solid writing that is more mature than what you'd expect from a typical kids show. The fact of the matter is that this show goes beyond an effortless series that's just there for making money, it actually really feels like the writers went out of their way to piss people off. I'm not kidding about this.
Good Kiba review. Actually making me a bit ashamed of this preview thing I'm doing (mostly due to how short the pieces are).
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on January 09, 2011, 09:41:49 PM
Quote from: Desensitized on January 09, 2011, 09:39:02 PM
Let me just say that I literally only watched this show because of exposure to asbestos and paint fumes during down time at my old job. I don't actually know why I watched this show.
I actually forgot how little this show actually explains things with this review and how human beings are actually treated as plot points and nothing else. Not to forget all the undeserved pretentious babbling for no reason.
By the way, this was made to advertise a card game in Japan. Can you tell?
But the sad thing is that even other anime made to advertise products have been much better than this. I mean, Pokemon is terrible but at least it doesn't do anything to make me hate it with a passion within the first 10 fucking minutes of the first episode. And then there are shows like Digimon which go far beyond just trying to advertise something and treat their audience seriously with some unique ideas and fairly solid writing that is more mature than what you'd expect from a typical kids show. The fact of the matter is that this show goes beyond an effortless series that's just there for making money, it actually really feels like the writers went out of their way to piss people off. I'm not kidding about this.
This was made by... Well, let me sum up what I've gathered on this show.
The people behind this have never watched anything beyond Dragonball Z and it's many clones. They were offered a deal to make a show based on these cards, but instead demanded they could make a deep and mature show without any limits on what they could do.
Because of their lack of any real talent, this was what they came out with. An incoherent mess of a story with characters straight out of "How to Write Tragedy 101" book, on top of a generic anime art style with a soundtrack that might as well consist of nothing but the Price Is Right loser horn.
Basically, it's a bunch of talentless hacks that got the idea they were given carte blanche to write a masterpiece. The only problem is... Well, that pesky lack of talent.
EDIT: Let me just repeat that it really does get FAR worse from this point.
The OP is the only not terrible thing so far. That's not to say it's good, but it at least doesn't make my ears bleed.
So, does anyone know if there are any decent anime this season worth keeping up with? As for me, I only plan on sticking with Level E so far, only because its a Togashi series, and its actually quite refreshing compared to all of the other generic comedies out there (I also like its "bizarre" style of humor better than most other series that try to be bizarre and funny). People who haven't read the manga may either love or hate the fact that the series gets progressively less serious and more comedy oriented later on. Personally I like it if only because Ouji works perfectly when clashing with the other characters, since he's the perfect ass-hole character who likes screwing with others for his amusement, and I especially like the arc where he messes around with the school kids who end up wanting to tear his throat out. The personality of the other characters themselves also made the manga a fairly enjoyable experience. I hope the anime improves on the manga in the same way that the anime series' for YYH and HXH also improved on Togashi's manga for both of those series. From the looks of it I may find this to be the best series of this season, even if only by default (It is still good in its own right, though, but of course I don't like it quite as much as I like YYH and HXH, even though this is the furthest Togashi has ever strayed away from typical shounen stuff).
Oh yeah, and even though its been mentioned a million times, I think that the Opening is great. I especially love its animation. Also, the opinions on this anime seem to be generally positive so far, even from people who aren't really a fan of Togashi's other stuff, which is kind of strange but still a good thing.
It'd be cool to see someone from this site do a review for this series when its done, like Desensitized or someone else, but if nobody else wants to do it then I probably will, only because its a Toagashi series.
I wouldn't mind writing about it, but if you want to do something on it you're more than welcome. I look forward to how this series progresses.
Maybe you would like to do a comparison piece on the differences between the anime and the manga when it's done? That might be cool.
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. From the looks of it, the anime is bound to have some difference from the manga. It already at least feels a good deal different in its tone, even if it covers the same material from the manga.
Well, I got the first episode into the preview I'm doing, if that counts.
Was that Kiba thing an OVA or episode 1 of that series? It sounded very average.
Well if you need to review a pointless ecchi series, there's Popotan. Saw the two reviews on ANN and totally agree.
I like that idea of comparing to the manga or at least recommending which one to read or watch first for maximum enjoyment.
Episode 1 of that series... :unimpressed:
So how far are you now?
Quote from: Avaitor on January 13, 2011, 11:49:35 PM
So how far are you now?
Episode 6. It's slow going and also painful. It seriously gets worse with each passing episode.
And it is done. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-anime-2011-clusterfuck-by-dr.html)
You know. We should definitely get one of you guys to do this for Spring. We should also get somebody to watch all of Onii-chan for the Ludovico Trials once it ends.
If there is anyone out there who doesn't think anime is at an all time nadir... well, just look at those shows.
The best one is an adaption of an old manga story. I mean, WOW.
Great set of reviews. Its really pathetic how there is almost nothing exciting going on at all this entire season, but its even more pathetic to see how many of them involve copious amounts of fan-service and incest (yes....incest....fuck Japan).
I kind of find myself chuckling behind everyone's back in regards to Level E. I liked the premiere myself, but just be warned that its completely misleading as to what the rest of the show will be like. It....sort of changes genre completely by arc (keep in mind that these arcs will only last a couple of episodes each), and....well I best not spoil it for anyone. :P
I thought I should mention that JO (aka Hope Chapman of the ANN review staff) has officially claimed that Oniichan is the worst anime that she has ever seen in her review of the first episode. She gave it a rating of GFTO.
I find it kind of odd that a lot of the ANN critics took a liking to Beelzebub. I was sure that most of them hated most modern Shonen Jump stuff aside from One Piece.
If that's the best Japan has to offer this year, then I have to take back my statement refuting that anime was going downhill.
Interesting selection of titles.
Some of these sound kind of interesting, some sound horrible.
Everything has a chance to improve, so who knows how they'll turn out. But I don't think we'll get enough Bebop anytime soon.
Quote from: Angus on January 14, 2011, 11:31:17 PM
If that's the best Japan has to offer this year, then I have to take back my statement refuting that anime was going downhill.
Well for all that matters, the output actually looks a bit better than what we had last winter (http://chartfag.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/winter-09-10-v3fixed.jpg), in that I found 2 relatively good shows this season instead of just 1.
**Semi-Spoiler-ish Level E stuff below**
Spoiler
Whether people will continue to like Level E depends on whether they can see it for what it is (assuming that the anime follows the manga). In truth, it was more of an experimental manga for Togashi that was meant to be short and try out a mesh of different ideas. For what its worth, it tells a few story arcs over its run which have really good ideas; one that Dr. Insomniac might like would be one that deals with a group of people getting trapped in the mind/subconscious of someone (the arc itself feels very akin to Inception in quite a few aspects), but nobody knows who's mind their trapped in among them. I found it to be an interesting mix of really well-done, and mostly well-executed ideas. My problem that really prevented me from truly loving the manga, though, was that it honestly really had no central theme, aside from the fact that Ouji is the main character throughout all of it.
Level E to me still proves that Togashi can really come up with some brilliant ideas and execute them with writing ranging in quality from decent to great (in most cases its well above average, IMO).
Nice synopses! Sounds like this season will be just as shitty as the last 20. I think I'll watch Level E sometime soon, though.
My Cats Don't Dance review is up.
I like this one, so I hope you guys do too. :happytime:
Man, I love this movie. It's a shame that Space Jam was the more successful Warner film at the time, since CDD has more of the Golden Age of Animation spirit than Space Jam will ever have.
Yeah I dig it too. Always reminds me of Singin' in the Rain and classic CN, two great things to make me think backo n.
i'll have to read that after school today.
Great review, Desensitized. Its been ages since I've seen CDD, but your review really makes me want to check it out again.
Quote from: SNES Chalmers on January 24, 2011, 06:50:50 AM
Man, I love this movie. It's a shame that Space Jam was the more successful Warner film at the time, since CDD has more of the Golden Age of Animation spirit than Space Jam will ever have.
Space Jam doesn't have ANY animation spirit, period.
I hadn't seen the movie in ages when I got it, and just sitting down with it and watching it all the way through was an absolute joy.
The film really should have done better than it did.
Great review. Just looking at the images you posted reminds me of how vibrant the entire film is. The last time I saw it was a couple of years ago when CN randomly decided to air it, and I DVR'd the film.
It's a lot of fun, and if this is an example of what Turner's animation studio would have been capable of making for theaters, I'm saddened that we didn't get anything else from them.
Quote from: Avaitor on January 24, 2011, 04:01:07 PM
Just looking at the images you posted reminds me of how vibrant the entire film is.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi968.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fae164%2FSNES_Chalmers%2Fcatsdontdancehollywood.png&hash=07fd75d19c326723ca06a4b4d21d76e20edf9e93)
Love this establishing shot of Hollywood, right near the beginning of the film. It is really beautiful artwork, and it is too bad we couldn't see more of this come from them.
And yeah, I have a copy of it on my computer. :thumbup:
Yes, the art in this movie is phenomenal. The whole time watching my eyes were darting all over the screen to catch anything I might be missing.
Good introduction! I can't wait to see your opinion of the APC episodes (I hope you watch ALL of them). :joy:
There's only six of them... So I am.
I honestly think this is going to get harder for me, because I actually know how good the show can get. Watching it get flushed down the crapper is bad enough, but... this later stuff sounds dreadful.
This one sounds right up your alley. (http://www.tv.com/ren-and-stimpy-adult-party-cartoon/stimpyandamp039s-pregnant-1/episode/256585/summary.html?tag=ep_guide;summary) :)
Oh yeah, I forgot to comment on this, but great article Desen.
R&S is a show that has it's highs and it's lows, but gets ridiculously overrated due to how great it's highs can get even though they're few and far in between.
Can't wait to see what you think about what's next in store for you. :)
Wow, nice critiquing. It's hard to find some good R&S episodes beyond the heavily quoted ones like Happy Happy Joy Joy.
Thanks for the comments.
All I have to say is thank you for giving me Stimpy's Fan club to watch after Son, because I think my critique would have been far more harsh if I ended on that one instead.
But... I'm definitely not looking forward to what's next. :gonk:
New review's up. (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/disappearance-of-haruhi-suzumiya-by-dr.html) Still feels weird that I actually really liked something involving Haruhi. :wth:
Good review! I always thought the movie looked more interesting than the series simply because the worst character only had a very minor role in it. I guess I was right. :joy:
Wait, Mikuru is barely in it?
It already sounds more promising than either shows!
I'll have to read this later though.
Quote from: Avaitor on February 21, 2011, 02:41:00 PM
Wait, Mikuru is barely in it?
It already sounds more promising than either shows!
I'll have to read this later though.
I was talking about Haruhi. Mikuru sucks too, but not as much, IMO.
Quote from: Foggle on February 21, 2011, 03:17:59 PM
Quote from: Avaitor on February 21, 2011, 02:41:00 PM
Wait, Mikuru is barely in it?
It already sounds more promising than either shows!
I'll have to read this later though.
I was talking about Haruhi. Mikuru sucks too, but not as much, IMO.
They're about equal to me, but from what I recall, Mikuru existed for little more than fan service, while Haruhi actually had some importance to the plot. Plus all she ever did besides upskirts and boob shots was cry.
Good review, BTW. The length scares me, but it sounds like a more entertaining experience than the series.
Quote from: Avaitor on February 21, 2011, 02:41:00 PM
Wait, Mikuru is barely in it?
Well, the main Mikuru is barely in it. Future Mikuru plays more of a part, but at least she's not pure fanservice bait.
Wow, such a decent score for the movie, so it's as good as the original series?
Future Mikuru is a half decent character. Present Mikuru is barely one. Kyon is what makes the show for me.
I'm glad someone who didn't care for the show reviewed the movie, because despite liking it I didn't really want to review this. And yes it's all the better because the lesser characters (I won't disagree with you on them, I don't like those two much either) aren't in it as much.
That plot involving time travel was directly before the Endless Eight and is the only decent part of that season. It's a good prologue for the movie I find and the only good part of season 2.
Good review, Insommy. I haven't actually got around to watching the whole thing yet, but I think I might do that now.
Just posted a new feature! I put a lot of effort into it... can you tell? :joy:
Make sure to read the article I linked to at the very beginning before you dive into mine. ;)
Ouch, man. Ouch.
Still who else would buy volume 22 of a series if they had never experienced it before in the first place?
Just seems nutty.
Well, he'd at least read the first 10 before. But, really,
QuoteIt's been a long while since I've read Excel Saga. Twelve volumes to be exact.
QuoteHonestly, aside from the Excel double plot, I couldn't figure out what was happening.
makes me question why he even decided to write a review of it in the first place. You shouldn't expect to understand something when you skip that much of it.
Hot damn.
How you guys liking our Ludovico Trials feature?
Yeah, the Games episodes were extremely boring. Ren & Stimpy truly was a show ahead of its time (most kids' cartoons today are disgusting and incoherent rather than fun and original).
While I may have been hit or miss on the early episodes and found the Games episodes really boring... APC is a whole different beast.
I've already seen the first two episodes and I already want the man fired from a cannon into the sun.
Heh, good review. The Games episodes as a whole were a lot less creative and fun than Spumco's. Like you said, there's some good in there, but the lion's share is bland cartoon crap.
And yeah, I hope you enjoy APC. :D
I had to stop after two episodes.
Onward & Upward was bad, but after Ren Seeks Help I need a bit of a break. If you thought my K-On review was overly harsh... This one isn't going to be pretty.
"Fire Dogs 2", man. "Fire Dogs 2".
I forget, did you ever see the first one? that would make for a good compare-contrast section.
I did, and it was one of the ones I liked. The only thing worse than a sequel to Fire Dogs would have been a Stimpy's Invention 2.
Ugh, I really don't want to watch the rest, but I know I have to. Going back and reading the reaction to when these first aired is quite funny, though.
Quote from: Desensitized on March 20, 2011, 12:47:24 PM
If you thought my K-On review was overly harsh... This one isn't going to be pretty.
Ah, but how will it compare to my Ookami Kakushi review?
Quote from: Foggle on March 20, 2011, 01:53:55 PM
Quote from: Desensitized on March 20, 2011, 12:47:24 PM
If you thought my K-On review was overly harsh... This one isn't going to be pretty.
Ah, but how will it compare to my Ookami Kakushi review?
We'll have to see, but I still have 4 episodes to go and I apparently haven't seen the worst of it yet.
So how has Kiba been treating you?
Quote from: Desensitized on March 20, 2011, 01:55:09 PM
Quote from: Foggle on March 20, 2011, 01:53:55 PM
Quote from: Desensitized on March 20, 2011, 12:47:24 PM
If you thought my K-On review was overly harsh... This one isn't going to be pretty.
Ah, but how will it compare to my Ookami Kakushi review?
We'll have to see, but I still have 4 episodes to go and I apparently haven't seen the worst of it yet.
So how has Kiba been treating you?
Like Josef Fritzl if he was my father.
Part 2 is going to be epic length. Originally I was going to do five parts, but I'm packing 50 entire episodes into this bad boy.
Part 1 of my torture is up. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/03/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads.html)
Blogger was being a bitch when it came to formatting it though.
... the fuck was that?
Quote from: Avaitor on March 28, 2011, 02:57:56 PM
... the fuck was that?
Yeah, the first episode's fucking ghastly in how bad it is...
...unless you're referring to the recap itself. :(
I have no idea what's going on
I had no idea Clannad was so fucking terrible. People cry to this shit?
Quote from: Foggle on March 28, 2011, 08:52:44 PM
I had no idea Clannad was so fucking terrible. People cry to this shit?
Apparently, out-of-left-field disasters happening to pale, pretty people is what gets the tears rolling for people nowadays. Just ask Nicholas Sparks or Stephenie Meyer.
That said, what did you guys think about the actual recap? It's my first time doing something in this style, so I'm wondering how it could be improved for next installments.
You did a good job on the recap from what I can tell.
Because I'm not sure how you sum something like that up.
Yeah, I'll cry to dramas like that. :cry:
As I've said before, I really want to like the show since I enjoyed Kanon, but it still needs to hook me in. If the dub is that bleh, maybe it's time to switch to sub; it's too bad since ADV has put out some quotable titles in the past.
I do like the play-by-play critiquing style. I've seen that done with pro wrestling and it's partly what inspired me to write recaps on tv.com except without all the biases that make it fun to hack up.
I am rather fond of the new review and feature.
Nice facelift. :thumbup: Bleach needs to represent!
:sly:
Good stuff.
*checks out the board and new reviews*
Huh... interesting.
Surprise review! (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/04/avaitor-hits-beauty-and-beast-with-his.html)
I'll send this to The Film Experience to see if I can get a mention on their blog.
It's done. It's finally done. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/04/spring-anime-2011-clusterfuck.html)
Nice feature! Hana-Saku Iroha sounds a lot better than I figured it would. I like stories that revolve around characters instead of plots revolving on cliches.
Very interesting read. Sounds like I got some of the better ones. :lol:
Wow, no wonder they banned dirty anime from Tokyo.
Wow, this season looks a lot better than last one.
There's more than one show that seems interesting. But a lot of it does appear to be awful.
So yeah, I actually liked this show. (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/04/puella-magi-madoka-magica-on-contrary.html)
Good review, the show definitely seems more interesting than I gave it credit for.
QuoteIt's not ultraviolent or exploitative like Elfen Lied.
That was pretty much my number 1 issue with Narutaru's take on the deconstruction idea, same with Elfen Lied. The needless gore and pointless sexual content distracted from the concept tremendously, ironically detracting from the experience and making it less enjoyable and memorable despite the good traits they bring forth to the audience.
N&TH&T was a lot more tasteful about that kind of thing, even if the message may have been hammered on a bit too hard at times it never relied on cheap tricks to constantly remind you this was '
different(tm)', it did it through the story.
I was interested in this show, but never really got around to watching it. Suppose I was right to want to look into it!
Quote from: Desensitized on April 26, 2011, 01:05:07 AM
N&TH&T
What is this strange abbreviation? :lol:
N&TH&T = Now and Then, Here and There
Madoka Magica's still on my list given the pedigree of the director, who also storyboarded and directed for YYH back in the days. Although the last time he did something with Yuki Kajiura was Le Portrait of Petit Cossette, and that was average.
Quote from: Angus on April 26, 2011, 02:08:50 PM
who also storyboarded and directed for YYH back in the days.
Would you be referring to Abe Noriyuki? I'm not sure how much the person who gets listed as the director or story-boarder for an anime is really responsible for, because he was also listed as the director and story-boarder for Bleach....
But, just the mention of anything YYH-related in the slightest is enough to get me interested in checking something out, as per usual.
Akiyuki Shinbo, who's better known for his randomness with Pani Poni Pash and the second Negima season. Back in the YYH days he was in the rotation for episode director and storyboard.
A general question, is there a specific review anyone wants? I'm willing to take suggestions as I want to do one but can't really decide on any.
I've been kind of busy with non-site writing and the like recently, so I kind of want to get back into the swing of things.
Do you mean something that has recently aired or just anything in general?
I'm up for anything. Just try not to make it a 100+ episode show or something. :sweat:
Code Geass. Someone finally needs to dissect why that shit makes no sense.
I was going to suggest doing a review of Avengers when you watch it, but then I remembered that Avaitor recently added that as an entry to our list, so its probably better to wait on something like that, I suppose.
I could maybe think of a couple of other things to recommend, but I'm not sure what you're in the mood for.
How about trying to review something that you like that you feel is underrated or go less noticed, these days? Something like an old-school shonen that nobody else watches, or you could also review something more mainstream that you like if you want to recommend for people to pick it up on DVD.
I'm only doing a couple of paragraphs on it, so Desen can write a more detailed review of the first set if he wants to.
Would you guys be interested in doing a review of the Sam and Max: Freelance Police cartoon? You only have 14 episodes to do. So length isn't a problem. It would be nice to see someone else opinion on this show.
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 28, 2011, 10:51:14 PM
Would you guys be interested in doing a review of the Sam and Max: Freelance Police cartoon? You only have 14 episodes to do. So length isn't a problem. It would be nice to see someone else opinion on this show.
Or better yet, how about you do it? Could be interesting to get a guest poster for once.
Quote from: Desensitized on April 28, 2011, 04:50:00 PM
A general question, is there a specific review anyone wants? I'm willing to take suggestions as I want to do one but can't really decide on any.
I've been kind of busy with non-site writing and the like recently, so I kind of want to get back into the swing of things.
Fairy Tail seems to be popular. I wasn't hooked when I saw the one episode in China. Also, Sket Dance started in April, if that wasn't already reviewed by the Spring set.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on April 28, 2011, 11:46:14 PM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 28, 2011, 10:51:14 PM
Would you guys be interested in doing a review of the Sam and Max: Freelance Police cartoon? You only have 14 episodes to do. So length isn't a problem. It would be nice to see someone else opinion on this show.
Or better yet, how about you do it? Could be interesting to get a guest poster for once.
You know what? After thinking it over for the whole weekend, I think I'll take that invite. Provided, I think the earliest I might be able to work on that is two weeks from now.
I got my review up!
How do you guys like the Avengers? I think their show sucks!
The memories... it burns.
It's even worse than you remember!
Great review. I never actually saw the original Avengers cartoon, but if what you wrote is any indication, that probably makes me lucky. :happytime:
It'd be interesting if you watched the new Avengers cartoon all the way up until where it has currently left off at the end of the 1st season, just for the sake of comparison in how much has improved with that show since the train-wreck cartoon that you reviewed aired on TV for kids to be completely let down by.
Finally just read your Avengers review, Desen.
Holy mother of god, how could they go so wrong here? I mean, wow.
It really is the perfect storm of crap.
I don't know who the genius was that thought something of this level could compete with what DC was offering at the time, but it doesn't even compete with what they were offering at the time.
New review. (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/kung-fu-panda-2-double-po-double-pow-by.html)
It's a shame that this isn't doing as well as it should be. I thoroughly enjoyed KFP 2.
Sweet review. I'm still kind of surprised it isn't doing too well, it looks like a fun time like the first one.
Thanks for the review. I'll add that it did a good job mixing in humor to break up some of the intensity. Some of those moments had us cracking up. Although I might be the only person in the world who thought about Kaleido Star during one of the big scenes. That, and One Piece of course, but those references might be more obvious. Also some of the fight sequences go really quickly; might be worth a slow-mo viewing when the video comes out.
Odd font aside, pretty good review, though chances are I'll just wait for the rental.
Yeah, it turned out really wonky this time, and I can't seem to fix it. It still seems off no matter what style I put it on. I'll look more into that later.
Great review. I've been wanting to see KFP2, as I really enjoyed the first movie, but my money is limited these days and theaters are expensive so I can only choose a select few movies each month that I want to see the most, which is why I ended up skipping KFP2 since I'll just wait until I can rent it. I do plan on seeing First Class this weekend if everything works our alright, though.
I saw it again with some other friends today (my local theater has a special where it's only $5 for 2D movies on Tuesdays, so I had no problem with going back), and I have to say that it holds up quite well. I underestimated how effective Lord Shen was. Special credit must go to whoever dilated his eyes. Great job there.
Another great entry.
QuoteIn less than a minute, you manage to make the scenes between Anakin and C3PO from the Phantom Menace seem natural and well-written. Bravo, KyoAni, bravo.
Excellent! :lol: I hate Clannad (hell, Key in general) so much.
Whoa, haha. Great stuff, man.
Couldn't help but notice that Insommy's newest piece (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/07/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads.html) is up.
Man, these keep on getting better and better. I know that these will probably get forgotten about due to the list, but you deserve some credit here for keeping up with the show.
That actually read like he was having a meltdown while watching the show.
You okay, dude? ;)
Quote from: Desensitized on July 02, 2011, 10:09:06 PM
That actually read like he was having a meltdown while watching the show.
You okay, dude? ;)
Most of it was written during 2 sleep-deprived nights, so that probably explains some of my more vulgar moments in the piece.
Nail-biting cliffhanger, dude. I'm sure you're waiting on bated breath for the next episode.
Added a section to the features page for the Ludovico Trials.
Sweet, thanks for that! :)
Maybe we should more variety in the titles for each. Like give the Top 65 something vivid and welcoming for its font, while title the Ludovico Trials in something hideous that gives off a "This is gonna suck, isn't it?" vibe.
Though what we have now's fine.
I'm really bad at image editing. It would look even worse than it already does, probably. :shit:
Unless someone else wants to make the buttons for me. That'd be cool. :thumbup:
Let me introduce our first guest reviewer, as Kiddington takes on the live-action FOP movie. (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/fairly-odd-movie-grow-up-nickelodeon-by.html)
And it's a good thing that I skipped this... :sly:
**Standing Ovation**
Great job Kiddington. I have to commend you for not only being able to stoach sitting through that entire travesty but being able to brilliantly bash the hell out of it as well. Truly, your write-up is worthy of the highest form of commendation. :thumbup:
I salute you for sitting through that thing.
That must have taken you awhile to write, good job!
Good lord... that ending. My brain hurts just reading that shit.
This is probably the best review for that thing I watched last night.
Thank you all for the compliments! It is much appreciated. :)
Quote from: Desensitized on July 10, 2011, 08:03:37 PM
I salute you for sitting through that thing.
That must have taken you awhile to write, good job!
Heh... believe it or not, my original draft was even
longer than the final product. I had more bits of the stomach-churning dialogue thrown in ("AVAST, YE SALTY PEANUTS!!!" from the opening act pirate battle being one of such lines), and the original was also more spoiler heavy. I cut it down a bit, mostly as a space-saving measure, as it was a pretty long review to begin with (and I didn't want you guys to get
too bored with my first time out :happytime:). I also decided to keep the ending in the dark, just in case anyone here actually wanted to see it for themselves, and didn't want the entire thing to be spoiled.
...anyway, that's that. As for any future articles are concerned, I'll basically review anything you guys don't want to bother with. More often than not, that'll mean sitting through a lot of crap, but hey, I don't mind. To be honest, I like reviewing bad things; gives me a lot of material to work with. =P
I'm curious as to what the ending is, but there's no way I'll ever watch even a minute of that crap.
Quote from: Kiddington on July 10, 2011, 08:50:19 PM
As for any future articles are concerned, I'll basically review anything you guys don't want to bother with. More often than not, that'll mean sitting through a lot of crap, but hey, I don't mind. To be honest, I like reviewing bad things; gives me a lot of material to work with. =P
Why not write a second opinion on Umineko?
...I kid, I kid! I wouldn't be so cruel. I, too, like reviewing bad stuff. Gives you more room to make jokes. ;)
Great review their, Kiddington!
I must have seen a cut down version of this movie or something. I don't remember seeing Vicky, Chester, AJ, or anyone besides the "important" characters to the plot at all during this movie. And I watched the entire thing. But I'm not complaining or anything, as it sounds like I got off easy.
Again, great job of reviewing that horrid piece of trash!
Quote from: Eddy on July 10, 2011, 11:47:19 PM
Great review their, Kiddington!
I must have seen a cut down version of this movie or something. I don't remember seeing Vicky, Chester, AJ, or anyone besides the "important" characters to the plot at all during this movie. And I watched the entire thing. But I'm not complaining or anything, as it sounds like I got off easy.
Again, great job of reviewing that horrid piece of trash!
Yeah, I do believe they were showing an edited version after the fact. I noticed a couple of people commenting about that on Twitter earlier today.
I'm not sure exactly
why they would do this, but I do find it funny that they cut out each and every scene with the three worst characters of the movie. I mean, everybody's pretty bad for the most part... but Vicky, Chester, and AJ were
by far the worst of the group.
...and yes, by not seeing any part of Vicky, you
definitely got off easy. :light:
"Tootie; the insane, ugly girl"
I stopped reading right there.
This review REEKS of butthurt Trixie Tang shipper.
Uh... wut?
Haha, hope that's not our J!!!.
Yeah, I noticed that earlier. Don't 'ya just love trolls? :happytime:
At first, I almost thought that was Mario500 using a different name, but then I realized this isn't really his posting style. If that were him, he would have lectured about my review being too negative, and there was no need to be so negative... because negative is BAD. =P
I laughed a lot harder than I should have. :happytime:
Part 1 of the Summer Clusterfuck is up! (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-anime-2011-clusterfuck-part-1.html)
EDIT: I added a new section specifically for Clusterfucks on the Features page, btw.
http://www.corvusonline.net/corvuschatter/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12420
Found this while I was googling this site(using the computer on the ship). I want to say this is GregX's, but I can't be sure. And there is some pretty big disagreements in there as well.
Heh, yep, that's GregX. I actually have an account on this board, but left after some changes in locations and power. And because some of the guys were jerks.
That last page is hilarious, though. Maybe I'll log back on to respond to everyone.
This should probably go in the Top Cartoons Talkback thread, but I don't know how to move specific posts, so I'll let it slide. ;)
Wow @ that last page. I'm detecting some intense levels of butthurt. Go ahead and give them the what-for, dude.
This one actually made me laugh the most:
QuoteOK, looked up this group. Really not sure their credentials or anything. I would put more credence in this list if it was made up of persons actually from the industry, both the technical and writing side of things as well as actual critics. I would like to see some actual criteria used to judge these.
Since when do you have to have "credentials", and/or work in the industry to have an opinion on animation? Give me a break. We can't
all have Jerry Beck's job.
...well, but hey, look at this way; you guys
are getting some free promotion out of this. That's... something. =P
You know, I would be interested in there being a ranked list of animated works that gets remade every decade or so ala Sight and Sound.
I'd love to see what actual professionals have to put into a list like this.
Really, to be honest I'm actually surprised that there weren't more negative comments than what I saw. With lists like this you'll always inevitably get people who disagree, as no matter what you'll always have people with different opinions. That's all fine and good and I respect the people like Greg X who could express their opinions in a more civil manner. There were some really butthurt posters on there, though, but not as many as I would have expected.
I'm still surprised that we never got too many complaints specifically about Dragon Ball making it over DBZ or YYH making it in the top 10. The only person who complained about either of those shows on that thread is Greg X, and to be fair I can see where he is coming from as he always struck me as the type of guy who would not be so keen on shonen series, especially in how they differ from the formats of American action cartoons, which to be fair can be said to have superior formulas with faster pacing and such (though I would defend the entry as deserving of being high on the list no matter what). That said, we still got some positive responses to our list so its fair enough to say that we do have a lot of genuinely great and deserving entries on our list.
Quote from: Kiddington on July 13, 2011, 06:06:32 PM
This one actually made me laugh the most:
QuoteOK, looked up this group. Really not sure their credentials or anything. I would put more credence in this list if it was made up of persons actually from the industry, both the technical and writing side of things as well as actual critics. I would like to see some actual criteria used to judge these.
Since when do you have to have "credentials", and/or work in the industry to have an opinion on animation? Give me a break. We can't all have Jerry Beck's job.
...well, but hey, look at this way; you guys are getting some free promotion out of this. That's... something. =P
Most people in the industry and "real" critics don't tend to make lists like this. It's part of the reason we pushed to make something like this. As far as lists go, hate if you will, but I would like to see at least one link to a better one.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on July 13, 2011, 06:48:27 PM
I'm still surprised that we never got too many complaints specifically about Dragon Ball making it over DBZ or YYH making it in the top 10. The only person who complained about either of those shows on that thread is Greg X, and to be fair I can see where he is coming from as he always struck me as the type of guy who would not be so keen on shonen series, especially in how they differ from the formats of American action cartoons, which to be fair can be said to have superior formulas with faster pacing and such (though I would defend the entry as deserving of being high on the list no matter what). That said, we still got some positive responses to our list so its fair enough to say that we do have a lot of genuinely great and deserving entries on our list.
I do know that Greg hates DBZ, and I guess the original Dragon Ball as well. And I don't know how much of YYH he's seen. I would think that Chapter Black would change his opinion, but if he didn't find anything special in the first episode, who knows what say to him about it.
I definitely don't see how anyone who saw any of the Chapter Black arc of YYH could possibly say that its "nothing special." And to be clear on what I mean, I could still perfectly understand if they said its still not their cup of tea or if they don't like that kind of story-telling, but I certainly can't see how anyone could deny the uniqueness and effort put into that arc by saying that its nothing special, especially for an action cartoon. If someone can call Avatar terrific despite not really doing anything truly stand-out in the medium until its 3rd season (well, that's at least what most people tell me, including my friends who are fans of the show), at the very least they can't call Chapter Black run-of-the-mill by any stretch.
I can understand if Greg X doesn't like DBZ (hell, even I have a shit-ton of problems with it, myself), and can even respect his opinion of he hates the original Dragon Ball just as much, but I sort of have a hunch that FUNimation's sub-par dubbing for DB might have given him a harsher opinion on the series. But, for what its worth I don't think that even he could deny the series's importance in animation, even if it was mostly an influence on anime than western animation.
Anyways, it'd be nice if somebody responded to some of the stuff that the more sensible users on that thread had to say. I'd do it myself but I actually can't give an adequate response for most of the series that people have problems with (either being or not being on the list), so I wouldn't be of much use there.
Everyone seems to angry over the inclusion of King of the Hill and Ed, Edd n Eddy. :whuh:
I just noticed that one guy (the one who bitched about us not putting Robotech on the list) claims that Johnny Bravo is unwatchable crap in seasons 2 and 3 (you know, the ones that are the best in terms of both writing and humor) and that it was a bad "nostalgia-fueled decision" on our part, while claiming that instead of that we should have included shows like Kim Possible and Danny Phantom on the list....Yeah, I'm not sure how to respond to that....:wth:
One of my favorite parts is when someone attempted to call this list a little biased... when that person in turn admits that he prefers anime to western animation to begin with.
And rereading the part about the Fleischer cartoons not making it in, this was something really hard to do. I do believe that the shorts made by the brothers are easily among the most important cartoons made, period. But I just can't add them up into a series together. It just doesn't seem right to me, and I still don't know if I made the right call about putting the MGM cartoons in together. And I can't leave certain series in by themselves, like Popeye, Superman, or what have you, since the ranking runs thin when you do.
It seems like I was the only one working on the list to even consider the Fleischer cartoons, and I still don't know what the right call was.
That, and the Disney cartoons. Same deal, more or less.
Well, this list IS a little biased, given how some of our rankings caused quite a lot of controversy with other people, but really even the people who have a ton of disagreements on our list still pretty much can't deny that its the best list of this sort to come out yet, unless someone can think of another one that's better than this.
And, lets be honest, here: If we were to be completely objective and only rank shows based on importance and their broader appeal and high level of acclaim, we'd be sure to have a lot of classics in our list but it would be a REALLY predictable and REALLY boring list. Hell, even if we did stir up some controversy, at least that got some discussion going among other people reading our list. Really, I think lists like this should have just a touch of bias to them in order to keep things fresh. It shouldn't be a general list but something that reflects us as a group. We rank stuff that is expected and that deserves it not just because they truly are great but because they mean a lot to us as well. By the same token, we rank stuff that others may not feel deserved to be ranked because they still also mean a lot to us as well.
I do think that most of the controversial choices were at least defended well. I mean, there's a reason that Tiny Toons outranks Animaniacs. A couple, actually. Same with Dragon Ball and DBZ.
I've been planning a response to that thread which hits all of the points you mentioned, plus a few more. Because I agree- if you can defend it, sometimes seeing less obvious choices make it to the top is rewarding. I'd love to make a list for albums where Kick is #1, just to see what people will initially think, and then what they would consider after it gets heavily expanded on.
The list is a little biased? :zonk:
I don't mind that Robotech didn't make the list, after all, it's a list of the top favorites among the Animation Revelation writers, not the most influential cartoons in the US.
We even mentioned that Macross/Robotech almost made the list. That should be good enough, really.
There was no way everyone's favorites were getting in.
Double dose of the (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/07/ludovico-trials-x-men-anime-112.html) Trials in tow. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/07/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads_19.html)
Oh shit!
The X-Men anime sounds thoroughly mediocre so far, but I'm sure it'll get far worse later on. Clannad, on the other hand... sounds stupider than usual, if that's even possible. Nice Futurama reference in the first paragraph; I quote that line at least once a week.
Quote from: This part is awesome.To everyone's surprise, Tomoyo does indeed pull two fake breasts out of her shirt, as her voice suddenly deepens and the two boys slowly discover a bulge on the supposed lass's skirt. Sunohara starts going through an existential crisis over how he's been beaten again and again by a drag queen, while Tomoya starts narrating on how his sexuality has become questioned by this...
I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out one of the five things I learned in my high school Japanese class. The line "you can call me Kotomi-chan" is actually incorrect, as it is improper and downright stupid for someone to refer to him/herself using an honorific.
The "comedy relief" involving Sunohara must get really old really fast. His antics and what happens to him because of them sound so fucking banal and forced.
I think Dave Riley said it best when he described Sunohara as the character put into the show to take all the abuse the protagonist would otherwise take in a harem show. Even then Tomoya still gets abused by Kyo plenty.
For the majority of his screen time he's in a constant state of getting his ass kicked.
I think that can be pretty hilarious from time to time.
But his story arc with his sister makes him a complete character and not just a string of violent beat downs.
I like Clannad pretty well and I consider it compelling (though obviously exploiting in it's drama) but these reviews are hilarious. I'm looking forward to reading the thoughts on the more dramatic moments.
Just read both new X-Men and Clannad reviews. Really good (or should I say bad) stuff. Why haven't you promoted these yourself yet, though?
Was actually one of the more tolerable episodes, at least until the end. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads.html)
Fuck, didn't see the previous two articles. Catching up on those, as well.
QuoteIn short, she's shy and giving out starfish is her cry for help.
Good god.
You've watched A Serbian Film? That's the cinema. That's film!
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 01, 2011, 02:47:57 AM
Was actually one of the more tolerable episodes
That fact alone is depressing as hell.
Hilarious stuff, dude! Clannad just sinks lower and lower. And good job on that new X-Men write-up, Daemon!
Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to booze I go. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads_12.html)
what
I'm pretty sure paint-huffing middle-schoolers could come up with better stories than this.
I'll never look at Little Bill the same away again. Then again, I don't really look at Little Bill to begin with, so...
I get a headache just reading these things. I can't imagine what you're going through watching them all.
Quote from: Avaitor on August 12, 2011, 10:31:22 PM
I'll never look at Little Bill the same away again. Then again, I don't really look at Little Bill to begin with, so...
Sounds like someone needs some private time. :>
The trials spare no one, as we get a series of guest recaps of /a/'s beloved Infinite Stratos by Kiddington. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/ludovico-trials-infinite-stratos.html)
Good article! I always wanted to know what was so bad about IS, but I could never bring myself to watch it. Sounds terrible. :immad:
I was more bored than appalled with the first episode. It was bad, yes, but leaning more towards the "bored to tears" aspect (as opposed to the "hentai/giant cartoon boobs in your face for 20 minutes" aspect).
I'm expecting much worse in Episode 2. Actually, make that dreading much worse. :wth:
Tada! (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/avaitor-picks-top-11-nicktoon-episodes.html)
Nice article, but you are kind of right when it comes to Charlotte.
I've been rewatching a lot of the show recently and the one thing about her that stuck out was that when she wasn't absorbed in her work, she was actually a pretty good mother to Angelica. The problem is that she's pretty much always working, so she doesn't really get to be much of a mother to Angelica. Anything she does to Angelica is purely an attempt to be a good mother toward her and when she overreacts it's because she just plain doesn't know better. Angelica is probably subconsciously thinking this behavior is totally normal and intentional, which is why she doesn't seem to realize a lot of her cruelty. That's my take, anyway.
Uh, anyway, I like your picks.
My favorite moment from Pre-Hibernation Week. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir9LhF01KtA) :happytime:
...anyway, great choices; agree on pretty much all of 'em. I'm actually a little surprised to see Ginger on the list, though; would have never expected to see that on anyone's list of "great Nicktoons moments". Not that I'm against it, mind you; just surprised. I never really thought it was a bad show, per say (minus the ass ugly character designs, but that was pretty standard Klasky Csupo fare, when you think about it); the writing was usually pretty good, at least, and I appreciate what Nick was going for here with an animated drama. I give it more credit than most people tend to; it wasn't great, but still an OK series, IMO.
Aside from some typos, pretty good list. Other than replacing "Gaz, Taster of Pork" with something like "Tak: The Hideous New Girl", this would perfectly coincide with my favorite Nick episodes.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 17, 2011, 11:17:18 PM
Aside from some typos, pretty good list.
Yeah, I kind of wrote this in a rush. I had to head out by 10 and was likely going to finish it the next day, but I was already over halfway done when I was planning on leaving. So I sped through everything else. I caught a typo or two before I posted it, but didn't give the list as thorough of a check as I did. I'll look into editing some stuff later.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 17, 2011, 11:17:18 PMOther than replacing "Gaz, Taster of Pork" with something like "Tak: The Hideous New Girl", this would perfectly coincide with my favorite Nick episodes.
TBH, I was probably going to go with the Halloween episode for Zim, but Chalmers suggested "Gaz, Taster of Pork", and since I love the character, I went with it. Tak's ep would have been another good one, too.
I don't think adding Ginger should have been a big surprise for me. I think I've made it pretty clear that while I don't love the show, I see enough good in parts of it to give love. Another episode I considered was "Hello Stranger", the one where Ginger wrote a poem about her estranged father. As a child with a distant dad myself, that really struck a chord with me when it first aired.
Very nice article! Too tired to update the html right now, but I'll get on that first thing tomorrow.
Sven Hoek, though...
Yeah, I figured that would be a surprising choice, particularly for Desen. I stand by my say in the article, though.
This show makes me want to commit hate crimes against midgets and green-haired people. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/08/ludovico-trials-kicking-clannad-in-nads_31.html)
Why was this not promoted? (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/09/warning-contains-problem-solverz-by.html)
Reading it now. Looks good so far.
So I decided to accumulate my experiences with LT and turn it into an article. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/09/to-have-learned-and-lost-from-rabbit.html) Most of you will probably hate it, but it was a great way to vent some stuff out.
Over 5000 words of us rambling about anime. Enjoy. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-2011-anime-clusterfuck-do-it-feel.html)
Nice job everyone (and by everyone I really just mean Dr. Insomniac and Desensitized ;) ).
Anyways, I should probably add in some scores of my own just for the sake of having the write-ups seem more consistent. Plus, it would make for a good divider between mine and Desensitized's review of Hunter X Hunter, being that it looks like just one long review rather than 2 separate ones.
No Fate/Zero or Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon? I was really looking forward to you guys tearing into the latter (the former's actually pretty good though).
Well, as for Fate/Zero, I have never watched the first series myself, and I heard that this new one does actually expect its viewers to be fairly familiar with the events and happenings of the original, so in that regard I couldn't jump into a series like Fate/Zero and fairly judge it unless I was fully aware of all of the context that I would be expected to know in order to understand it all. I'm not sure if the same applies to Desensitized and Dr. Insomniac, but on my part I couldn't really good a very good, justified review for it, which is why I decided not to tackle that entry.
Quote from: Rynnec on October 15, 2011, 07:56:45 PM
No Fate/Zero or Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon? I was really looking forward to you guys tearing into the latter (the former's actually pretty good though).
I already had enough of my fair share of shit anime, so by the time Horizon came, I just didn't have the stomach.
As to Fate/Zero, I remember Foggle called dibs (since he's the only one of us who actually saw Fate/Stay Night) and never went through with it.
I actually saw F/SN as well. I would've done it for you guys, but I didn't really have the time to do a piece myself.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on October 15, 2011, 07:59:26 PM
Quote from: Rynnec on October 15, 2011, 07:56:45 PM
No Fate/Zero or Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon? I was really looking forward to you guys tearing into the latter (the former's actually pretty good though).
As to Fate/Zero, I remember Foggle called dibs (since he's the only one of us who actually saw Fate/Stay Night) and never went through with it.
That I did. I'll be sure to write a full review of it to make up for things.
I didn't watch F/SN, by the way. I read the VN all the way through. :P I'd actually like to post up my thoughts on it sometime.
Good job, guys.
As for FS/N, I didn't see the first part of the show, so jumping in the middle of it would probably not make for a very fair review.
Looks like everyone missed E-K's One Piece episode review. (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-piece-517-great-start-to-new-era.html)
Good work, dude. Sounds like some great stuff. And this is coming from someone who's never really watched much of the series.
(I'll be updating the web pages tomorrow, probably).
Oh, thanks for the recognition, dude! :thumbup:
To be honest I purposely didn't really say anything about it because I kind of felt that I didn't really do the entry properly since I kind of expanded it to be a mini-review when it was originally supposed to be a cluster-fuck entry, but either way I guess since I wrote it then I'm glad that at least one person (that being you) actually bothered to read it. ;)
Speaking of future reviews or blog entries, I'll be doing one for Batman: Arkham City when I'm done playing it. Earlier one Avaitor said he wouldn't mind if someone did a video-game related review as long as it had some sort of ties to animation or comic books or something in the medium (obviously this has ties to BTAS among other things). It may take me a while to get out since I actually have to beat the game first, but I'll try and get it out before the end of next month. It'll be a little bit different than an actual normal game review, though, as I actaully want to focus on some aspects of this game that I can directly relate to being influened by animation or having some sort of ties to it, since this is after all a site primarily about animation.
Cool stuff! I might actually do a second opinion on that, or something. Really anxious to play AC and I've been watching TAS episodes whenever I can to pump myself up for it further. ;D
So the Trials aren't a failed experiment yet. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/10/kicking-clannad-in-nads-part-9-by-dr.html)
It depresses me that so many people actually think Clannad is one of the best anime of all time. This picture (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0F5ZTuoUgdc/Tqo8SBBG-oI/AAAAAAAAAXw/QrRpYs9dBEw/s1600/InsertBreakfastClubReferenceHere.png) and that last quote really say it all.
And the penny drops. (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/11/do-you-have-any-idea-how-corny-that.html) So yeah, plan to update this every Thursday. Already have 4 articles ready (including 2 done by Avaitor and Desen), so hopefully I can keep that promise.
Nicely written review, though admittedly I disagree with you that the premiere was flat-out bad. Generic and probably uninspired, sure, but its not like there was no effort put into it, and if you look at it for what it is I still think its fairly entertaining. Personally I'd at least re-watch it over a number of JLU episodes if I had the choice, but that's probably just me.
That said your review was still very descriptive and had a lot of good points to it which I can agree with (even if on the whole I still like the premiere for what it is), so keep up the good work! :thumbup:
Guys, you have to inform people about your new reviews/features, or else people won't know to discuss them.
I particularly enjoyed part 3 of the Infinite Stratos review. Goddamn that shit sounds bad.
Here's my review of Higurashi Kira so far! (http://animrevelationreviews.blogspot.com/2011/12/maggots-in-wound-higurashi-kira.html) Enjoy.
Oh Eulalia, it's a guest review! (http://arevelationfeechurs.blogspot.com/2011/12/saturday-morning-slugfest-1989-by-lord.html)
Heh, good job Mr. Dalek, sir.
And somehow I do remember Fido Dido!
OH GOD SO MANY EMBEDDED VIDEOS
Nice article, btw. Fucking California Raisin... I remember seeing an episode of that shit at my grandfather's house on some old tape. Don't know how anyone could have thought that was a good idea.
Captain N is awesome, dude. Geek Cast Radio put it on their greatest cartoons of all time list, so it must be good.
Captain N is so bad, I just tried watching some of it recently, and it's just so bad. Who the fuck makes a Game Boy a cartoon character? And what the hell happended to Mega Man, he looks so ridiculous.
Quote from: Foggle on December 14, 2011, 02:57:16 PM
Nice article, btw. Fucking California Raisin... I remember seeing an episode of that shit at my grandfather's house on some old tape. Don't know how anyone could have thought that was a good idea.
Captain N is awesome, dude. Geek Cast Radio put it on their greatest cartoons of all time list, so it must be good.
Haha, I had actually forgotton about that. Those guys are the worst.
Good articles, everyone.
What a better way to celebrate the move than with a new article? (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=353)
Nice one, dude!
I've noticed that Wonder Woman is rarely handled well in any form of media. What's strange is, I don't remember Justice League having this many mediocre/bad episodes. Then again, I was a lot younger when I first watched it.
Well, IDK, I do agree that this particular episode was underwhelming, but I don't really share nearly the same distaste for the first season of JL as Insomniac does. Except for maybe In Blackest Night and War World (and maybe Metamorphosis as well), I don't think that any of the rest of the episodes were downright terrible. There were a good chunk of mediocre ones, though, but there were some ones that I genuinely liked and do still like even today (I'm personally pretty fond of The Savage Time).
I do agree that the problem among the writers with the first season was definitely in the weak characterization, though. With the exception of Batman and The Flash (being that The Flash was always meant to be more of a comic relief in the series and was never supposed to have much depth to him), the other characters were either pretty bland (like Superman, J'onn, GL, and Hawk Girl) or just plain unlikable (as Dr. Insomniac mentioned with Wonder Woman in his write-up). I think that season 2 brought some substantial improvements to both the stories and the characterization, though, personally.
The first part of my trial. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=356)
Heh, you know, I must say; I'm really digging the new design. Looks a lot neater and more cleaned up than it used to be, especially in my last article. I noticed that with the added space, the pictures are no longer cut-off and overly large, which makes me happy knowing that I can continue working with Photobucket for any pics I use in the future, and NOT have to slink back to virus-laden Imageshack.
Again, great job. :thumbup:
The first (real) part of my trial. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=369)
Kotomi's portrayal offends me for some reason. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=377)
Oh God, I wrote over 13,600 words about this show. :whuh:
Those facial expressions are obnoxious as shit.
Clannad has terrible writing all around. Kinda' to be expected, though.
First time trying to be analytical with JL. Not to happy with results. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=384)
I think your analysis was pretty good, actually.
I remember this episode being fairly boring. Seems that I wouldn't change my opinion if I saw it now.
What I think about a certain popular visual novel. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=388)
I'll try to remember to post my full thoughts on your review once I get my laptop back, since I have an interest in the Nasuverse and would like to get into it. But for now:
Quote"Maybe she can't breathe out her mouth
because it' s filled with my penis."
Award winning writing right there.
Great write-up. While I don't think that I'd personally ever have the patience to get into a visual novel series myself, reading what you had to say about FSN was indeed very interesting, and I'd be glad to see any other input you may write about it or other VN series that you are into in the future, if you ever plan on doing so. ;)
Doubtful. My friend wants me to read Tsukihime, but I don't know if I have the patience for more unfiltered Nasu. As far as other ones I've read (or started reading) go:
To sum up the Higurashi VN, it's basically the anime with a lot more detail and worse pacing. But if someone ever translated the PS2-exclusive arcs, I'd definitely write about 'em.
As much as I'd like to write another article bashing Umineko (Chiru is every bit as bad as the anime adaptation), that ship has sailed.
I can't see myself ever finishing Fate/Extra since the gameplay frustrates me.
Everyone already knows that Saya no Uta and Utawarerumono are awesome, and they're old news by now, so it's pointless for me to write about them.
I might pick up Corpse Party soon, though. I could do a piece on that.
Thanks, btw! :joy:
What I think about a certain prequel to a certain popular visual novel. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=395)
Not proud of this one, since I did it at the last minute rather than had it prepared a week before. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=407)
Yuuuuup. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=413)
Flustercuck. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=416)
I did this because you all couldn't. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=294)
Couldn't or wouldn't?
In my case, both.
Surprise! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=306)
I felt like at least finishing this off.
'oly 'ell!
I've been waiting for this one!
It's short because I really, really didn't want to dissect those episodes. There's little to say about them just that they're probably some of the worst cartoons ever made, and that's without hyperbole.
Don't watch this show. Ever.
The two-parter where Stimpy gets pregnant is quite possibly the most vile thing I've ever witnessed.
It's hard for me to pick favorites, but the one where Ren murders the horse in cold blood to no punchline as the episode ended (and Ren bit off a guys hand) left me staring blank at the screen.
There's nothing of merit in the show at all.
Quote[Billy] West said in an interview that when Kricfalusi asked him to voice Stimpy, West replied by saying that he did not wish to voice Stimpy in this cartoon. West said in an interview that he believed that the cartoon lacked humor and that voicing Stimpy in it would damage his career.
:lol: Good shit!
Quote from: IMDb[inside the homeless man's mouth, his uvula goes into Ren's ass five times. Ren wakes up, shocked, and jumps up and yells at Stimpy]
Ren Hoek: Hey! WHO'S THE PITCHER, AND WHO'S THE CATCHER?
Stimpson J. "Stimpy" Cat: You're the pitcher, I'm the catcher! You're the pitcher, I'm the catcher! See?
[Stimpy points to a blackboard hanging on the side of the mouth, which reads "You're The pitcher, I'm the catcher" over and over again]
All the proof you need that this show sucks.
Even Billy West could tell.
And that scene is exactly what I mean. It makes no sense in any context and is simply rushed out to be shocking. So, so, terrible.
Wait....so someone was actually payed to write that....I mean actually paid the same kind of money that actual talented writers earn for writing lines like that? Does that mean that some producer out there was actually willing to fork over valuable cash for that kind of writing?
This, ahem, "version" or Ren and Stimpy is proof positive that John K. no longer carries an ounce of credibility, and really is the reason why he needs to just shut the fuck up already. Whenever he bitches on his blog about how awful he thinks some modern-day cartoon is, all I can think to myself is "This coming from the guy who made APC. THE guy who made APC. You have absolutely NO room to talk, buddy."
Pretty much one of the absolute worst shows ever, animated or otherwise, without question. I haven't seen it in at least 7-8 years, and I still remember how truly vile and awful it was. Hard to get much worse than this, really.
Good review, by the way. I don't blame you for keeping it short; who would actually want to review this as in-depth as possible? I couldn't imagine.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. 8)
As for John K, I think he lost pretty much all credibility with me after making this show. I just can't take the opinion of one who makes something this vile seriously. I respect the things he has done (up to a point, anyway), but APC is worse than ANY of the shows he rails on about in his blog and I don't know how anyone can argue otherwise.
I'd also like to add that Ren Seeks Help was one of the few times where I had to stop watching a television show and seriously question the emotional state behind the person who wrote it. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but it really does feel like a legitimate cry for help most of the episode.
I don't bat an eye at most offensive stuff on South Park or Family Guy (at most I just roll my eyes or whatever), but that episode... If you think stuff like that is entertaining enough to write it then I think you might at least want to see someone about it. That episode wasn't just bad, it was a bit scary.
And that's supposed to be the good episode of APC. :lol:
Ren Seeks Help is actually sickening. There's a (relatively thick, honestly) line between dark comedy and fucking disturbing, and that episode crossed it big time.
I always heard a rumor floating around that Ren Seeks Help had some events lifted from John K. childhood. If that's the case, I don't want to know what his childhood was like. This is one of the mystery's about the world that is best left unanswered.
I remember when I first watched the series back on Spike TV, I was wondering where the hell most of the jokes were going. Especially in the first episode, Ren Seeks Help and Fire Dogs 2. The only legit laugh I got from that was the end of the Ren Seeks Help where Mr. Horse just yells at Ren for no reason. I don't know why I laughed at that, maybe it's because I sympathized with him and listening to Ren's story would make me feel insane. Other than that, I never got around the seeing the episodes that never aired on TV. I think I'm better off living in my ignorant bubble for the time being.
I just had to go and get curious didn't I? From Tvtropes' High Octane Nightmare Fuel page:
QuoteThere was a clip of an episode from the Ren and Stimpy Adult Party cartoon ("Ren Seeks Help") where Ren was getting therapy from Mr. Horse and tried to find out why he is behaving the way he always does. When Mr. Horse angrily said that he (Ren) is insane because of his acts, Ren was horrified by the fact he turned on him. Mr. Horse then started to beat the mess out of him. Unfortunately for him, Ren hits him with the phone and scratches him viciously. When Mr. Horse reaches for the gun, Ren grabs it and pistol whips him mercilessly until he's dead. When the authorities (or animal control, been a while) came, they saw Mr. Horse dead on the ground and Ren, whose face resembled something like a demonic dog at the time. Ren was then carried away while he was wriggling rabidly.
:wth:
Is this supposed to be funny? This sound like something out of a psychological horror, not freakin' Ren and Stimpy. Even if this was played completely serious, it' not an issue a show like Ren & Stimpy should be tackling. According to wikipedia, this show lasted only 7 episodes. With shit like this, I can see why, this isn't what people want to see in a comedy.
(There was also another part of the site describing another part of the episode in more detail. For the sake of everyone's sanity, I decided against quoting it)
Everything else I've read about the show is pretty much everything wrong with "Adult cartoons" in a nutshell.
I wonder how many people instantly recognized John K's style of animation in the latest Simpsons episode and then wondered whatever happened to him.
His unfunny sense of humor snuck into a 1 minute couch gag too. In that minute alone, there was misogynistic undertones, horribly overused squash and stretch, beyond ugly caricatures, and in only the kind of twisted humor John K finds funny, Homer literally kills Bart and leaves his body on the couch, with the ending having the rest of the family sitting next to his corpse. To top it off, the gag ends with his signature being imprinted on the back of the TV.
That was the worst part of the show.
...And I just noticed this aired months ago. Shows how far behind I am. Anyways, his Cartoon Brew interview is amusing as fuck (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/exclusive-john-k-talks-about-his-simpsons-opening.html).
Quote from: Rynnec on February 10, 2012, 03:18:08 AM
I just had to go and get curious didn't I? From Tvtropes' High Octane Nightmare Fuel page:
QuoteThere was a clip of an episode from the Ren and Stimpy Adult Party cartoon ("Ren Seeks Help") where Ren was getting therapy from Mr. Horse and tried to find out why he is behaving the way he always does. When Mr. Horse angrily said that he (Ren) is insane because of his acts, Ren was horrified by the fact he turned on him. Mr. Horse then started to beat the mess out of him. Unfortunately for him, Ren hits him with the phone and scratches him viciously. When Mr. Horse reaches for the gun, Ren grabs it and pistol whips him mercilessly until he's dead. When the authorities (or animal control, been a while) came, they saw Mr. Horse dead on the ground and Ren, whose face resembled something like a demonic dog at the time. Ren was then carried away while he was wriggling rabidly.
:wth:
Is this supposed to be funny? This sound like something out of a psychological horror, not freakin' Ren and Stimpy. Even if this was played completely serious, it' not an issue a show like Ren & Stimpy should be tackling. According to wikipedia, this show lasted only 7 episodes. With shit like this, I can see why, this isn't what people want to see in a comedy.
(There was also another part of the site describing another part of the episode in more detail. For the sake of everyone's sanity, I decided against quoting it)
Everything else I've read about the show is pretty much everything wrong with "Adult cartoons" in a nutshell.
It is actually played completely straight, though they left the part out where Ren literally bites the hand off one of the guys.
Like I said, it's really as awful as it sounds.
The worst part is, according to John K. and others, APC is exactly what the original show would've been without Nickelodeon censoring it. Think about that for a second. No wonder the Spumco era was so short.
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on February 10, 2012, 03:44:09 AM
...And I just noticed this aired months ago. Shows how far behind I am. Anyways, his Cartoon Brew interview is amusing as fuck (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/exclusive-john-k-talks-about-his-simpsons-opening.html).
QuoteOn a personal note, I worked on the revival of Ren and Stimpy nearly ten years ago
All credibility lost. This guy is part of the problem.
The guy is as overrated as they come, and his ego clearly reflects that. People continue to heed to his word like gospel, obviously not taking into account the fact that he hasn't contributed a goddamn thing to the industry in well over 10 years. He just sits in the background, complains that nobody "gets him", and bitches that everyone who has a job in animation today is an overrated hack that doesn't deserve any ounce of credit. Honestly, he's about as unlikeable as it gets.
...and as far as his whole notion that the animation industry "blackballed" him into not being able to find steady work for all these years after R&S (he's said this more than once), well, can you rightfully blame networks for not wanting to work with this guy? All these years later, and the concept of burning bridges is still totally foreign to him. He continues to put people down, and trash their hard work every chance he gets. He's just such an asshole, I swear. Hasn't changed a bit.
The Ripping friends was pretty awful too, and so is the entire concept of George Liquor. So I mean, he contributes to the industry, it's just that most don't like what he's contributing. And rightfully so. But still nothing he has ever done is as bad as APC was.
It would have been like if Tex Avery or Bob Clampett couldn't write a joke and just relied on how good the animation looked. No one would even watch their work to this day if that was all they did.
Oh yeah, I wrote this. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=319)
Funi seriously picked this show up? What the hell?
Quotethey can't be helped.
:wth:
Quote from: Foggle on February 14, 2012, 02:57:10 PM
Funi seriously picked this show up? What the hell?
Yeah, FUNi saw that the fanservice shows like Sekirei are selling, and seem to pulling out more in a short-sighted attempt to make money off of fanservice, and we all know how well that went for other companies that tried it.
QuoteQuotethey can't be helped.
:wth:
:sly:
And have another. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=328)
QuoteSena tries to make an argument over how eroge has far more intellectual and artistic value than books such as The Brothers Karamazov
There are seriously cunts who think this way, too. First person to tell me any of Nasu's or Ryukishi's shit even comes close to touching real literature gets pistol-whipped.
QuoteSena congratulates him with the promise of being allowed to lick her feet
:unimpressed:
QuoteAnd Christ, what does it say when ?not having incest? is considered a plus for an anime?
God, the anime industry's current condition is fucking dire.
Quote from: Foggle on February 20, 2012, 11:48:43 PMGod, the anime industry's current condition is fucking dire.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi998.mangareader.net%2Fbakuman%2F167%2Fbakuman-3084107.jpg&hash=239eec8c61116b14e50156f5065e9769d656851d)
I don't know when these people took control of the industry, but it needs to stop.
It's like they're really on /a/!
Then where are my tripcode users then? not sure if I could say the "f" word that can also mean a stick.
Saying stuff like "tripfag" is completely acceptable. Using "faggot" in the derogatory sense is not. ;)
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 20, 2012, 11:56:00 PM
I don't know when these people took control of the industry, but it needs to stop.
Reminds me of when I heard that fangirls (most likely of the Fujoshi type) of Mamoru Miyano (Light Yagami's seiyuu) went ballistic when he announced his engagement, and sent death threats to either him or his fiance. What a pathetic bunch of "fans". And the industry caters to these people?
Since apparently DVDs are fucking expensive in Japan, and the only people who would choose to buy them are fanatics, studios have to pander to them in order to get the most sales. So I guess the only way to fix it would be if DVDs/BDs suddenly saw a fall in price value.
^Yeah, that's still an issue that needs to be addressed. These types of people are ruining everything to do with the subculture.
Quote from: Rynnec on February 21, 2012, 12:12:09 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 20, 2012, 11:56:00 PM
I don't know when these people took control of the industry, but it needs to stop.
Reminds me of when I heard that fangirls (most likely of the Fujoshi type) of Mamoru Miyano (Light Yagami's seiyuu) went ballistic when he announced his engagement, and sent death threats to either him or his fiance. What a pathetic bunch of "fans". And the industry caters to these people?
That's probably what this arc in the story is based on (same mangaka as Death Note), judging.
But yeah, I don't get the obsession with "purity" and "waifu"s in the current otaku culture. It's not enough that people do this in their spare time, but it is affecting Japan's output quite harshly and negatively as you can see from stuff like this and Insommy's review. For a subculture that is becoming dangerously niche instead of growing, this stuff is really damaging in a lot of ways.
The problem with such pandering is that it comes at the expense of the overall quality and the alienation of all other audiences.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on February 21, 2012, 12:17:48 AM
Since apparently DVDs are fucking expensive in Japan, and the only people who would choose to buy them are fanatics, studios have to pander to them in order to get the most sales. So I guess the only way to fix it would be if DVDs/BDs suddenly saw a fall in price value.
From what I've heard, the reason DVDs/BDs are so expensive is because they're produced mostly for use by rental stores since they're not nearly extinct like Blockbuster is here. Though its true only the most hardcore fans pay that insane price for uncensored/fixed DVDs. My pal got lucky and found some japanese DVDs at a secondhand bookstore this weekend and paid 25 bucks for just 6 episodes. Kinda sad when that's considered a steal.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 21, 2012, 12:19:32 AM
But yeah, I don't get the obsession with "purity" and "waifu"s in the current otaku culture. It's not enough that people do this in their spare time, but it is affecting Japan's output quite harshly and negatively as you can see from stuff like this and Insommy's review. For a subculture that is becoming dangerously niche instead of growing, this stuff is really damaging in a lot of ways.
See here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15915118) and here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16500768).
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on February 21, 2012, 12:50:58 AMQuote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 21, 2012, 12:19:32 AM
But yeah, I don't get the obsession with "purity" and "waifu"s in the current otaku culture. It's not enough that people do this in their spare time, but it is affecting Japan's output quite harshly and negatively as you can see from stuff like this and Insommy's review. For a subculture that is becoming dangerously niche instead of growing, this stuff is really damaging in a lot of ways.
See here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15915118) and here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16500768).
But like, where did this come from? It isn't something that came over time, it sort of just happened. I probably shouldn't throw stones though, I mean we have a pretty big manchild problem on this side of the world that is probably not going to get better any time soon and we even have our TV programs to cater to them too.
But the catering to this style of life is more worrying. Not say they should outright hate on these people or something, but by doing this they not only cease almost any chance of worldwide appeal (and lots of money) but they don't really offer anything new to anybody. I know why moe exists, but it really needs to be treated as what it is supposed to be; a niche fringe. When you let the niche take over the mainstream you end up with disco on the radio, 'reality' TV taking over the television, and movie games taking over video games. The death of variety, which leads to the death of the medium.
Entertainment's really taken a beating this last decade.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 21, 2012, 01:06:12 AM
I mean we have a pretty big manchild problem on this side of the world that is probably not going to get better any time soon and we even have our TV programs to cater to them too.
Wut? Explain further. :whuh:
Quote from: Foggle on February 21, 2012, 08:37:49 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on February 21, 2012, 01:06:12 AM
I mean we have a pretty big manchild problem on this side of the world that is probably not going to get better any time soon and we even have our TV programs to cater to them too.
Wut? Explain further. :whuh:
Oh, never mind me. I'm just putting my own biases out there. :sweat:
Does this have anything to do with the average age of marriage being on the rise and the number of grown men who pursue their own interests while remaining single growing rapidly in the last decade?
Because I could totally live with a world like that.
Yeah, I can sort of live in that world as well. I don't feel like I need a woman in my life right now.
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on February 21, 2012, 11:30:22 PM
Does this have anything to do with the average age of marriage being on the rise and the number of grown men who pursue their own interests while remaining single growing rapidly in the last decade?
Because I could totally live with a world like that.
Heck, you don't even need that ever since the rise of the "mancave".
I'd rather people NOT be married or in a relationship than have those.
Edit: Uh, anyway, this is sort of drifting off topic. :-X
Something a bit different this time. Enjoy!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=336
THIS IS NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY :shit:
I hope you liked it. :P
A bit long, but I liked it and want more.
It's a 42+ chapter story. Believe me, I cut at least 10,000 words from those first nine chapters alone.
I've never watched MLP, and after reading that article of yours....I'm not sure I even want to....:whuh:
The show is absolutely nothing like that. At all.
That reads more like something David Gonterman would have come up with. On a particularly bad day.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on March 25, 2012, 09:51:39 PM
I've never watched MLP, and after reading that article of yours....I'm not sure I even want to....:whuh:
Don't worry. That's like thinking a Harry/Snape slashfic has any resemblance to the actual books.
Did you guys enjoy my commentating?
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on March 25, 2012, 09:51:39 PM
I've never watched MLP, and after reading that article of yours....I'm not sure I even want to....:whuh:
I'm not really sure that you'd like the show since we seem to have similar tastes and I, personally, couldn't get into it, but this story is literally the polar opposite of the original cartoon. Every fanbase has its nutters, and since the MLP fanbase is humongous, it has a decent amount of them.
I just wish that one dude hadn't removed his hilariously awful Excel Saga rapefic from FF.net, or I'd have done commentary on that instead.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_usWEVzRFktk%2FTSfFUkNuUZI%2FAAAAAAAAAAk%2Fl5M1sYYbAfU%2Fs1600%2Fsalp02.gif&hash=ef9729427b9b80550e8fa563f2c1ace5b48a7476)
And I didn't even find the one about bullying and discrimination!
Oh god...
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_usWEVzRFktk%2FTSfFgBRlZtI%2FAAAAAAAAAA0%2FOiO-EQhv-yA%2Fs1600%2Fsalp04.gif&hash=0b02d7e4aa35acdf0ffb369a2caefadeac158c53)
I'll stop now.
New Ludovico Trials piece! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=372)
The final quote caught me off guard, good stuff. :D
But yeah, that cartoon sounds (and looks) pretty awful. My Catholicism cringes.
That final quote makes up for all the torture we had to go through.
Great stuff.
As soon as I saw that comment, I knew I'd have to include it somewhere. :lol:
Despite what my opening paragraph says, I tried to keep my personal views out of the article. All of my comments about God and stuff are merely relative to what's presented in the cartoon itself, and don't really reflect my own view of Christianity or religion. It'd be no fun if I started harping on the Bible and such, just like that MLP fanfic commentary would have been terrible if I started bashing the series directly. ;)
It's no big deal. Bad material is bad material, regardless of the creator's intent.
And this definitely seemed bad.
Got some new reviews from DaemonCorps!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=390
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=393
Fire away!!!!!! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=399)
New clusterfuck is UP! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=404)
I don't think I watched a single anime on that list and I only checked out Rock Lee and ShiroKuma no Cafe.. Need to at least fix the Lupin one.
I'm interestedin Jormungand, and if it ever gets dubbed, I'll check out Kids On The Slope too. And it goes without saying that Fate/Zero is the anime I'll be following this season.
Apparently Medaka Box gets a genre change pretty early into its run, so I'll try to keep my eyes on that one.
No Lupin? :wth:
Quote from: Rynnec on April 14, 2012, 10:44:43 PM
Apparently Medaka Box gets a genre change pretty early into its run, so I'll try to keep my eyes on that one.
Might get better, then. It was definitely the least offensive of the bad ones.
Though I'd like to add that MGX isn't really a bad show, it's just very gross and pointless. It's actually pretty well made.
Nice! There are some great entries in here.
As a side note, I don't think my name should be at the top with you guys, since I did only write one entry (and unintentionally, at that). Its fine enough to just have my name appear under my single entry.
Anyways, I do feel bad that I couldn't really participate in the Spring Clusterfuck line-up, especially since this seemed to be the season that actually had at least a few good shows to offer us, rather than just being crammed full of crap.
Oh well, at least I'll be there to experience the summer season anime, but somehow I get the feeling that I'll get unlucky in regards to actually finding good anime to watch. :(
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on April 14, 2012, 11:00:37 PM
As a side note, I don't think my name should be at the top with you guys, since I did only write one entry (and unintentionally, at that). Its fine enough to just have my name appear under my single entry.
The purpose of giving credit in the title line is to make searching for articles by author easier. Your name deserves to be up there as much as anyone else's. ;)
I'm surprised you guys didn't get to that show about the fat kid who's only good at playing video games and a girl tricks him into playing video games with her.
What show is that? :whuh:
I believe it's called Accel World.
Foggle did cover the drool anime, though. That's gotta count.
I have to say that this season was pretty good! Of course the bad is... REALLY terrible... But the good stuff is so overwhelmingly great that it sort of balances it out. On the other hand if you like Nadia, the new Nadia series should be up your alley. I didn't think it pertinent to review it since you probably already know if it's for you or not.
If you like shonen, give Kuroko No Basket a try when more episodes are in the can. Once it gets rolling, it gets really fun to watch/read.
Hag in eye fore (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=428)
Quoteshe manages to have even less depth than any of the characters, with her only personality trait being how she?s a kid. Nothing else. Just that she?s little.
Shakespearean. I love anime writers.
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
QuoteRika then proceeds to offer sex to our main protagonist. But this is Haganai, so our main protagonist certainly can?t have sex. Or else that?d destroy the DVD sales!
Does sex not sell in Japan? I thought it did...
Quote from: FoggleDoes sex not sell in Japan? I thought it did...
It probably has to do something with the whole "Purity" thing that's part of the Moe appeal. Sex only seems to really be prominent in Visual Novel's or something.
I remember reading about how the mere suggestion that a main character had a boyfriend ended up crippling AnoHana's DVD sales, along with how people were issuing death threats about the same situation being on Kannagi.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on April 26, 2012, 11:54:35 PM
I remember reading about how the mere suggestion that a main character had a boyfriend ended up crippling AnoHana's DVD sales, along with how people were issuing death threats about the same situation being on Kannagi.
Japan... :srs:
I also heard K-ON! also had a similar issue when one of the characters was teased to have a boyfriend in the episode previews or something.
I can somewhat sympathize with those people (being a Yuri-fan, I'd be rather dissapointed if one of the characters got a boyfriend in an otherwise subtext filled show). But I would never go as far as issuing death threats to the people who work on the show.
Where do you guys find these shows? Even the Japanese try to pretend such material doesn't exist.
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:10:04 AM
Where do you guys find these shows? Even the Japanese try to pretend such material doesn't exist.
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
No, it's love. Stephenie Meyer told us so.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on April 27, 2012, 12:14:19 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:10:04 AM
Where do you guys find these shows? Even the Japanese try to pretend such material doesn't exist.
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
No, it's love. Stephenie Meyer told us so.
I'll have to consult mai waifu on this.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:10:04 AM
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
But my stalker assured me that she loved me... :'(
Quote from: Foggle on April 27, 2012, 12:29:06 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:10:04 AM
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
But my stalker assured me that she loved me... :'(
Look up the song "Skatanic" by Reel Big Fish.
Stalkers have the best intentions for their
preylove!
Already heard it! Will listen again, though. ;)
Damn, I haven't listened to Reel Big Fish in years...
But yeah, Otaku hate when they're girls have boyfriends in anime. It breaks the illusion that it's their girlfriends and then they have to deal with inferior real life women.
That stigma also carries over to Yuri-pairings, sadly enough. It's even a common joke that Otaku don't really want lesbians in their yuri.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:43:13 AM
But yeah, Otaku hate when they're girls have boyfriends in anime. It breaks the illusion that it's their girlfriends and then they have to deal with inferior real life women.
CHECK IT YO
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.tinypic.com%2F2qia6gi.jpg&hash=487318407a3b2388e37d568ebc8bb487990070ff)
Most of that is just a joke, though. ;D
In Japan it's a very serious issue of how people treat their virtual people better than the ones who live in their real lives.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:53:02 AM
Most of that is just a joke, though. ;D
In Japan it's a very serious issue of how people treat their virtual people better than the ones who live in their real lives.
Yeah, I know. I was going to do one of me holding a stuffed zebra up to a photo of a lion, but decided not to. :P
Well, one of those people is Colin Mochrie (a fellow Canadian), so someone one-upped you!
The zoomed in version is way better. iirc, one of the guys is giving Aigis from P3 motor oil. :lol:
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:18:22 AM
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on April 27, 2012, 12:14:19 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:10:04 AM
Where do you guys find these shows? Even the Japanese try to pretend such material doesn't exist.
Quote from: Foggle on April 26, 2012, 11:43:57 PM
Quotepeople stalk out of love.
This is sadly quite true.
Obsession is not love, my friend. It's another form of greed.
No, it's love. Stephenie Meyer told us so.
I'll have to consult mai waifu on this.
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 01:23:48 AM
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Why do you call your waifu a slut?
Quote from: Foggle on April 27, 2012, 12:49:29 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 12:43:13 AM
But yeah, Otaku hate when they're girls have boyfriends in anime. It breaks the illusion that it's their girlfriends and then they have to deal with inferior real life women.
CHECK IT YO
Dude
You should've used the more up to date Valentine's Day edition (http://archivethumb3.foolz.us/board/a/img/0614/68/1329392509481.jpg) collage. It has MadThad before he was hauled off to jail and that lunatic Komeiji. Who is he you may wonder? Read this thread (http://archive.foolz.us/a/thread/61372380) and prepare to bust your guts laughing.
Shit, I didn't even know there was a Valentine's one! And yeah, I know all about Komeiji. Most worthless person in existence.
Does it also have that scumbag SHiN who cheated on his waifu?
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on April 27, 2012, 03:38:35 AM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 01:23:48 AM
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Why do you call your waifu a slut?
Cause, apparently being open about having sex in your relationship makes you a slut nowadays. :P Sorry my waifu can't be pure like a certain burn victim.
Quote from: Foggle on April 27, 2012, 10:37:29 AM
Does it also have that scumbag SHiN who cheated on his waifu?
I totally forget who he's supposedly with now. Last I remember, he was juggling Homura and Kagamin. Both of them are on that chart but I doubt that's him.
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 12:42:59 PM
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on April 27, 2012, 03:38:35 AM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 01:23:48 AM
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Why do you call your waifu a slut?
Cause, apparently being open about having sex in your relationship makes you a slut nowadays. :P Sorry my waifu can't be pure like a certain burn victim.
You're waifu can't be un-pure. She might as well just be your wife.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 06:17:12 PM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 12:42:59 PM
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on April 27, 2012, 03:38:35 AM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 01:23:48 AM
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Why do you call your waifu a slut?
Cause, apparently being open about having sex in your relationship makes you a slut nowadays. :P Sorry my waifu can't be pure like a certain burn victim.
You're waifu can't be un-pure. She might as well just be your wife.
Wrong. (http://archivethumb3.foolz.us/board/a/img/0634/48/1333022704673.jpg)
Quote from: Foggle on April 27, 2012, 06:27:36 PM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 27, 2012, 06:17:12 PM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 12:42:59 PM
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on April 27, 2012, 03:38:35 AM
Quote from: Daxdiv on April 27, 2012, 01:23:48 AM
Mai Waifu is a slut that has no legs and encourages me to run. How do you think this makes her feel?
Why do you call your waifu a slut?
Cause, apparently being open about having sex in your relationship makes you a slut nowadays. :P Sorry my waifu can't be pure like a certain burn victim.
You're waifu can't be un-pure. She might as well just be your wife.
Wrong. (http://archivethumb3.foolz.us/board/a/img/0634/48/1333022704673.jpg)
Eww. 3D.
Good thing he only goes after casual friendly popular characters. My waifu is safe from his filthy hands.
By the way, my friend's a big fan of Boku Toma. I linked him to this review and also told him to check out the reviews for the first 3 episodes. I'm not sure if he's mad or not, but he did go straight to sleep after reading this one.
Here's your semi-annual article. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=436)
Sounds exactly like a third-rate visual novel.
No, seriously.
It's not that bad. It would be way better if it just wasn't so rushed. I have a feeling that these episodes were in production when they thought they only had a 10 episode order which is why they whip through everything so fast.
Hopefully as it goes it will slow down considerably to give more time to the characters and story.
Figured it was about time I posted something like this. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=443)
Wann catch up on some Batman before catching TDKR? Check this out. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=452)
That was a great write-up, Avaitor. :thumbup:
I haven't had the chance to read the whole thing yet, but as for my own thoughts on the episode, I thought it was a good introduction into the darker world and tone of BTAS compared to other cartoons of the time. Its far from one of my favorite episodes, but its a worthy entry into one of the best animated series of all time.
Yes, I forgot to mention it was a great piece. On Leather Wings really is impressive when you realize that it was literally the first episode made and they pretty much nailed the entire BTAS atmosphere with it right out of the gate.
It's not the best episode, but I really like it.
Good job man! A great piece. I'm looking forward to whatever you do next. :joy:
Hey guys! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=461)
The threat has been made real. ;)
Good job man! I haven't watched any of it yet, but I should probably get around to that. I really do hope the writers heed your warning and avoid letting it become the next FOP...
Great piece!
I've still only seen the first 3 episodes of Gravity Falls, but I kind of feel the same way as you do. There's a lot of potential and good in what I've seen, but there are just as many detractors for things to head south in there.
I'd like to think that it remains as fun as it is now throughout the run of the show, but then again, I thought the same thing about Chowder during its first season.
Our first Gravity Falls piece! Yaaaaaaaaaay! ;D
Good job. Although... as I'm sure you can already tell, I love this show to death so far, so the criticisms you pointed out don't really effect my opinion too much (especially in regards to the Lil' Gideon episode; the plot is hackneyed and cliche, yes, but the characters, writing, and overall tone of the episode is just all so darn enjoyable, it's easy for me to look past that). I also can't help but disagree when it comes to Stan; he's had some great lines and great moments up to this point ("I WILL PARDON NOTHING!"), so it's hard for me to write him off as the worst of the group. So far, the character I'm least impressed with is Soos, who, admittedly, doesn't even play a very large role anyway, but I digress.
Still though, good read, and I agree about everything else you said, especially in regards to P&F, Chowder, and post movie Spongebob. Hopefully this crew doesn't get as caught up in their own success as the above aforementioned have, and end up putting the series on autopilot after a strong start. It'd really be a shame to see it go down the same road as Chowder; there's just so much potential here.
Thanks for the comments!
As for the Lil Gideon episode, that's the biggest obstacle for me because as Kiddington said, it's actually very funny. The issue is that it sort of sheds everything that makes Gravity Falls unique to do so, the episode actually gets really good once his psychic abilities are actually used and feels more like the rest of the show. But I think less focusing on the dating side would have made it stand out more.
As for Uncle Stan, yes he has moments that are funny, but I really think the series would benefit a lot by keeping him minor compared to every character. Especially since he never really does anything with the paranormal aspect of the show. You know, the Dexter's parents syndrome? I would rather he either join in on it, or just isn't used as much because his usage in the Man-otaur episode was the worst part of it (and that's my least favorite episode so far) and I really don't want to see more stuff like that.
Just wanted to chime in and also say that was a good article and brought up good points. I'm hoping it doesn't head down that FOP path because I've really been enjoying Gravity Falls.
Hey look, a review of the first episode of Sword Art Online. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=470)
Not a bad review, but the anime really seems like a poor mans Dot-hack.
Nice! I wish Daemon would tell me when he makes blog posts though. :lol:
I find SAO to be pretty decent, and I definitely like it more than .hack. (I can't stand .hack.) But worthy of the enormous praise it's receiving online? God no.
He tells me, and I'm just too lazy to spread the news.
It could be that I'm not hanging in the right places, but I've hardly seen any praise for Sword Art Online. At least compared to say, Madoka Magica.
I just keep hearing how Kirito's a Gary Stu, and that the game mechanics don't make sense.
Quote from: Rynnec on September 03, 2012, 02:44:53 AM
It could be that I'm not hanging in the right places, but I've hardly seen any praise for Sword Art Online. At least compared to say, Madoka Magica.
MAL... http://myanimelist.net/anime/11757/Sword_Art_Online
Hey guys, I hope you don't mind me bumping this thread to remind you all that we're always looking for guest contributors to add entries into the blog. We havent had a new post in a while, so hopefully one of you would be willing to fill that void. :)
I've been considering writing a few guest reviews, but those will probably be at a later date. (I still need to get my entries for the Videogame list done.)
Guess who's back? (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=568)
Wow, this episode sounds terribad. Have no recollection of it, though.
I faintly remember this episode, I don't think I even liked it that much as a kid, and I was in my "girls have cooties!" phase back then. I also found it weird that the episode's Big Bad recruited two male supervillains when she was trying to get rid of males.
Quote from: Rynnec on October 23, 2012, 01:01:38 AM
I faintly remember this episode, I don't think I even liked it that much as a kid, and I was in my "girls have cooties!" phase back then. I also found it weird that the episode's Big Bad recruited two male supervillains when she was trying to get rid of males.
She didn't make her plan clear until she disposed of them though.
When you think about it, Wonder Woman does have a pretty weak track record with storylines over the course of the show. This is proof positive of that.
Good article! Glad to see these back.
Yeah, Diana doesn't get a decent story until Maid of Honor, and that's because of Vandal instead of her. And expect Dalek to post a companion article about the stuff that was influencing Justice League at the time. Also, I'm still rooting for the idea of doing these for the other DCAU shows, on the basis that over a decade of TV history contains loads of tidbits to dissect. At 384 episodes and four movies, I'd be game. Hope you guys will too.
Should we go backwards and go to Batman Beyond if so?
Quote from: Avaitor on October 23, 2012, 02:23:44 AM
Should we go backwards and go to Batman Beyond if so?
I don't see why not.
Week 1? Here we go. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=576)
Great piece man! Pretty long too. You really think you can keep this up weekly? :o
I agree that Ed Edd n Eddy's premiere is definitely the best of the lot. I always thought The Ed-Touchables was hilarious. No Courage in your series, though? :'(
Quote from: Foggle on October 26, 2012, 12:45:30 PM
Great piece man! Pretty long too. You really think you can keep this up weekly? :o
I'm not sureee, but I'd love to. I might get a head start for next week later today though. ;)
Quote from: Foggle on October 26, 2012, 12:45:30 PMNo Courage in your series, though? :'(
Not for this set, but if I end up finishing these 4 series and there's still interest in these articles at that point, I might make a second set. Courage is very likely to make it on if I do.
Fall 2012 clusterfuck is up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=606) In this installment, we review:
Btooom!
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
Ixion Saga DT
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
K
Little Busters!
Medaka Box Abnormal
Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne (OniAi)
Psycho-Pass
Resident Evil: Damnation
Robotics;Notes
Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
Zetsuen no Tempest
Enjoy!
QuoteBTOOM! itself is the title of this fictionally popular MMO action game which seems to be some weird combination of a Call of Duty game mixed in with Bomberman, but in case I gave you the mistaken impression of something that sounds awesome, think more along the lines of Bomberman: Act Zero?.yeah, that?s supposed to be the hugely successful game that apparently every gamer in this world is hooked on.
I hate this anime already.
Quote from: Rynnec on October 29, 2012, 02:54:09 AM
QuoteBTOOM! itself is the title of this fictionally popular MMO action game which seems to be some weird combination of a Call of Duty game mixed in with Bomberman, but in case I gave you the mistaken impression of something that sounds awesome, think more along the lines of Bomberman: Act Zero?.yeah, that?s supposed to be the hugely successful game that apparently every gamer in this world is hooked on.
I hate this anime already.
It had a kid get his testicles squeezed by his dad on-screen this week.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on October 29, 2012, 03:08:07 AM
Quote from: Rynnec on October 29, 2012, 02:54:09 AM
QuoteBTOOM! itself is the title of this fictionally popular MMO action game which seems to be some weird combination of a Call of Duty game mixed in with Bomberman, but in case I gave you the mistaken impression of something that sounds awesome, think more along the lines of Bomberman: Act Zero?.yeah, that?s supposed to be the hugely successful game that apparently every gamer in this world is hooked on.
I hate this anime already.
It had a kid get his testicles squeezed by his dad on-screen this week.
:whuh:
Anyway, good Clusterfuck. You guys' suffering is my amusment. :>
What the hell is with all these .Hack clones though? And they all use the same "trapped in the game" sceneario too. Can't we just get a "people playing an MMO" anime where they don't use that overused plot?
As for OniAi thing; you know that your anime sucks when one of the girls has serial killer tendencies, and it still doesn't interest me in the slightest.
Well, guess the only anime I'll be checking out this season are Jormungand and Code Breaker, and JJBA if that ever gets a stream. I suppose I should at least check out the first episode of K' too, just to see how good the art and animation are.
But PSYCHO-PASS is good. :frown:
I guess I'll watch the first episode of that one as well. :thinkin:
Don't actually watch K, just download the OST or something. ;) Also, I accidentally read some of the spoilers from later on in Little Busters, and let's just say that my score would probably change to a 2 or 3 if I ended up finishing it. Fucking Key.
Quote from: Rynnec on October 29, 2012, 03:36:44 AM
What the hell is with all these .Hack clones though? And they all use the same "trapped in the game" sceneario too.
For real. It's not even a cool premise.
QuoteAs for OniAi thing; you know that your anime sucks when one of the girls has serial killer tendencies, and it still doesn't interest me in the slightest.
She doesn't actually have serial killer tendencies, she's just a total creep.
Thanks for reading our ramblings, Rynnec. I spent the majority of yesterday finishing this up. ;D
Rynnec reviews cult classic Vampire Hunter D, Dr. Insomniac delves into the real reason why people love that Charlie Brown special, and I analyze "the most disturbing anime ever" in our Halloween extravaganza!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=618
We all put a lot of effort into this one, so please read it. :)
Good stuff, guys.
Hey Rynnec, have you thought about reviewing the other Vampire Hunter D movie? It's not really a remake since the plot is entirely different with different characters and events.
Just watched the movie the other night. Definitely gonna give it a review sometime. :)
And Midori Shoujo Tsubaki sure has an...interesting history behind it.
Shamefully, I've never actually seen Vampire Hunter D (I've seen Bloodlust though). Your review makes me want to, though!
It's an odd film, like Rynnec said, in that despite the era in which it was made and it being a horror-action movie- the gore is not all that in your face.
IMO, that's a good thing, because it maintains its atmosphere that way.
You totally should watch it Foggle, it's Halloween, and it's not that hard to find, perfect time to watch it. :thumbup:
And yeah, the film's gore level is nowhere near the level of something like say, Hellsing Ultimate (which I also enjoyed), but that's definitely not a strike against it.
I might as well check it out tonight as I'll probably be done with my case work earlier than I thought.
It is a really cool little thing. I have to recommend it to you guys if you haven't seen it yet, especially tonight.
Week 2 is up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=663)
Is anyone watching along with me?
Good job, these are really fun to read. :D
Quote from: Avaitor on November 02, 2012, 02:06:31 PM
Week 2 is up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=663)
Is anyone watching along with me?
No, but you make me want to. :joy:
Quote from: Foggle on November 02, 2012, 03:26:34 PM
Quote from: Avaitor on November 02, 2012, 02:06:31 PM
Week 2 is up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=663)
Is anyone watching along with me?
No, but you make me want to. :joy:
Well then, I'm doing my job. :)
It's up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=676)
I know it's late, but hey, remember when CCF used to run until midnight? Brings me back to when I'd stay up to catch I Am Weasel.
Nice, that was a great line up. I think I remembered every single episode there as you described them.
I like it. A little too brief on the criticism though.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on November 09, 2012, 10:43:41 PM
I like it. A little too brief on the criticism though.
Yeah, I rushed this one due to a busy schedule and my own diversions. I'll try to beef up my criticism next week, though.
Awesome write up, as usual.
Did the "sequel" episode to Dexter's Rival not air along with it originally? I know that in later airings, the two shorts were packaged together, and it's like that on the On-demand version as well.
Wait, didn't Shaggy and Scooby routinely eat sandwiches with meat on them?
Anyway, another great article man. Some real gems this week.
Also, DaemonCorps posted his final thoughts on SAO yesterday. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=669
Quote from: Rynnec on November 09, 2012, 10:48:39 PM
Did the "sequel" episode to Dexter's Rival not air along with it originally? I know that in later airings, the two shorts were packaged together, and it's like that on the On-demand version as well.
"Mandarker"? Yes, "Dexter's Rival" does air along with that short, but I think that's more because of the fact that there might be a missing short that was supposed to air in its place. "Dexter's Rude Removal", perhaps?
And don't worry, I won't review it again when I get there. Nor will I tackle "Dexter's Lab: A Story" when I get to that point next week, even if I can't find "Barbequor".
Quote from: Foggle on November 09, 2012, 10:56:52 PM
Wait, didn't Shaggy and Scooby routinely eat sandwiches with meat on them?
Yeah, I always thought they did too, but I guess those could be beets or something. That, or Kasem never paid too much attention to the cartoon, and just reads his scripts and leaves it at that.
I never understood that complaint. Shaggy and Scooby ate EVERYTHING, it was a huge character trait. To make them selective and health conscience of their food habits makes no sense character-wise.
Not to say there's anything wrong with Vegetarianism, but just because Casey happens to be one doesn't mean his character is one as well.
Maybe Carbombya (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Carbombya) really hit Kasem hard on what his roles should be like.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on November 09, 2012, 11:02:31 PM
Maybe Carbombya (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Carbombya) really hit Kasem hard on what his roles should be like.
Wow, I can't believe this is a real thing.
Then again, Kiss Players.
As someone that enjoys Scooby Doo mostly as a guilty pleasure now, I still never understood Casey not wanting Shaggy to eat meat. I get he's a vegetarian and all, but it's not like that Casey Kasem had to eat meat while in the booth. Hell, I remember hearing that Mel Blanc was allergic to carrots, so whenever he had to eat one for Bugs Bunny whenever he said "What's Up Doc?", he spat that out ASAP after recording that line.
All in all, great list. Pretty much some of the best episodes here. Really liked the choices for Dexter and Johnny Bravo the most. Especially the episode that felt like it was School House Rock.
Quote from: Daxdiv on November 10, 2012, 03:02:03 AM
Hell, I remember hearing that Mel Blanc was allergic to carrots, so whenever he had to eat one for Bugs Bunny whenever he said "What's Up Doc?", he spat that out ASAP after recording that line.
That's only a rumor. Blanc just didn't like carrots, so he would spit them out.
Quote from: Avaitor on November 10, 2012, 09:31:28 AM
Quote from: Daxdiv on November 10, 2012, 03:02:03 AM
Hell, I remember hearing that Mel Blanc was allergic to carrots, so whenever he had to eat one for Bugs Bunny whenever he said "What's Up Doc?", he spat that out ASAP after recording that line.
That's only a rumor. Blanc just didn't like carrots, so he would spit them out.
Oh, he didn't like them. That makes much more sense.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_md2o02k4vx1r0idojo1_500.png&hash=d66ce2643b4be8f8fb003c2534aee3a5ff6880ce)
Hey, I found the screenshot I was looking for!
I watched that episode on the plane the other day, it's such a great one. The sailor gag is a bit of a jaw dropper for a "children's" show.
It's not the first time they made a joke like that, either.
Remember the Island of Beautiful Men?
Here ya go. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=683)
All done at the very last minute, heh.
Does iTunes really have Barbequor? The version of the episode I have from when I downloaded season one replaced it with Dexter's Lab: A Story, just like every other release.
I bought the season a couple of years ago, so maybe they've updated since?
Quote from: Comeau on November 16, 2012, 10:25:51 PM
Does iTunes really have Barbequor? The version of the episode I have from when I downloaded season one replaced it with Dexter's Lab: A Story, just like every other release.
Well Cartoon Network's YouTube page has it up to buy. I just assume that they just port their iTunes copies over there, which is why I wrote that, but I could be wrong.
Not many comments this week, although I don't blame you. This wasn't a great addition. I've had a lot this week, and I crammed the entire article together in a couple of hours.
You can totally see it, too.
Oh, it was a good article, but these episodes don't do a whole lot for me.
Daemon reviews the first episode of another show! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=688
Sorry for the lack of Cartoon Cartoon article this week. Blame my school work and social life for that. I 'll try to have one up next week.
After a hiatus last week, I return with the Cartoon Cartoon series (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=723).
Thoughts?
It seemed like kind of a slow one this week. I do remember that Christmas episode, though, it was pretty good.
Some great episodes this week. I always hated all three of those Dexter shorts, but I loved the EEnE and PPG stuff. 'Twas the Night is amazing as well.
And I like how you linked to a certain past feature... :humhumhum:
Do you guys think I'm being too harsh on the relationship between Monkey and Honeydew?
It's not directly sexual, but now that I'm older, I am starting to notice how into each other they are, and I just find that weird.
I don't think so. It is pretty... odd. But at least it's played for humor (I think), even if it isn't funny at all. Regardless, Dial M For Monkey is just bad in general.
I might care more if I really enjoyed Money, but I'm pretty indifferent to the Monkey shorts as a whole.
Yeah, as you can tell, I'm no fan of Monkey either. I can't wait for the Justice Friends shorts to take its place.
And I guess nothing with Monkey and Honeydew is as bad as "A Quackor Cartoon". Yeesh.
More reviews from the Review God. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=732
Hey guys, I might have to take this week off, too. I have finals to study for, a portfolio to work on, and I have to pick my sister up from the airport later tonight. I could possibly pull a surprise, but don't count on it.
If I can't put up my Cartoon Cartoon article today, I'll try to make up for it this coming week instead, okay?
More Chu2 reviews from Daemon are up!
Hey guys, this was the third consecutive week where I was swamped with stuff to do, but I feel really bad for not updating the Cartoon Cartoon series for a couple of weeks. I actually started my Dexter's entry earlier today, so I'll just finish it tomorrow, okay?
And I should hopefully be able to do more articles this week to compliment that.
Guess who's back for reals! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=892)
Shame you came back for such a boring week. Good job, though!
I know it's technically Saturday now, but oh well. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=924)
Wakfu review by BlackCatula! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=932
And here's our epic.
http://animationrevelation.com/podcastep17.html
http://animationrevelation.com/podcastep17.5.html
Here's my review of Evangelion 3.0!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=934
New clusterfuck is here! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=966
Wow, not even one show worth watching? That's just awful.
QuoteI didn?t see a single Y chromosome anywhere in this episode. That?s a good thing, because I don?t want there to be any possibility at all that I could have been born in Love Live!?s universe. 1/10 ? Foggle
OUCH. :D
How does Mondaiji-tachi compare to Kiba, Foggle?
Maoyuu Maou Yuusha is actually pretty good. First episode was very interesting. But yeah, everything else is awful.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on January 28, 2013, 10:22:27 PM
How does Mondaiji-tachi compare to Kiba, Foggle?
About on par, I'd say. Might give the edge to Kiba, since that was so pretentious and poorly animated it was funny.
Looks like BBC's Sherlock took an...interesting direction this season.
Poor Love Live. Never stood a chance as soon as the AKB0048 sequel was announced for the same season.
Here's an editorial in honor of a couple upcoming events. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=992)
That was a good read, and while I'm obviously totally biased since i love this series more than anything myself, I can honestly say it's worth checking out..!
And it absolutely can't be stressed, how freaking horrendous the fan-translations are, which can be found on various places on the web... The Official thing is where it's at..!
Our most controversial article yet!? (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1011)
Excerpt:
QuoteNext, we have Pigeon Blood, a lovely harem comedy starring a confused young man and his posse of two moe girls, a domineering latex-clad woman, and a mature office lady with glasses. They're always getting into fun shenanigans like filling a girl's bowels with a mysterious white substance and kicking her in the stomach until she sprays liquid shit everywhere. The plot revolves around turning one of the girls, Rita, into the ultimate slave, capable of enduring the most humiliating stuff and winning them some sort of contest. It's kind of like The iDOLM@STER if the iDOLM@STER girls enjoyed jamming needles into each others' clitorises (clitori?). The "protagonist" of this two-part epic is named Chris, which is totally awesome, because it enables me to easily insert myself into the action and imagine that I am some creepy pale bastard who likes forcing people to drink their own piss after extracting it with a catheter.
:srs:
Why did I watch this?
New review from DaemonCorps! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1061)
More from the Corps. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1071)
Something from BlackCatula. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1076)
One must wonder what is DC's opinion on the trailer for the new Shinkai movie. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjlusi_h_XA)
Part 3 from DC. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1079)
Quote from: Lord Dalek on March 21, 2013, 10:36:03 PM
One must wonder what is DC's opinion on the trailer for the new Shinkai movie. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjlusi_h_XA)
Tweet it to him!
The last one! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1085)
Daemon talks about Psycho-Pass. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1102)
Spring 2013 anime clusterfuck is up! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1110
Our biggest clusterfuck yet!
We're taking the blog in a new direction. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1143
I approve this message.
It could be worse.
And here is a real article, about an upcoming anime! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1149
The funniest part is I watched Queen's Blade preparing to fap, ended up engrossed in the stories.
I hate when my smut does that.
I like the other one better. .3.
Quote from: Kiddington on April 27, 2013, 01:36:31 AM
I like the other one better. .3.
I'm sure you do.
Spoiler
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi312.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fll334%2Fxsirhc%2FHaruhi2.jpg&hash=15461c9d715dfed00b0a95a8869dc1c23197747a)
The best Let's Play that involves passing references to Furby sex is out. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96hPinnlZjo)
Avaitor wanted articles, so here's an article. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1154)
At this point they could air a jar of mayo and the fanboys would lap it up.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on May 05, 2013, 07:08:59 AM
At this point they could air a jar of mayo and the fanboys would lap it up.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstorage.siliconera.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F04%2Fvividred04_thumb.jpg&hash=e7620e21946e561b86d3e0d9510deb1f55deb259)
Damnit Micki, stop reminding me that show is coming next year. >_<
Y'no, when this show came on, there were older fans who did indeed embrace this show. I swear this is the case only because Toonami actually produced this show, despite there being little to write home about.
I tried watching some of it again the other week, and yeah, it's still a bland show.
Well it is Mitsuru Hongo... Whaddaya expect?
Good work! I remember liking IGPX, but back then I had no taste at all. It's probably not that great of a show.
Quote from: Micki! on May 05, 2013, 08:41:33 AM
http://storage.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/vividred04_thumb.jpg
A+ post
No one has asked for Wulin Warriors to return, aside from obvious trolling remarks, but people had been requesting for IGPX to come back since last year, and I assume it's always had it's fans as well, so it's unfair to completely base the praise for this show as random and only coinciding with the announcement of it's return. It's unfair to say the return of this show is like if Wulin Warriors returned because no one, including the Toonami staff, liked or wants Wulin Warriors to come back, while people have been asking for IGPX to come back and the show, believe or not, has it's fans.
I've only seen one episode of IGPX so far, the first episode. It was slow, a little dull, but it wasn't bad or anything. I have no idea whether this show will appeal to me as the episodes go by or not, but I'm going to give it a fair shot. And even if I don't end up liking it, I can still respect that people always have and do like it, for legitimate reasons.
On a personal note, I don't like the insinuation that Zatch Bell! was an awful show on par with D.I.C.E., because it's not. I can understand not liking the show, but it's far from awful and holds up better for me than shows like Naruto and Teen Titans.
I have to admit that I have always had a rather unfair animosity towards Zatch Bell! if only because its the show that completely replaced Yu Yu Hakusho by taking up its time-slot. So, I never really ended up giving the show a fair shake. Maybe I'll try watching it some day, since I'm among the few members on this board who doesn't automatically look down on anything that's shonen and not one of the classics, but as for now I have to admit that the animosity was so strong that it still kind of lingers in me today, even though it was never the show's fault that it got put on at that time (naturally, its the fault of Toonami watchers for apparently tuning out whenever YYH was on and giving it markedly lower ratings than other shows, to give the CN executives a reason to take it off of that time-slot).
And in case anyone doesn't get that last comment of mine....
Spoiler
....I'm joking....well, half-joking, anyways.
I've disliked what I've seen of Zatch Bell, but I admit that's mostly because the artwork and character designs make me physically ill. At its core it seems fine.
Admittedly, I probably would have never gotten into Hunter X Hunter if it weren't for the fact that it was written by Togashi. The guy had some terrible artwork, and to be honest I was never really much of a fan of HXH's art-style. Then I slowly got into it and realized how its story-telling and characterization was leaps and bounds ahead of what most generic shonen series with such amateur writers could even hope to accomplish. I mean, the actual show has plenty of adventures and fighting and all of that good stuff, but it also delves into dark themes of revenge, corrupt politics, drug-trafficking, and even constantly obscures the lines of morality with its own heroes; examples of that include how Killua was raised as an assasin, how Kurapika works as a body guard for a shady mob boss to use the perks and benefits that he gets to work towards his own goals, and how Gon holds a person freaking hostage to get a villain to try and revive someone for him, and its not just a fake-hostage either. Seriously, Leorio is the only straight character among the main group when you think about it.
At any rate, to not get off-topic, I learned long ago to not judge stuff solely by art-style. That's when I got into One Piece. And, despite the fact that I'm not a fan of any of the series so far past the post time-skip, I still contest that most of the stuff that came before it was genuinely good and well-written material for a shonen series. I can't help it if most other people on this board are naturally biased toward shonen.
That said, I did watch some of Zatch Bell as a kid and it didn't really click with me, but like I said, I had an unfair hatred towards the show to begin with, so I never watched it properly. I'll try it seriously one of these days to see if its actually any good, or if it even holds up at all from its initial airing on Toonami.
Yeah, I can understand where people who don't like Zatch Bell! are coming from, and it is a better manga than an anime, so it'd probably better to read that instead if you wanted to check it out. The overarching plotline builds slowly in the series and I admit it has repetitive elements, but for me there's a lot of heart and humor in the series that makes it and crafts it into something special and appreciable, so when people compare it to something like D.I.C.E I naturally get a little irritated.
Here's a totally serious article by Marquis about SheZow! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1209
I tried something new. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1220)
What do you think?
I dig it! Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen more than a single episode of this show, so I probably should give it a try sometime.
Nice job, Avaitor! Good idea to talk about the Weekenders, too.
That was a great read, and something that really makes me want to try out something similar myself.
As for The Weekenders, I used to watch that show everyday after school on Disney Channel back when it and Recess were having a lot of their re-runs aired in the early 2000's. I'm glad to hear that it has aged well. I need to give it a re-watch one of these days.
I'm going to try to make this a recurring series, so I'll work on another, hopefully more detailed post this week.
And please guys, feel free to try one of these by yourselves. It's a very simple formula. ;)
I've already been considering what I would do an article like this for, but its kind of hard coming up with something, since most of what I could think to talk about is stuff that you guys have already seen (stuff like GTO or Gargoyles).
Now, another type of article idea I've been thinking of trying out is a rip-off of Doug Walker's Raiders of the Story Arc idea, though instead of just limiting it to the first few episodes of a series, I'd like to just take any arc or multi-part episode from any series that I like and explain why I think its such a great piece of fiction all on its own. In that regard, it doesn't matter if people have seen it because it can still be interesting to give my take on it.
That reminds me of my first episode review series. Which I planned to do a few of, but only did so for B:TAS.
I should probably do that again, but I'm not sure for what. Definitely not Justice League, since Insommy already did it. Maybe S:TAS and Batman Beyond, but I'd rather do something not-DC related, and I have no interest in watching Avatar again, and can't think of much else. We'll see.
Yeah, that's a good ideas as well, though for me I also like the idea of not necessarily having to be limited to the very start of a show.
Quote from: Avaitor on June 04, 2013, 07:22:07 PM
I'm going to try to make this a recurring series, so I'll work on another, hopefully more detailed post this week.
And please guys, feel free to try one of these by yourselves. It's a very simple formula. ;)
Hmm may consider this for one of my future reviews on my blog. Looks like a neat way of doing it
Blog hungry. Blog want eat. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1228)
Excellent article, and I agree with it wholeheartedly. Yoshihiro Togashi could learn a thing or two from that as well (unfortunately).
This is why 90% of so-called "dark" and "gritty" things turn me off, especially in anime. I'm all for mature story-telling and such, but it has to be handled with VERY talented writers who have the clear mindset of an experienced adult and know what the hell they are talking about. Either that, or if you can't write that kind of story, then it should be more along the lines of Death Note where the author clearly knew that he wasn't telling a mature story and instead focused on making the tale more of a noir rather than trying to make it realistic in any resemblance of the word. The problem is, there are way too many shows that think they are being mature and telling a gritty story that adults would truly appreciate, but more of than not the writers behind these are so aimed at getting down the feeling of being dark that they completely overlook what makes dark story-telling interesting and believable in the first place.
Stuff like Higurashi (and Kai), Madoka Magica, and anything from Naoki Urasawa pretty much get that. We find the dark story-telling to make a more intense atmosphere but we want to keep watching because we are generally given reasons to care about these characters and what they have to go through (Kino's Journey counts as well, even though I'm not the biggest fan of that anime, myself). If you take something like....Gantz, on the other hand, its just a mere joke in comparison to these series. It tries to be cool and edgy and dark and just falls flat in every facade when you come down to the simple fact that 99% of its characters are ass-holes who deserve to die, while the few that are actually "in danger" of being likable and identifiable are killed off and forgotten about quickly. That's what ticks me off the most, actually. When a good character dies a death he doesn't deserve, that's understandable, but when he's just treated like common trash by the characters and the writer himself and quickly cast off and forgotten about, that really gets under my skin in a way that I can't describe. Its one thing that REALLY ticked me off about the early portions of the Chimera Ant arc in Hunter X Hunter, especially since its from a mangaka who I expected would know better.
Great article, however I do think there was some light at the end of the tunnel in Kiritsugu's story arc via Shirou. He finally realizes his mistakes, and saving the one boy who would eventually become a legendary hero is his redemption.
I just realized that I haven't read some of the blog's more recent articles, so while I was going on to check them out (great as always, btw), I couldn't help but notice that the person who runs the Weekenders tumblr blog returned my favor of posting their blog in my review by linking to the article on there.
Awesome!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1234
New article by Dalek!
So yeah... why can't they run Hunter X Hunter really.
Excellent article, Dalek. :thumbup:
As someone who still watches Toonami, I agree with what you said for the most part (though, I don't think Zatch Bell and IGPX are as bad as the other shows you mentioned). For all the boasting Jason and the Toonami crew did about Nu-Toonami not being a nostalgia block, that's exactly what it is right now. The energy that Nunami had when it came back just disappeared after Deadman ended. It's fun watching Naruto, IGPX, and SBT reruns, and I'm glad that I was finally able to see TCats for myself, but I'd much rather have new, but cheap acquisitions than reruns in the long-term. There's a lot of shows in Funi's SAVE pile that Toonami could've aired for cheap, but chose not too since Seinen doesn't do to well because people love their generic shounenshit way too much. Yeah yeah, the big 3 are all airing on the same channel back-to-back, now can we please get some variety? Yeah, seinen gets bad ratings, but that didn't stop them from giving IGPX and Eureka Seven another shot, and I don't think anyone wanted the latter back (if you're going to bring back a show that bombed, why not something that's actually fast paced and entertaining like S-CRY-ed, or a show that people actually want, like Samurai Champloo?)
What's even sadder about Toonami's pick ups is how "safe" they've been. Toonami rarely ever played it safe back in the day, the fact that it aired shows like Outlaw Star and Tenchi Muyo in the daytime (as well as saturday mornings, in Tenchi's case) is proof enough of that. Hell, it's worst periods were when it was playing it safe. As it stands now, the only real "risky" thing they've done since Deadman ended was the Evangelion movie night, along with the music videos that aired in-between. I know a lot of people will be quick to blame Neon Alley for Toonami's lack of decent pick-ups, but the thing is, Viz apparently wants some of their NA premiere shows on Toonami. At this point, I find it hard to believe there's much in the way of Toonami picking up Blue Exorcist or Tiger and Bunny at this point, hell, I'll even take Rinne no Lagrange over what we have now.
With SAO coming in august, the only thing stopping the rest of this year from becoming a total dud for Toonami is the "mystery show" they've been teasing, and that's probably just going to end up being something like the ever generic Guilty Crown.
Sorry if my rambling isn't very consistent, I just got a lot to say about Toonami. :sweat:
Even though I like the packaging, bumps, and pretty much the stuff that make Toonami, well, Toonami besides the shows, I admit that the lineup right now is far from ideal, and honestly, a senin dominated lineup is what I would like best too, aside from the odd exception. So I agree with the mood of disappointment, as I'm not big on long-running shonen and repeats dominating Toonami either and would like better "adult" shows than
Casshern Sins and
Samurai 7, both of which I actually LIKE mind you, but I'd definitely take
Black Lagoon or
Fate/Zero over them in a heartbeat. what we've got now isn't the worst lineup ever, but it's mostly reruns of series I just like, so really the only thing worth it for me is the
One Piece/
Soul Eater hour, and I've seen the episodes of those shows that they are currently showing before, so I really only watch cause I have a nielson box and want to support the shows I actually really enjoy on Toonami.
The only things I disagree with in this article is the notion
Zatch Bell! is drivel (I'm not a superfan of it, but it's a lot of fun and has a good story and enjoyable characters), the idea that "catching Up" to the current crop of episodes of
One Piece in Japan is really that much of a big deal to most of us U.S. fans (FUNimation has only just begun to release season 5, so it would still take years to catch up regardless of whether Toonami returned the series to television or not), and the statement
One Piece's ratings haven't recovered, when in fact just last week it got a whopping 1.1 million viewers, which didn't beat what
Bleach or
Naruto got, but is still very rare numbers to achieve in the 1am slot and is an increase of 300,000 viewers over the previous week.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on June 11, 2013, 10:07:23 PM
So yeah... why can't they run Hunter X Hunter really.
1. The new version is both unlicensed and not dubbed in the U.S.
2. Viz relinquished the rights to the 1999 version.
3. The dub of
Hunter X Hunter 1999 is quite meh. It makes
Naruto's sound look like
Cowboy Bebop's.
The ratings were released about two hours after I wrote this. Shikatta ga nai.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on June 11, 2013, 10:07:23 PM
So yeah... why can't they run Hunter X Hunter really.
Well, assuming it was licensed and Toonami still didn't pick it up, it'd be because its a shonen series that doesn't already have any nostalgic fan-base to exploit, doesn't have a lot of mainstream appeal, has many elements to it that require patience and investment to appreciate, and is generally more about following characters and their progression rather than having its characters follow along with whatever generic story of the day some hack writer came up with. In other words, its nothing that the current Toonami fan-base would actually watch.
They could just say that it's by the same guy that made YYH, and the nostalgiafags would eat it up.
You could say the same exact thing about Soul Eater but they did pick that up.
Hell its practically the same case with One Piece considering it just spent five years in the wilderness with no tv exposure, and the nostalgia factor it has is the bad kind.
I think it's pretty much established that the Toonami crew will air whatever shows they like or think are neat regardless of casual appeal or not. That said, I would say that they have been playing it safe with their choices right now, although I would only consider
Thundercats,
Tenchi Muyo! GXP, and
Naruto to have been outright ratings ploys based on appealing to the nostalgia of hardcore fans/casual viewers.
One Piece did okay back in the day but there aren't many people who have nostalgia for the 4Kids version, and the fact they are airing 200 episodes in and at a point at which people hadn't seen kinda weakens the nostalgic appeal of it in a couple of ways.
Oh, and Dalek, I have a question.
QuoteWell I can't say this is the worst block Toonami's had in a while (the infamous March 2006 lineup holds that title in perpetuity)
???...are you not a Miyazaki fan? Cause half of March 2006 was the Month of Miyazaki. Plus, the lineup for the first two weeks of March 2006 wasn't even the same.
Spoiler
Mar 4, 2006
7:00PM Duel Masters 2.0 - "Duel-ercise" (NEW) :)
7:30PM Teen Titans - "Snowblind" :-\
8:00PM Zatch Bell - "The Mystery of the Stone Tablets" (NEW) :)
8:30PM Naruto - "The Tenth Question: All or Nothing" :(
9:00PM Naruto - "Special Report: Live From the Forest of Death" (NEW) :gonk:
9:30PM 4Kids One Piece - "Chasing Luffy" (NEW) :gonk:
10:00PM Bobobobo Bo-Bobo - "World of Blabs-a-lot: The Sappiest Place on Earth!" (NEW) :thumbup:
10:30PM Justice League Unlimited - "The Great Brain Robbery" (NEW) :thumbup:
Mar 11, 2006
7:00PM Transformers Cybertron - "Critical" (NEW) :butbut:
7:30PM Teen Titans - "Kole" :-\
8:00PM Zatch Bell - "Dr. Riddles and the Majestic Twelve" (NEW) :)
8:30PM Zatch Bell - "The Sixth Spell" (NEW) :)
9:00PM 4Kids One Piece - "Oh, Brother!" (NEW) :unimpressed:
9:30PM 4Kids One Piece - "All Dried Up" (NEW) :unimpressed:
10:00pm Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo - "Good-bye Bo-bobo! The Final Showdown?" (NEW) :swoon:
10:30PM Justice League Unlimited - "Grudge Match" (NEW) :swoon:
And during the two weeks of March 2006 that the Month of Miyazaki was in, the only show that premiered new episodes was
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.
Personally, I think the absolute worst Toonami lineup is either:
February 2007:
Spoiler
7:00PM Pokemon: Battle Frontier (rerun) :butbut:
7:30PM Yu-Gi-Oh! GX :shit:
8:00PM Teen Titans (rerun) :-\
8:30PM Naruto (rerun) :oo:
9:00PM Naruto :(
9:30PM 4Kids One Piece :unimpressed:
10:00PM The Prince of Tennis (with skipped episodes! For no reason!) :srs:
10:30PM MAR: Marchen Awakens Romance (with skipped episodes! For no reason!) :whuh:
The Final Lineup: May-September 2008:
Spoiler
9:00PM Naruto (Filler) :anger:
9:30PM Naruto (Filler) :anger:
10:00PM Ben 10: Alien Force :burn:
10:30PM Samurai Jack :-\
Yeah, I think Toonami actually got worse and worse. It was basically completely unwatchable by the end.
Yeah...looking back, while I liked watching most of the saturday Toonami lineups as a kid, I couldn't sit through them all the way now. A lot of the shows the block aired from the 2005-2008 don't really hold up all that well or are kinda meh to me, at least nowadays.
Toonami did help me become a fan of anime and good action cartoons in general though. In fact, without Toonami, I would have never become invested in the Dragonball franchise or One Piece, so I would have probably never read any manga, or watched any other anime like Case Closed or Yu Yu Hakusho, or become seriously infatuated with animation in general, and never would have discovered Toonzone, much less be posting here. Toonami single-handedly made me into the animation fan I am today, so I really owe it a lot in that respect, even if my current tastes make the lineups I watched as a kid undesirable to me.
And I also have to thank them for airing Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo. I would not be the same person I am today without it. Seriously.
It didn't really help that there were a decent amount of shows that, while not really spectacular by any means, would've fit on the block, but didn't air because CN was too incompetent to pick them up (and the one they did went to [as]).
I think the guys behind the block legitimately liking SAO within the first few episodes and basing their decision to pick that show up on that is what disappoints me the most about Newnami.
If you're going to be a once a week showcase of what should be the top stuff for your audience, and planning this all out on a limited budget then perhaps you should listen to overall trends and responses rather than the old method of running the ship. I'd say they should take a lesson from Saban's Vortexx block. They don't have much to work with now, but they're rotating out shows and picking out a lot of top performers and proven successes.
Pharass wrote a review for us! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1266
Great job, Pharass!
I have to say that I quite enjoyed what I've seen of Mystery Inc., but I lost track of it long ago and that annoying triangle in the early episodes really got on my nerves. If I get the chance I'll give it another go.
Great article, Pharass!
Yeah, Mystery Inc. is awesome and easily the best thing Scooby Doo related ever. The only problem I had with it was the whole love triangle (granted, romantic relationships in animation do tend to annoy or bore me), but that disappeared around the middle of the first season and the second season was bloody fantastic. It's probably the only Scooby Doo show that I'd say is close to being a top favorite of mine, although I do still think the original Where are You? is entertaining and worth an occasional watch.
I'm also partial to A Pup Named Scooby Doo and a few of the movies like Zombie Island, but I would say what I saw of the show easily stacks up with them and is probably better as a whole.
Heh, I actually loved watching A Pup Named Scooby Doo and the Zombie Island flick as a kid, but they don't really do much for me nowadays, although I certainly don't dislike them either.
Great review, Pharass! Feel free to send us more guest articles! And feel free for all of you to offer us the chance for the same.
Man, I've got to check out the rest of the show. I eventually stopped watching every week when the love triangle really got on my nerves, but since they do eventually cut it back, I'll be glad to give it more of a go.
Thanks for the kind words everyone, I'm really glad that you liked the review and I will definitely write more.
Be seeing you.
At my request, Racattack publicly shamed himself watched Equestria Girls and wrote a review! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1270
Here's what I think about Aku no Hana. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1276
On Equestria Girls:
Great review. I would watch it in a theater if it wasn't for the fact that my local theater only shows this at 10 AM, and that's the average time that I even bother to wake up at. That and the fact that I normally work at 11 AM most days. Still interesting to hear that it's pretty watchable.
On Aku No Hana:
I tried watching like the first few episodes of this, I wanted to see what it was about. Other than those scenes where you posted pictures/GIFs of on the board, I never really found it interesting. It was a real snooze fest for me other than those moments that made me go "I NEED AN ADULT! Oh wait... I am one." I swear I dropped it after a few episodes. As for the animation, I didn't care if it was rotoscoped or not, it's what you do with the tools that make it stand out, not just having them, you would have done well to learned that.
Aku no Hana is so weird. It's boring as shit, but it also has a lot of diehard fans who insist on referring to it as "the best anime of 2013." I mean, it does have a few things I liked about it, and I probably would have enjoyed it if the pacing wasn't awful, but as it stands it has neither enough style nor substance to sustain a 13 episode anime.
Nice to hear that Equestria Girls isn't as cringe-worthy as people (including myself) thought it would be. Good review, Rac. EqG is actually showing in my town, though it's unlikely I'll see it.
I haven't seen Aku no Hana, but I will agree with Foggle that it's annoying when people praise something just for being "different from all the other shit". I'd honestly take a well-done moeshit or shounenshit over something that tries to be "different", but is poor in quality and execution.
More Aku no Hana ramblings, this time from Insommy. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1280
Timothy Bourbon Belmonte III, Esq. does not agree with our opinions of Aku no Hana. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1291
What's up, peep's?
Yeah, so being that I'm a dumb-ass who couldn't even begin to figure out how to properly install Word Press on my computer, let alone make posts on it, I just said "fuck it" and decided to temporarily create my own blog to make my posts on. So, with that said, here (http://ensatsuken.blogspot.com/) is my look at the first episode of Tron: Uprising.
Sounds like a fun show. I can't wait to see what you've got next, Mr. Tequila.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on July 02, 2013, 10:44:51 PM
Sounds like a fun show. I can't wait to see what you've got next, Mr. Tequila.
I was hoping somebody would get that reference! :thumbup:
Cool article, good work! I can help you put it on Word Press, if you want. It's pretty simple.
Quote from: Foggle on July 03, 2013, 02:06:47 AM
Cool article, good work! I can help you put it on Word Press, if you want. It's pretty simple.
Thanks! :thumbup:
And yeah, I'd really appreciate your help on Word Press. I know its pretty simple, but given how much I suck with computers, what's simple for everyone else is like a freaking puzzle for me. :sweat:
Its actually more of an installation problem, anyways. I looked up the steps needed to install WP, but I get that problem where I have a bunch of text listed as coding, no matter what browser I try to open up the program in, and thus I can't log in since the page that's supposed to open does not properly display, unless everything is SUPPOSED to show up as coding, which I kind of doubt.
Wait, are you trying to put it on the AR Word Press, or are you trying to make your own WP site?
Quote from: Foggle on July 03, 2013, 12:50:03 PM
Wait, are you trying to put it on the AR Word Press, or are you trying to make your own WP site?
AR Word Press.
I figured I still had to install it though to even be able to use it, though.
The Renegade Parts 1 & 2 are up. And this time its on Word Press! ;D
Good job! I've never actually seen Tron Uprising, so I won't be able to comment much. I must say though, I had never even heard of the show until a month ago, and it wasn't really even on my radar until you started writing these pieces.
I hadn't heard of it either until ShadowGentleman held a gun to my head and forced me to watch it! :>
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on July 06, 2013, 12:53:14 AM
I hadn't heard of it either until ShadowGentleman held a gun to my head and forced me to watch it! :>
:humhumhum:
Also, I don't remember Beck talking to Flynn in this episode. I really need to go back and check that out.
I reviewed the Flashpoint movie. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1319
What the-
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2F7d2853c29473ce471c957695b8f2c246%2Ftumblr_mq1nkmJf8q1s2k64ro7_250.gif&hash=9c26245201d425fbdda2e1579de2a75fb74ca5ab)
Jesus, it's already been gif'd.
New clusterfuck is out! It's our biggest yet, I think.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1328
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FCrowds23_zps2359d19a.png&hash=27e33071e2c09c622edceb9ae345747f5967db7e)
Alas.
More Gatchaman Crowds. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1375) More me wanting to throttle Hajime and/or Kenji Nakamura.
Quote from: Foggle on July 19, 2013, 10:21:39 PM
New clusterfuck is out! It's our biggest yet, I think.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1328
Out of the bunch, the only one I've seen was It?s Not My Fault That I?m Not Popular! Ironically enough, Tomoko Kuroki will easily become one the most popular characters of this year.
Quote from: Lord Il on July 21, 2013, 03:54:52 PM
Quote from: Foggle on July 19, 2013, 10:21:39 PM
New clusterfuck is out! It's our biggest yet, I think.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1328
Out of the bunch, the only one I've seen was It?s Not My Fault That I?m Not Popular! Ironically enough, Tomoko Kuroki will easily become one the most popular characters of this year.
You mean she isn't already or do you mean the anime will explode her popularity that she has on other sites?
Quote from: Daxdiv on July 21, 2013, 07:11:19 PMYou mean she isn't already or do you mean the anime will explode her popularity that she has on other sites?
I just made a play on words with the series title when I wrote that, actually (her being the "not popular" girl). ;) But yeah, to be true,Tomoko Kuroki will be one of the most popular of characters in 2013 thanks to the anime. The reason being, just about anyone can relate to such a character from some point in their lives - Such subject matter is realistic and therefore relatable to many. I do like the fun approach this series does with it all. It takes the dark and dismal and turns it around into something to smile about.
My next Tron: Uprising entry is up. I was really busy over the past couple of weeks (and still am), which is why it took me so long between the last entry and this one. Not that it took me that long to write it, but it took me a while to get into the mood for writing more.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FCrowds311_zpsae42773e.png&hash=76c60064b40f5f1df145eba37eec0a9a629723a5)
Crowds-Sourcing The Third (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1407) is here.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FCrowds408_zps4ba3337c.png&hash=9077a614b53e378ca7feefbb64b7951e61011338)
The answers to this question and more to be found on this week's edition of Crowds-Sourcing! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1429)
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1443
Here is a guest article by TheEclecticDude!
Sweet article! You've got my appetite set up for a series I previously haven't heard of quite well. :)
Glad you liked the article, Avaitor
That's part of the reason why I do an anime blog-to spotlight overlooked/obscure series or personal favorites of mine and to say in essence 'Hey, check this out-you might like it' or 'Look at this show as an example of what to avoid when it comes to anime'.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FCrowds508_zpsebc1e325.png&hash=8fd9c69e99fe27d96ade4025ae9c1eb327e7a4dd)
If its Saturday Morning, it must be Lord Dalek railing on Gatchaman Crowds. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1451)
I think it's time we do something that's never been done by bloggers before... make it friendly and approachable. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1468
Quote from: Foggle on August 11, 2013, 05:05:55 AM
I think it's time we do something that's never been done by bloggers before... make it friendly and approachable. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1468
Hear! Hear! :thumbup:
Not that I've had a problem before.
But staying honest with reviews is appreciated. Be brutal when required - Don't change that. If sugar-coated, it can be misleading. Plus it's bad for the teeth. ;)
We're not going to stop doing negative reviews or anything like that, we're just going to try our best to come across as respectful to other people's opinions and intelligence. So few internet bloggers/reviewers do that.
Future installments of Crowds-Sourcing are postponed. Hopefully not indefinitely but unfortunetely my computer decided to crap out on me.
No interruptions to Crowds-Sourcing will occur this weekend.
And here is this week's installment of Crowds Sourcing! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1477
Insommy has finished Oreimo! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1489)
Oreimo was a show that had potential when it started but... well, the review basically says it all.
^Says something about a show when the only episode of S2 was the Saori episode, which I felt was quite good.
Crowd-sourcing finally gets a decent grade. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1507)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FThisishappeningJuu_zpsbc4d06f6.png&hash=71ee62fb69d961c022cacc5f62c989ad8206d034)
Crowds-Sourcing (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1523) continues as Gatchaman goes back to school... PRE-school.
*sigh*
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FGWOtaku_zpsd01701b0.png&hash=53ed8ff92d966886268fbe592772a837b87a3063)
Crowds-Sourcing (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1563) heads into the final phase of Gatchaman Crowds... with more standing around and doing nothing!
Going to have to delay this week's Crowds-Sourcing to some point next week on the count of me not having anything to type a review on. Oh I can still watch this week's ep but my computer's really fragged this time (as in harddrive died).
I lied. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1575)
Quote from: Lord Dalek on September 06, 2013, 10:09:23 PM
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FGWOtaku_zpsd01701b0.png&hash=53ed8ff92d966886268fbe592772a837b87a3063)
Crowds-Sourcing (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1563) heads into the final phase of Gatchaman Crowds... with more standing around and doing nothing!
Oh you just turn it off, huh..?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLo-ylNPXyE
:kabapu:
Never watch Diabolik Lovers. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1596
So Diabolik Lovers is basically the haremshit anime version of Twilight?
Well, this season's off to a great start. :whuh:
Quote from: Foggle on September 17, 2013, 02:53:59 PM
Never watch Diabolik Lovers. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1596
Jesus H. Christ on a drumstick. ??? The hell is that?! :il_hahaha:
Quote from: Rynnec on September 17, 2013, 03:43:34 PMWell, this season's off to a great start. :whuh:
Quite. :srs:
Crowds-sourcing (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1616) hurdles towards the end... only to get over the head with a recap episode... =/
Insommy's written about Korra:
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1587
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1628
To be fair, aside from Korra's parents, Unalaq only arrested the guys who tried to kidnap him.
And we haven't even heard the reason for how he can support his claim that Korra's dad conspired to have him assassinated, yet. I do agree that the water tribe soldiers are coming off just like the fire nation, though. However, it does seem intentional this time, probably to show that being a group of single-minded ass-holes is not just exclusive to any one nation (or tribe, in this case).
Honestly, I find the plot itself interesting enough, but just like season 1 the biggest problem with this show is Korra herself. I have no problem with her being a hot head, but the issue is that she's uncharacteristically stupid for someone who's supposed to be the Avatar, never learns from her mistakes, and can just come off as downright unlikable at times.
I do agree with the good doctor in that I'm not a fan of how they're handling the bad guys here. As soon as the spirit attacked in the first episode and Unalaq saved the day I immediately pegged him behind everything, because I've seen it happen many times before. But if they're planning on subverting it, they don't seem to be setting it up.
It's not like I expected Ozai or Amon to not be bad guys (because they obviously were), but they weren't quite such obvious cliches like Unalaq is. Ozai was a product of 100 years of mindless vitriol and Amon was an emotionally damaged kid who threw everything he knew away to destroy everything else. Unalaq is supposed to be ambiguous, but he's clearly not in any way barring some twist which will feel jarring if it happens at this rate.
I'm still giving it a chance, but I haven't been all too impressed so far. I think they can do better.
I'm not sure if Greg would prefer my posting of this to doing it himself, but he has his own thoughts about LOK here. (http://gregxb.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-quit.html)
Korra is a really frustrating character, I agree. The biggest problem of season 2 so far is how she has apparently learned absolutely nothing from the previous season's events. It's almost like they didn't matter.
I'm not going to quit on it, it's not like Avatar has ever really started a season off running, but I've tempered my expectations.
I will say that I am enjoying the parts of the second season of The Legend of Korra that doesn't have Korra in it. Provided, we're only 3 episodes in, but I am more entertained at seeing Aang's kids backstories than anything else right now. If that shit is true, it is kind of painting Aang in a different light due to his favoritism towards Tenzin. Though I do excuse that due to Tenzin being the only other Airbender than Aang and how he does have the burden of a culture on his shoulders.
Yeah, the show's gotten me far more invested in Aang's kids than the spirits. Mostly since Kya and Bumi have some good chemistry with Tenzin. Also, it's a bit like seeing the old Gaang back.
I'm sticking around for Tenzin's family and the hope that Bolin develops into an actual character, but...yeah. Not much else.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2FCrowds1207_zps4fabc351.png&hash=651d471ae4a89f8181f05adfd1463cab630ac4c0)
Its the end but the moment has been prepared for. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1659)
More-a Korra. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1670)
I agree with most of that review, though I also would have added my thoughts about Tenzin's part of the episode, in there. I liked that part. It was just two simple scenes, one with Tenzin finding his daughter and having a moment with her, and the other with both of them making up with their siblings. It's nothing groundbreaking, obviously, but it was executed well enough in a way that I could relate to, given that I'm a kid who has had my share of sibling troubles both when I was growing up and even now )(except my problems are about a thousand times worse than Tenzin's ;) ).
Anyways, good review. I also thought that, despite still having a fair amount of faults holding it back from being as great as it could've been, this episode was still a step up from last week. Like I continue to keep saying, most of this shows problems, for me, seem to come from the writers stubbornly refusing to let Korra grow up. I feel like they reset her character actually needs to learn something in order for us to sympathize with or even give a shit about her. In the first season her hot-headed nature was acceptable if only because we knew she was young and had much to learn. By this season she at least should have learned a little and improved somewhat from before, but she's still as knuckle-brained as ever. I would love if they do end up changing her by tying this in with how she had lost her bending abilities (except for Air) at the end of the first season, and making her realize that by getting them back right away it was robbing her of a life lesson that she desperately needed. They could make her realize this by finding some way to take her bending abilities away again. Sorry, but I just can't forgive the ending to season 1 for immediately killing what could have been a great vehicle for Korra's character development.
So we have a new guest review by someone named "Pascal". (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1681) I'm sure this is something of merit.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on September 28, 2013, 02:29:38 PM
So we have a new guest review by someone named "Pascal". (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1681) I'm sure this is something of merit.
10/10! WOULD READ AGAIN! 10/10! WOULD READ AGAIN
Seriously this review was a riot for me.
I agree with Daxdiv. Props to whoever wrote this! :thumbup:
Quote from: Cartoon X on September 28, 2013, 10:23:44 PM
I agree with Daxdiv. Props to whoever wrote this! :thumbup:
I believe the person that wrote this was our very own Bloody Marquis/Insommy. Well, going by his Twitter account as proof, where he mentions he got an idea for it.
Also, when I read the name of the reviewer, I immediately think of this guy:
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7sqqGQs.png&hash=945a3108eb863eafe52c5a60337e313863274530) (http://imgur.com/7sqqGQs)
It was written by Dr. Insomniac. I'll gladly take credit for it, though. :joy:
Well consisdering I can't read a Paschal review for more than five seconds before triggering my gag reflex, you can tell I didn't write it.
Anyone for some Batman? (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1699)
Yay, more articles! Good job Spark. Hope to see the first part out soon. :joy: :joy:
I'm gonna try for one a week depending on how many episodes I want to do. I'm currently going through the episodes and picking them out.
More-a Korra. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1734
Time to say goodbyeeeeeeee to Gatchaman Crowds... http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1749
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1690
The first part of our main anime clusterfuck is up! We give our thoughts on:
- Beyond The Boundary
- Coppelion
- Golden Time
- Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! - Rising
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kaku: Outbreak
- I Couldn't Become A Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided To Get A Job
- IS: Infinite Stratos 2
- Kill la Kill
- Kuroko's Basketball 2
- Kyousougiga
- Little Busters! Refrain
- Log Horizon
- Miss Monochrome: The Animation
- Nagi no Asukara
- Outbreak Company
- Pokemon Origins
- Strike The Blood
- White Album 2
- Gaist Crusher
- Freezing Vibration
- Aikatsu! 2
Great job, everyone!
This list reminds me that I should get around to watching Pokemon Origins.
QuoteOne of them laments that she ?isn?t attractive to the opposite sex?, then randomly gets hired to work at a restaurant with her friend. They immediately beat up some robbers while dressed like a maid and butler, respectively. Then she licks crepe cream off her friend?s face. Finally, they dress up in cat pajamas and her friend sexually harasses her
The scary thing about this? This was the best part of the episode. Yeah.
Nice write ups. Outside of Kill La Kill, this season really isn't doing much for me, but it's a lot better than last season.
Well, I think that HnI and Kuroko are pretty good, but the problem is that those two seasons are sequels that aren't the best starting points for newcomers. We have a severe lack of good quality original content in general, this year.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on October 06, 2013, 02:06:11 PM
Well, I think that HnI and Kuroko are pretty good, but the problem is that those two seasons are sequels that aren't the best starting points for newcomers. We have a severe lack of good quality original content in general, this year.
Yep. Kill la Kill and Coppelion are really the only non-continuation premieres so far of any merit.
That said, this season is actually quite decent. Very few of the shows are legitimately bad for once; a lot of them are just average or highly flawed. Also, KLK is already my favorite anime since JoJo's, so it's great for me. I generally only have enough time to actively keep up with one or two shows anyway.
Marquis (Insommy) convinced me to start weekly blogging Kill la Kill. Here are my thoughts on the controversial elements of the first episode:
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1788
Issue #1 is out! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1810)
A blog without honor or humanity. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1889)
Second part of the clusterfuck is up: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1794
And also Dalek's first Valvrave blog: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1863
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2Fvlcsnap-2013-10-11-13h19m11s211_zps9e36699c.png&hash=2176e78092529a42e8c65528292c7c5f2865d723)
THEY'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1863)
The next issue is out! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1913)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv92%2Florddalek%2Fvlcsnap-2013-10-17-21h58m08s206_zps7ddf8bed.png&hash=7d00a6ee6c94b73cc926fda4f5fae040f230ffd6)
Valvrave soldiers on... (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1947)
The third issue is on time! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1982)
The fourth issue is early! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2031)
Since I probably won't have time to post it tomorrow. I hope it isn't too rushed!
Rushed or not, it looks good. ;) I don't think anyone expected you to write 5000 words per article.
Valvrave somehow continues to not suck.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2042
Issue #5 is out and we end our first two-parter! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2065)
I'm now halfway through my season 1 picks.
Insomniac has written about Valvrave now: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2095
Issue #6- hot off the presses! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2133)
The small word is "Tiddlywinks".
Issue #7! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2169)
Yes, it's still the same show.
Done with this season. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2201)
Issue #8 is out a bit early! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2210)
I just couldn't resist posting about what might be my favorite episode.
Issue #9 is out! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2238)
I might be getting one more issue out before I will be taking a short break, but for now enjoy the end of an awesome arc!
Nice work on those York New City articles E-K! I never thought of camaraderie as the theme of the arc before (I was thinking more along the lines of trust, responsibility, revenge etc.), but now that I think about it, friendship/teamwork is a theme that really does encompass a lot of the struggles in the arc, especially the examples you mentioned. I can't really think of anything I'd disagree with you or can comment on, partially because the arc isn't that fresh in my mind atm, but also because you really get down the essence of Kurapika's character arc in the story and the tragic aspects of his character as well. I'm interested in seeing what you have to say about the Phantom Troupe. :)
I can already guess some of the other story arcs you'll be covering. No doubt your Chapter Black and Dark Tournament pieces will be quite lengthy and detailed. ;)
Thanks. :thumbup:
I don't intend to do the long-winded arcs too often. I will do Chapter Black and such later on down the line, but not for quite a while. I'm mostly going to stick to 3 or 4-parters, such as Kang The Conqueror or Starcrossed, which would be much shorter than this feature I'm doing here, and easily contained in a single part.
As for the stuff you mentioned, the theme of "trust" is kind of encompassed in comradery, IMO. Likewise, the theme of "revenge" is encompassed within Kurapika's character arc of "obsession," being that he's obsessed with his past and his revenge ploy. the themes themselves are pretty basic stuff that we've all seen done before, but I believe that this arc does it better than almost any other shounen out there.
Nice job, so far!
I can't wait for the conclusion as this is the best part of HxH by far to me.
Thanks! I'll have part 3 up tomorrow. :thumbup:
I was mostly inspired to do my own series based on reading and enjoying the output from you guys every week.
Oh, also, I hope you don't mind me basically using the name that you jokingly recommended to me (Story Arc Online). I have absolutely zero creativity, so I couldn't come up with anything else. :D
It fits so I have no complaints.
To be honest, I couldn't think of a "proper" title, anyway. ;D
So, for everyone who's still unaware (or just plain doesn't give a shit), I posted up all 3 parts to my first entry for Story Arc Online, a new series of articles which I will infrequently update whenever time (and my own personal interest), permits. My premiere article was for the York New City arc of Hunter X Hunter. Here are all 3 parts:
Part I (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2262)
Part II (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2268)
Part III (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2276)
I only skimmed your articles because I would like to completely experience this arc for myself when I do get around to it soon(ish), but I will say that it's clear that you put a lot of effort and detail into them just from that. Great work!
Quote from: Foggle on December 09, 2013, 01:04:06 PMI only skimmed your articles because I would like to completely experience this arc for myself when I do get around to it soon(ish), but I will say that it's clear that you put a lot of effort and detail into them just from that. Great work!
Thanks! :thumbup:
It did take me a long time to write, but it was interesting experiencing the arc again and really trying to interpret what I liked about it so much. And yeah, it's probably best to avoid spoilers and experience the arc for yourself rather than reading my article first. That said, as I mentioned in my article, HXH is the kind of series that gets better on re-watches when you are able to see more layers to the story and characters, but I think a lot of people come out liking the York New City arc quite a bit even on their first viewing of it. And if I had one version to recommend, while all 3 are great (manga, 1999 anime, and 2011 anime), I'd say that the 1999 version just does it the best for me.
Also, I can't wait to read your Madoka Rebellion review after you put it up. But, I won't be reading it today, since I won't have a chance to watch the movie for myself until tomorrow.
Great final article! You did a good job delving into the psychology of Chrollo and Pakunoda, and what made them interesting and unique villains even amongst the rest of the Troupe. I agree that the best elements of this arc are the battle of wits and the fact it's a character-driven conflict for both the protagonists and antagonists. While it's true the theme may not be anything special, Togashi wrote this arc in a pretty fresh, unique way, and it's consistently engaging and, importantly, entertaining.
I look forward to seeing which story arc you tackle next :)
I always got that the arc was about revenge as a whole. Every character that wanted to take something from someone else or to repay someone by taking their lives in comeuppance- they ended up dead or close to it. Kurapika learns a harsh lesson after this arc, but at least he... well, Togashi kind of doesn't let us know. Anyway, being about revenge and greed lead to everybody scrambling to get what they wanted, so naturally the only way it could end was for nobody to win. There was nothing to win in the first place. Though I guess Gon and the gang won, since they got their friend back. The lone victory through it all.
Great job! It was a fun read.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it! ;D
And yeah, aside from Gon and Killua, there were no real winners in this arc. Everyone basically lost. It's the type of cold, harsh lesson that Togashi is good at getting across in his stories.
I think the only ones without purely selfish motives in the arc were Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Melody, and they're the only ones who get any semblance of victory by the end. He does it in typical Togashi fashion, but it's a pretty solid theme throughout. It's definitely the peak of HxH, in my opinion.
I'm actually kind of surprised that Foggle hasn't seen/read it yet.
I read it and liked it. Was impressed with some of what you delve into.
I am sloooowly working my way through HxH. It takes a lot for me to really get into a TV or comic series these days, unfortunately. :sweat:
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on December 09, 2013, 11:12:55 PM
I read it and liked it. Was impressed with some of what you delve into.
Thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that, since I'm a regular reader of your write-ups and sort of wanted to start doing some of my own because yours always got me interested (as well as other members on this board).
Of course I'm fully aware of the issues with my writing. Looking back on it, there were parts to these articles that I could cut, and other things I could have described with less wording, but as my first article in this series, I'm OK with it. Truthfully I was done with it a week ago but still kept it from being posted up in order to tweak it. Then I just said to hell with it and realized that the only way I'll ever improve my writing is to do more of it and learn from the issues I notice with each new article.
Quote from: Foggle on December 09, 2013, 11:17:32 PMI am sloooowly working my way through HxH. It takes a lot for me to really get into a TV or comic series these days, unfortunately. :sweat:
I'm not going to lie. Hunter X Hunter is a slow-paced series. That's not so much in the sense that it drags things out, but more so that Togashi's writing can be rather dense at times, hence why I find his stuff to always be better on re-watches/re-reads than on the first time through (though YYH was always awesome, even as I first watched it on Toonami).
If you're watching the 1999 version, YNC doesn't start until around episode 45, I believe, so there's certainly a ways to go. Everything up to that point is more along the lines of typical shounen stories, but I think that material is executed well, especially with Furuhashi's artful touches in direction.
I'm definitely enjoying it so far. Really, I'm just bad at getting into long-running stuff, even if I absolutely love it. I don't think I have ADD or anything, but it feels like there's so much going on in my life that I don't have enough breathing room to really sit down and watch a show very often.
No, I certainly know the feeling. During my downtime I can sometimes marathon through a long series, but most of the time I have way too much going on in my life to keep up with anything I wasn't already caught up with (I got into HXH back in high school).
Here's my Madoka Rebellion review: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2282
It took a bit longer than expected because I put more work into it than I expected. :sweat: There are no spoilers for either the film or TV series in there, so feel free to read it without fear!
Great review! The movie was certainly really good.
To be honest, I do still prefer the TV anime's ending to the movie, whereas I personally wasn't quite as enthralled by the last 10 minutes of the film, but at the same time it was overall good stuff. And putting aside the exposition, it certainly was a well-written story. Of course, there was that one major plot twist with Homura which I kind of saw coming, but a couple of the other ones managed to hit me by surprise, without feeling like they came out of left field (since it felt like they were properly foreshadowed).
Overall, I definitely liked this movie better than EoE, with the latter movie being just a bit TOO artsy-fartsy in its second half for my liking.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2299 - Valvrave returns to where it began... as a steaming pile.
This show is just... wow.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on December 12, 2013, 11:41:14 AM
Great review! The movie was certainly really good.
Thanks!
QuoteOverall, I definitely liked this movie better than EoE, with the latter movie being just a bit TOO artsy-fartsy in its second half for my liking.
I honestly feel like a pretentious art student for loving the second half of EoE, but I can't help it. :lol: It's just so impressive in terms of animation and overall composition.
Oh, the animation is excellent in all of EoE. It's just that I have to flat out admit that the 2nd half doesn't make a lick of sense to me. I'm not horrible at analyzing symbolism and abstract story-telling and whatnot, but EoE proved to me that I'm also not very good at it, either. I was completely lost. With Madoka, I at least had some idea of what was going on, and while there are some things that I didn't quite understand, it feels like a movie that I could understand a little more about each time that I watch it.
Marquis wrote a brilliant article about Beyond the Boundary. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2308
I've only seen the first episode of Beyond the Boundary (I hate how it shares the same initials for its japanese title as Kara no Kyoukai, btw), but what I saw wasn't very impressive outside of the animation. Not surprised it turned out to be typical Light Novel-fare. Mirai herself had little character beyond being a moeblob with an ill-defined "tragic" past, despite the fact that it makes virtually no sense for her to be so clumsy and inexperienced even in her supposed area of expertise.
It really is amazing that otherwise good characters like Ryuuko and Satsuki get all this controversy for being "sexist and misogynist", while you rather see anything on a similar scale for Mirai and her ilk.
Another excellent article by Marquis. :thumbup: It kind of makes me want to do a similar article for another action show that premiered this fall that can be compared to Kill la Kill in some aspects.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2351 - NO MORE VALVRAVE EVER.
The delightful Pharass has written another review for us: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2439 :el_hail:
The Winter Anime 2014 Clusterfuck by Lord Dalek, Dr. Insomniac, The Juude, The Eclectic Dude, RacattackForce, Rynnec, and myself is up! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2376
Shows featured:
Buddy Complex
D-Frag!
Double Circle
Engaged to the Unidentified
Future Card Buddyfight
Go! Go! 575
Hozuki no Reitetsu
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Ren
Magical Warfare
Maken-Ki! Two
Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen
My Big Sister Came!
Nisekoi: False Love
No-Rin
Nobunaga The Fool
Nobunagun
Noragami
The Pilot's Love Song
Pupa
Pupipo!
Recently, My Sister Is Unusual
Robot Girls Z
Saki: The Nationals
Sakura Trick
Seitokai Yakuindomo*
Space Dandy
Super Sonico The Animation
Wake Up, Girls!
Witch Craft Works
Wizard Barristers
World Conquest Zvezda Plot
Z/X Ignition
Insommy took the six hour challenge a few months ago. Here's an article about it: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2481
Seeing this after more than three months is a bit confusing, to be quite honest. I'd be scared for the man who wrote that article, until I realize that person was me. Then I fear ever more.
Pessimism over Toonami has generally annoyed me lately, but dammit Doc, that was hilarious. :lol: I do hope you have taken proper therapy after suffering such a traumatic experience. ;)
I myself have taken the six-hour challenge once. Well, unintentionally. I was staying up reading through the Attack on Titan manga, and I just had Toonami in the background. I don't remember much of what aired that night except for the last InuYasha, which was a filler episode involving Myoga's horny wife possessing people in order to find him for...whatever reason. Sadly, I actually found that episode more entertaining than pretty much any of the Attack on Titan chapters after the Female Titan arc. :P
Anyways, awesome reviews as usual on the clusterfuck, guys. :thumbup: Last season was the first I checked out a new anime series that wasn't a long runner while it was airing, so I wanted to try it again this season too. Besides Space Dandy (of course), I am enjoying Noragami and Silver Spoon 2 quite a bit. On the latter, I was wondering why didn't anyone review the first episode of Silver Spoon 2? And on a tangent, Foggle, did you watch the Seven Idols movie for Wake Up, Girls and the first episode or just the first episode? The reason I'm asking is because the movie is supposed to be watched before the first episode of the show and I have watched it and found it entertaining enough, though I too honestly am not quite sure what the show expects to accomplish by being a "realistic" idol story anime (being that I normally hate idol anime, the only reason I did and am still watching this series is just to see if it'll turn out to be a Bakuman of sorts for them).
Quote from: Cartoon X on January 21, 2014, 10:40:17 PM
Pessimism over Toonami has generally annoyed me lately, but dammit Doc, that was hilarious. :lol: I do hope you have taken proper therapy after suffering such a traumatic experience. ;)
I myself have taken the six-hour challenge once. Well, unintentionally. I was staying up reading through the Attack on Titan manga, and I just had Toonami in the background. I don't remember much of what aired that night except for the last InuYasha, which was a filler episode involving Myoga's horny wife possessing people in order to find him for...whatever reason. Sadly, I actually found that episode more entertaining than pretty much any of the Attack on Titan chapters after the Female Titan arc. :P
I almost survived all the way through with him, but I had to drop out at 5:30. (Just in case you're wondering, Insomniac wrote most of the article, except for the introductory paragraph and a couple of sentences here and there. I was mostly moral support and proofreading.)
QuoteOn the latter, I was wondering why didn't anyone review the first episode Silver Spoon 2?
Juu was supposed to review it, but he ended up not being able to, and no one else wanted to take it.
QuoteAnd on a tangent, Foggle, did you watch the Seven Idols movie for Wake Up, Girls and the first episode or just the first episode? The reason I'm asking is because the movie is supposed to be watched before the first episode of the show and I have watched it and found it entertaining enough, though I too honestly am not quite sure what the show expects to accomplish by being a "realistic" idol story anime (being that I normally hate idol anime, the only reason I did and am still watching this series just to see if it'll turn out to be a Bakuman of sorts for them).
I only watched the first episode. I may go back and take a look at the movie soon, though.
Quote from: Foggle on January 21, 2014, 10:57:19 PM
I almost survived all the way through with him, but I had to drop out at 5:30. (Just in case you're wondering, Insomniac wrote most of the article, except for the introductory paragraph and a couple of sentences here and there. I was mostly moral support and proofreading.)
5.5 hours is still almost completing it, so kudos on your effort as well. :)
Of course, Vlord has done the 6 hour challenge over a dozen times or something. Surely, we are all spineless, weak-minded cowards compared to him. ;)
One of these days I'm going to try and do the 6.5 hour challenge. Maybe on the last day
Space Dandy airs (or, failing that, the last day
Bleach does. A farewell to
Dandy will be a sad goodbye, but
Bleach finally going off the airwaves will be a cause for celebration :D).
Quote from: Foggle on January 21, 2014, 10:57:19 PM
Juu was supposed to review it, but he ended up not being able to, and no one else wanted to take it.
Ah, I see. That's too bad, though honestly
Silver Spoon 2 plays off of established elements from the first season, so it's not quite a good point of entry for anyone who hasn't finished that anyway.
New post by yours turly! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2508)
Great article, Avaitor!
I've certainly been enjoying the change of pace this season. I think it was for the best, and it should help put some new life into the show, without changing it fundamentally. After all,
Archer was never really about the whole spy thing; at it's core it was about bickering co-workers and their relationships with one another. That stuff is still there in
Archer Vice, but now the show has new opportunities and situations to put its characters in to stay fresh and funny.
I am confused about this line though:
QuoteFour episodes in, and this has got to be the best season of the show since season 4.
Was this intentional or a typo? I only ask because
Archer Vice is season 5 so the statement doesn't make much sense. :P
Quote from: Cartoon X on February 05, 2014, 08:48:45 PM
QuoteFour episodes in, and this has got to be the best season of the show since season 4.
Was this intentional or a typo? I only ask because Archer Vice is season 5 so the statement doesn't make much sense. :P
Definitely intentional. ;)
I largely agree about Vice; it's been pretty brilliant so far. I was surprised to see the ratings drop from season 4, though. There seem to be some dissenters out there (mostly congregating at IMDb), but overall it seems to be incredibly well-received, and rightly so.
Oops, I meant since season 2.
I got distracted a bunch yesterday, so I didn't get much of a chance to proofread this.
*drools over how good this episode was* (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2518) :drool:
Good write-up as usual. I actually stooped to watching this episode on my phone using 4G, since my Internet was down last night, because I couldn't wait an extra day to see it, especially after having to wait an extra 8 hours for CR to upload the episode. That's very telling of how great this series has gotten for me.
WHAT A GOOD FUCKING EPISODE
Great work, Marquis. Dat comparison image.
Glad to see you're enjoying the show more now, E-K. :)
I wrote this spoiler-free thing (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2538) about this series that I like. Actually, it DOES have spoilers for Cowboy Bebop and 20th Century Boys, so you may want to refrain from reading this if you are one of the 0 people on this board who have no yet seen Cowboy Bebop, or one of the undeserving members who has somehow still managed to refrain from reading 20th Century Boys. ;)
Also, you may want to take a look at it before I realize how much I hate my own writing and decide to change everything up.
But, as I say in the write-up, this is merely only the first time of many that I'll be visiting this series. I will be coming back with new write-ups along with Cartoon X, who has agreed to work with me, and if possible I'll see if I can get Pharass to contribute his input as well.
Oh my, this is a fantastic article! It really makes me more interested in the series.
Glad to hear it! I'm also curious to hear your opinion on the art-work. It's very Tezuka-like with the simplistic designs and very fluid style of line-drawing, and last I recall I remember you saying that you liked that style with Black Jack (unless I'm confusing you for someone else). Either way it's a type of art design that you just don't see in manga anymore, and IMO it holds up extremely well. It's something that I wish I had praised more in my write-up, looking back at it, now.
But yes, the real heart of this series is in its writing. Interestingly, from what I've read about it, I believe it shares a similarity with Marvel comics of the 60's to 70's in that a lot of people thought it might just be kids stuff, but just like with stuff like Spider-Man and X-Men, it grew a huge cult following with college students during that time period, who drew the parallels between the series and real life, and helped make the character of Joe Yabuki into a Japanese icon, similarly to how a character like Spider-Man eventually became a house-hold name for a very similar reason in America.
Very good and detailed blog! I would definitely like to read this series sometime in the future.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on February 24, 2014, 10:51:37 PM
Glad to hear it! I'm also curious to hear your opinion on the art-work. It's very Tezuka-like with the simplistic designs and very fluid style of line-drawing, and last I recall I remember you saying that you liked that style with Black Jack (unless I'm confusing you for someone else). Either way it's a type of art design that you just don't see in manga anymore, and IMO it holds up extremely well. It's something that I wish I had praised more in my write-up, looking back at it, now.
Yeah, I got a bit of a Tezuka vibe from the art style, and I do very much like his stuff, even if I'm far from an expert.
Yeah, I'm hardly an expert either, but I just love that classic art style.
Quote from: Foggle on February 25, 2014, 04:09:09 AM
Very good and detailed blog! I would definitely like to read this series sometime in the future.
Thanks! :thumbup:
The resemblance to Tezuka's art style was actually one of the first things that struck me reading the series. What I love about Tezuka and Chiba is that though their artwork is simplified, it ends up being much more energetic and expressive than I think most mangaka are capable of in the more contemporary, anime-ready styles nowadays. It's a cartoonish style, but perfect for manga like this, allowing a better sense of speed and a wider contrast of exaggerated and subtle emotions. I think the body language in Chiba's drawings is especially incredible.
Great article, E-K! That was a perfect summation of what makes the series so fascinating and why it's one of the finest character-driven mangas in existence. :thumbup: Since you've covered the basics of why people need to read the series in this article, I assume that the articles you want me to help out with will be more in depth stuff like character analyses or breakdowns of the story? I'm certainly game for that. ;D
Thanks! And yes, that's precisely it. I kind of want to do multiple articles covering the whole series, but I haven't figured out how to organize it yet. But your help, whenever you can afford to spend the time, would be extremely useful. :thumbup:
The Wind Rises was cool. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2557)
Ah, forgot to comment on this before~
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on March 01, 2014, 06:28:11 PM
The Wind Rises was cool. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2557)
It certainly was! Great review, Doc. :thumbup:
I have to agree that this felt like Miyazaki's most personal film to me. Considering his tremendous love for both aviation and invention, it felt like an apropos, sincere film to close his film making career on, and it still does which is why I'm perplexed as to his decision to continue making more. Well, at least
The Wind Rises was made and he didn't end up going with
Ponyo 2 like he originally wanted instead. :>
Miyazaki will keep fake-retiring even after he's dead.
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Haha, that's true, but it's still hard for me to fathom how he can top Wind Rises.
I expect he will get to make Ponyo 2 now, though...
Attack on Attack on Titan. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2567)
So would the statement that AoT is like Japan's version of The Walking Dead still apply? But then again, at least most chapters I've read, the characters in The Walking Dead are more hopeful than the cast of Attack on Titan. Provided, I've only started to watch this series over Netflix.
The Walking Dead does have Michonne. Then again, Attack on Titan has Mikasa.
I've only seen a bit of AoT, but I do agree that it does seem like something that would benefit from having a dark, sardonic sense of humour to lighten things up. The bit with the sex traffickers was really out of the blue and clashed with what we knew of the setting. Then there was the fifth episode which I'm positive was there mostly for shock value. In this sense, it's no surprise that teenagers and young adults are eating this up, especially in a generation defined by Modern Warfare, The Hunger Games, and Zombie Apocalypse stories.
Quote from: Daxdiv on March 13, 2014, 02:53:29 AM
So would the statement that AoT is like Japan's version of The Walking Dead still apply? But then again, at least most chapters I've read, the characters in The Walking Dead are more hopeful than the cast of Attack on Titan. Provided, I've only started to watch this series over Netflix.
That does sound like an appropriate comparison. Given both have similar themes about bleakness and hope and whatnot.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on March 13, 2014, 02:56:38 AM
The Walking Dead does have Michonne. Then again, Attack on Titan has Mikasa.
TWD had a Motorhead song play for like 30 seconds in one episode, so it's slightly above AoT by default, at least until the second season plays its own metal song.
Brilliant write-up. I agree with it 100%. I mean, I'll admit that I find the series to be entertaining for at least the first 30+ chapters, but I also fully acknowledge that it is poorly written. I think the main appeal is how this series fits in line with the whole zombie craze (the Titans are basically just giant zombies) but the best of these types of stories know that in order to make characters that you care about, they first have to take the time to establish those characters. To do thatyou need to give them some room to be themselves and establish relationships with one another. Its the very thing that made Dawn of the Dead the cclassic that it is. And, I can't believe I'm saying this (because wuite frankly thisseries is a POS way worse than AOT), but even fucking High School of the Dead got at least that part right. Granted that, when we did get downtime with the characters in that series, we realized that we wanted them dead more than when we barely knew them.
As for AOT, it's not a terrible series, but it's certainly not a good one by any stretch.
Part of the problem is that it tries to be edgy to the point where it stops being horrifying or exciting and just becomes kinda silly. Repeated ideas like "humanity is it's own enemy" and political corruption and whatnot are so beaten with such frequency that they become tedious and dull concepts to consider. Worse is the lack of consistent character development, much less strong, enjoyable characterization that should endear me to them and make me want to see them survive. I was very invested in the series for the first 35 chapters, to the end of the Female Titan arc, but I've soon come to realize I remember less than half of these characters name and not a smidgen of interesting features about a lot of them, and I can't be invested in the story if I am so uninterested in the characters. I get the craze behind the series, but I really don't think it's very smart, nor does it have a strong emotional center and fun, interesting characters to make me overlook it's weaknesses. The characters aren't developed or established enough for the various twists about them to have much impact, and the twists themselves are so frequent that at some point they feel expected. I dunno, it stopped being an interesting series for me a while ago and reached a new low for me in the latest, dull and repetitive chapter. It has neat ideas, but hasn't executed them well, and that's whats really holding it back. Maybe it can improve as it moves forward, but right now I'm more entertained by just about everything else I'm reading, even shit like Bleach. :??:
Attack on Titan has pulled no interest from me whatsoever. The good doctor's article states a lot of the things that have put me off of a lot of its ideas and execution and quite overbearing fanbase all in the same breath.
Don't get me wrong, I can get behind dumb, but it has to be a well written kind of dumb. Everything I've managed to see or read of this series has been the poorly written kind of dumb and everything I've grown out of since I was a teenager. All I see are cliches I've seen a million times wrapped in a shiny new package of modern otaku-style bleakness ramped up to its logical extreme. I just get absolutely nothing from it and I doubt I would have at a younger age, either.
I just want to point out something about the criticisms of this series. While I generally agree with them, one point that irks me is when some liken it to Death Note and claim that was a series that was also trying too hard to be dark and edgy for the sake of it. This is what I find to be a complete misunderstanding of DN. The reason that its good is precisely because, unlike AOT, the author of DN knows what he was writing was not deep. As he has made clear in interviews, DN was inspired by his love for detective and crime manga, and he wanted to make a series that was for all intents and purposes as simple as possible to follow, but that threw readers for a loop in a way that would get them excited to read more. The reason the characters were so plain and simple was because they were purposely written as such in order for their clashes with each other to be all the more confrontational. Hence why Light and L going head to head felt more entertaining than contrived. Essentially, DN is written by an author who knows his limitations and how to work around them, and its all the better for it.
Also, the dude knows manga and clearly loves the genre. Just for the simple fact that he essentially got me into Ashita no Joe gives him an automatic pass from me. ;)
Death Note is obvious pulp and has its fair share of intentionally fun moments along with characters that are actually interesting. I don't hate Attack on Titan, but I find the entire cast to be incredibly one note and bland. Plus, yeah, the darkness approaches JRPG fanfiction levels at times. The action scenes are fucking cool, though.
I'll say that the anime is better than the manga since at least the animation is almost good enough to momentarily distract you from the bad writing. Almost....
I will concede that the first opening theme is fucking addicting as he'll to listen to. It's basically the best thing about the to come out of yhe property.
I wrote more bullshit about how I think Space Dandy is intelligent. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2577
I have to agree with you that Space Dandy is one of the most unique animated series I've seen. Well, the Urusei Yatsura anime actually did similar in how it mixed up episodes that were wacky comedy, then slice of life, then space adventure, and then incredibly serious psychological stuff, but I think Space Dandy is doing a better job with making all of it feel natural so far (and of course, on a visual and animation level it's putting shame to every other animated show I've ever seen).
I don't think everything is quite hitting the mark for me, though, in terms of the execution of these stories. While I enjoyed how disjointed episode 8 was, it was executed a bit predictably to me in terms of both halves played out. More importantly, though, I did not find the second half inventive or amusing enough to sharply contrast with the serious first half. So instead of being throughly entertained by the whole episode, I instead ended up enjoying the first half more while regarding the second half almost as filler. I loved the concept of it, but I felt the episode itself didn't live up to it's potential. The 9th episode, on the other hand, wasn't very engaging to me from the start. Visually it was stunning, but, that annoying kid-like plant aside, the story moved along so slowly, and quietly, that I ended up loosing interest in it outside of a few really great sequences. I love strangeness myself. Hell, I love the fourth Urusei Yatsura movie, which is also a love/hate kind of affair for people and even more bizarre than this episode. The difference here, though, had to do with the message and objective of this strangeness. The point of it is very easy to figure out, but yet, I can't bring myself to care because it feels detached from the characters and the show, as if even they themselves don't care. And while there's nothing wrong with that if that was purposeful, it still didn't make for an interesting or entertaining viewing experience for me the first or second time around.
I will say that I love and appreciate how Dandy plays with viewer expectations, and how every episode is very different from the last, and just how creative they are getting with the presentation of them. I do think it's still not quite there in terms of consistently pulling off these experiments, and I do hope the second season improves on this.
Hi. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2591)
You're resuming this! Yay! :joy:
I don't really have any elaborate thoughts on them right now, but those are some pretty good episodes. The PPG one is one I have fond memories of, in particular. But I think my favorite segment of the bunch is "Dream Machine" from Dexter's Laboratory. I've always loved the concept, and the ending, of that one. I'll also agree with you that the Justice Friends segments were stronger than the Dial M for Monkey segments because the Justice Friends had more interesting personalities, whereas Monkey and co. were kind of basic and a little cliche.
Looking forward to seeing you do more of these. :thumbup:
CLUSTERFUCK BEGINS NOW! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2595)
Yeah, the minute I saw the preview for this I was like "oh, fuck no." But I did watch that first ep just to see, and as I expected, it was bland, boring, and cheap as fuck. Bleh. I'm not really that into the series as it is anyway (anymore, at least), but I'm still pretty ticked at how lame this is compared to the original series. I can't see even the most hardcore Keroro Gunso fans liking this.
Really, the only anime I'm expecting to be good this season are Stardust Crusaders and Mushi-shi 2. I still look forward to the rest of the spring clusterfuck, just to see if they'll be any surprises.
I anticipate the glory of this year's Sword Art Online. That's not Gun Gale.
So, hello to our new Sword Art Online. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2631)
Good lord, wasn't one show with an incest subplot enough? :whuh:
This show basically sounds like another otaku-bait, male fantasy show that completely wastes it's premise. Sword Art Online 2.0 indeed.
It's easily the worst anime of the year so far. The only good thing about it is the music, and even that's a waste of Taku Iwasaki's talent.
How this PoS got simulcasted before a show about lesbian assassins is beyond me.
Quote from: Foggle on May 05, 2013, 02:28:02 PM
I've disliked what I've seen of Zatch Bell, but I admit that's mostly because the artwork and character designs make me physically ill. At its core it seems fine.
Replace ill with 'meh' and you have how I feel. Same goes with some swordboy anime that they used to show (I forget the name)
Ok, seriously, GSF. What is up with you responding to year old posts? I mean who the hell does that?
I should do that on April Fools Day next year. Just randomly respond to year's old comments. I can certainly think of a few. :whip:
Oh, and GSF, that "swordboy" anime you are referring to is probably Rave Master. I didn't care for it either.
Quote from: Rynnec on April 06, 2014, 08:01:05 PM
How this PoS got simulcasted before a show about lesbian assassins is beyond me.
But Rynnec... Noir and El Cazador got simulcast years ago...
Here's the first half of this season's clusterfuck!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2608
Yay! Good work everyone! :)
It seems that there are more surprises in this season that I expected. Of them, I think I'll make sure to give Haikyu! a shot, since I have been interested in looking into the manga, since, well, I'm already reading so many WSJ manga another good one couldn't hurt, and I do enjoy good sports manga/anime a lot myself. As for some of the others, I might look into Captain Earth, Riddle Story, WIXOSS, and The World is Still Beautiful if I continue to hear good things about them as they progress, since right now reception to them seems rather mixed.
CROWDS-SOURCING RETURNS!!! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2649) ...yay?
I look forward to more reviews from DSP
Quote from: Rosalinas Spare Wand on April 12, 2014, 01:01:17 AM
I look forward to more reviews from DSP
DSP is the best blogger, because he really looks into every detail of an episode before watching it. For instance, he takes a few minutes to contemplate the play button before realizing the symbol means initiating the start of an episode.
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on April 06, 2014, 08:33:37 PM
Ok, seriously, GSF. What is up with you responding to year old posts? I mean who the hell does that?
:cop:
Quote from: Cartoon X on April 06, 2014, 09:43:38 PM
I should do that on April Fools Day next year. Just randomly respond to year's old comments. I can certainly think of a few. :whip:
Oh, and GSF, that "swordboy" anime you are referring to is probably Rave Master. I didn't care for it either.
Yeah, that. It seemed so lame. I do think that's when I started to get pickier than ever, though.
Quote from: gunswordfist on April 12, 2014, 01:38:03 AM
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on April 06, 2014, 08:33:37 PM
Ok, seriously, GSF. What is up with you responding to year old posts? I mean who the hell does that?
:cop:
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Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on April 12, 2014, 01:46:13 AM
Quote from: gunswordfist on April 12, 2014, 01:38:03 AM
Quote from: Ensatsu-ken on April 06, 2014, 08:33:37 PM
Ok, seriously, GSF. What is up with you responding to year old posts? I mean who the hell does that?
:cop:
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.kym-cdn.com%2Fphotos%2Fimages%2Fnewsfeed%2F000%2F571%2F617%2F45c.gif&hash=ea0de3912ccaeec37e2b91173ebcf6c722969457)
And me laughing at this will be the 700th post of this thread... :D
Despite having 12 novels to adapt, this show feels like it's adapting a paragraph per minute. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2691)
Spring Clusterfuck: THE CONCLUSION. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2697)
Only one standout show out of the rest of the lot, eh? I've heard good things about the Knights of Sidonia manga for a long while now, so it doesn't surprise me that the anime turned out well. I really do need to start reading it, sometime. For now, though, I'll make sure to keep up with the anime. :)
Quote from: Cartoon X on April 16, 2014, 07:32:44 PM
Only one standout show out of the rest of the lot, eh?
NoGeNoRa is decent.
By "standout" I meant a show that is better than just good and is a must-try viewing. I might watch One Week Friends too, though, since it sounds like something I'd enjoy.
Quote from: Foggle on April 16, 2014, 09:14:25 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on April 16, 2014, 09:11:47 PM
Quote from: Cartoon X on April 16, 2014, 07:32:44 PM
Only one standout show out of the rest of the lot, eh?
NoGeNoRa is decent.
And One Week Friends is good.
And Chaika looks like it could be a decent Fantasy adventure series.
I thought Chaika was pretty bland, but then again I appear to be in the minority on this.
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Yup its a Mari Okada show. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2738)
A guest writer has lovingly written an article expressing his revisionist views on Baby Looney Tunes. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2750)
I am never watching cartoons ever again.
Who could've guessed that a show called Baby Looney Tunes was so overtly perverted. Then again, who but the most filthy and perverted of souls would make such a show in the first place? Questions, questions.... :thinkin:
Seriously, though, how did the inspiration for this 'un come about?
Please be assured that this was the clean version of the article that we had. The guest writer Eightman had many details that we had to censor for the good of the children, like lines such as "Petunia's bovine womb expelled a stream of virginal urine".
oh my :o
That's some foreverial delitized shit right there.
New Cartoon Cartoon article! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2767)
"The Big Cheese" is the one episode of Dexter's Lab that pretty much everyone I know remembers. Whenever the show pops up randomly in a conversation, someone always references "omlette du fromage." Every time, without fail. Definitely one of the simpler but memorable episodes of the show, and you hit the nail on the head that Cavanaugh's delivery of that line every time is full of character and distinct in it's own way, which makes it funny every time instead of being tiresome.
That PPG episode is also one of the show's best half-hours. I like the first for just exploring Bubbles character and capabilities, while the second is just genuinely hilarious. Great stuff, all around.
Poor people deserve their fate. So says Godman Tatsuya. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2770)
More fun with Mari Okada's latest trip into depraved chauvinism. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2776)
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2787 - Oh hey! Someone's written the first ever article about Archer on A-R!
Quote from: Lord Dalek on April 30, 2014, 12:15:35 AM
Someone's written the first ever article about Archer on A-R!
More like (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=284) the third. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2508) :P
Great article, Juude. I haven't finished the season yet, but I personally really liked it myself, about as much as the previous seasons if not more than season 4. One thing I do agree with, though, is that having the Isis crew continualy failing to sell cocaine became a bit too reptitous, and kinda annoying, since as spies, they were actually pretty competant despite their bickering and occasional bumbling. I'll reserve my thoughts on your other points until I finish the season. And I look forward to reading more "After the Cell Shading" articles in the future. :)
Quote from: Cartoon X on April 30, 2014, 08:51:46 AM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on April 30, 2014, 12:15:35 AM
Someone's written the first ever article about Archer on A-R!
More like (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=284) the third. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2508) :P
Foggle, Dalek, and the rest of the fine men on Skype would like to elaborate that it's the first ever article about Archer on AR to be any good (Foggle has claimed to be embarrassed by his older articles).
I've never seen you guys talk about Archer before...
Quote from: Lord Dalek on May 01, 2014, 12:07:13 PM
I've never seen you guys talk about Archer before...
....
Quote from: Avaitor on February 05, 2014, 07:26:01 PM
New post by yours turly! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2508)
Quote from: Cartoon X on February 05, 2014, 08:48:45 PM
Great article, Avaitor!
I've certainly been enjoying the change of pace this season. I think it was for the best, and it should help put some new life into the show, without changing it fundamentally. After all, Archer was never really about the whole spy thing; at it's core it was about bickering co-workers and their relationships with one another. That stuff is still there in Archer Vice, but now the show has new opportunities and situations to put its characters in to stay fresh and funny.
I am confused about this line though:
QuoteFour episodes in, and this has got to be the best season of the show since season 4.
Was this intentional or a typo? I only ask because Archer Vice is season 5 so the statement doesn't make much sense. :P
Quote from: Foggle on February 05, 2014, 09:24:49 PM
Quote from: Cartoon X on February 05, 2014, 08:48:45 PM
QuoteFour episodes in, and this has got to be the best season of the show since season 4.
Was this intentional or a typo? I only ask because Archer Vice is season 5 so the statement doesn't make much sense. :P
Definitely intentional. ;)
I largely agree about Vice; it's been pretty brilliant so far. I was surprised to see the ratings drop from season 4, though. There seem to be some dissenters out there (mostly congregating at IMDb), but overall it seems to be incredibly well-received, and rightly so.
Quote from: Avaitor on February 06, 2014, 07:11:39 AM
Oops, I meant since season 2.
I got distracted a bunch yesterday, so I didn't get much of a chance to proofread this.
:humhumhum:
Can we please stop derailing the topic? This thread is about discussing reviews, not meta-discussion about reviews.
Mah' hookah is still going on about the lower class. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2799)
Sounds like Sayaka should've been the main character. A discriminated girl rebelling against an oppressive system is a bit more interesting than wanking over Tatsuya.
Honestly, the show could've had something going with the "Equality and justice are lies people use to their own advantage" thing. Instead it went for the boring route of MC wanking.
Quote from: Rynnec on May 04, 2014, 06:44:24 PM
Sounds like Sayaka should've been the main character. A discriminated girl rebelling against an oppressive system is a bit more interesting than wanking over Tatsuya.
Yeah totally... except then it would be Kill La Kill now wouldn't it?
Quote from: Lord Dalek on May 04, 2014, 10:50:17 PM
Quote from: Rynnec on May 04, 2014, 06:44:24 PM
Sounds like Sayaka should've been the main character. A discriminated girl rebelling against an oppressive system is a bit more interesting than wanking over Tatsuya.
Yeah totally... except then it would be Kill La Kill now wouldn't it?
You say that as if it would be a bad thing.
Quote from: Foggle on May 04, 2014, 10:56:44 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on May 04, 2014, 10:50:17 PM
Quote from: Rynnec on May 04, 2014, 06:44:24 PM
Sounds like Sayaka should've been the main character. A discriminated girl rebelling against an oppressive system is a bit more interesting than wanking over Tatsuya.
Yeah totally... except then it would be Kill La Kill now wouldn't it?
You say that as if it would be a bad thing.
Dalek confirmed for closeted Mahouka fan.
Great article, Juu! I'm afraid I stopped watching MLP:FIM after season 3, and from what you say about season 4, while there seems there was some good in there, some of the stuff you mention about it doesn't make me feel like trying it anytime soon. But I share your sentiments that, with the shows' "victory-lap" out of the way, hopefully they temper their ideas more and create a more well-written, less all over the place run of episodes. I'll wait and see what the reaction to season 5 is like, and if it's positive, I'll think about trying the series again.
Also, that last paragraph of yours had me in stitches. :lol:
New post! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2843)
I gotta get my hands on that Blu-Ray.
Nice job!
Excellent write-up. I look forward to seeing what you have to say about the rest of the series. I remember that you got me into this show way back when it was first airing, and it instantly became one of my favorite cartoons ever. ;)
Great first article Avaitor! I personally liked how they established so much of what's going on in Peter's life as well as a lot of problems for Spider-Man right off the bat since it made for a fast paced, addicting watch all the way through. I think it'd be hard for someone not to get interested in the show after watching it. I also agree that Keaton nailed Peter and Spider Man right away and gave him so much personality that I think even those uninitiated with the comics or previous iterations of the franchise could get a firm grasp of his character and some of his nuances right from the start. I personally look forward to seeing more of your comparisons of the show to the comics, since I don't know much about the source material myself. :)
Fun fact- I actually meant to save that draft, but posted publish instead, and ran with it. :P
I should probably go tag it, but I might edit this post later, depending on how I tackle the other episodes. In hindsight, the review's a little disjointed.
It's over. The first arc is finally over. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2846)
Reading your Mahouka reviews makes me think that Tatsuya and co. are really supposed to be villain protagonists, with Sayaka and the rebels serving as heroic antagonists. Everything I've read and seen of Tatsuya would make for a good villain. I swear, tumblr better be attacking this show hard.
Oh, and when I read that Miyuki is an ice-user who mercilessly freezes her enemies to death, I couldn't help but think of another ice-user with a brother complex... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M9G4jxXm6M#t=808)
It will never be ogre... (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2861)
QuoteThen, there?s the hot springs scene where all the girls admire Miyuki?s body
;D
Quotebut in a ?Not too gay, because that would be weird? sense.
:unimpressed:
Part 1 of the summer anime clusterfuck is up!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2894
Great work, guys! This seems like a pretty decent season overall. I've heard positive things about the Akame ga Kill!, Barakamon, Blue Spring Ride, and Tokyo Ghoul manga for a while now, so I'm not too surprised their anime adaptions left good first impressions overall. I'm not sure if I'll be keeping up with them, just because I don't think I have the time or interest to keep up with more than two or three new anime a season, and Dandy and Crystal already fill that limit, but I will watch their first episodes later in the week to see if they really grab me. It's good to hear that they are worth the time, though.
Thanks CX! :)
Week 2 is up now. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2960
You're welcome! :)
Looks like Sengoku Basara and Terror in Resonance are good as expected. I'll try and check them out soon!
As for Black Butler, while it might be a shonen, I'm 99% positive that the majority of it's fanbase is comprised of teenage girls. It wouldn't be the first time a shonen series is actually more popular with girls instead of boys (take Prince of Tennis, for example). I haven't watched it yet, but from what I've heard, the first episode of this new season was an anime-only episode that basically is like another version of the first episode/chapter of the series, which I suppose is meant to introduce the concept of the show to any newcomers. The actual storyline this series is going to be adapting will probably start next episode. I'm no fan of Black Butler, but I would probably the circus arc the "best" arc in the series, since the mystery behind the circus and the antagonists are fairly interesting, and the ending is really damn disturbing and dark...and while I'm not sure I'd call it good, it's definitely memorable. I'd also say it pretty much confirms that Ciel and Sebastian are really villain protagonists. I'm not going to watch this anime, 'cause I don't like BB enough to ever go through any part of it's story again after I read it once in the manga (except maybe the cricket game...because, well, name one other manga that has a game of cricket in it), but I might check out the last episode or two of this just to see the arc's ending animated.
I've long since dropped Mahouka because that show's boring to write about. Instead, blast from the anorexic, rose-covered past. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2989)
Any particular reason why you chose to blog about Utena? In any case, I'm sure you'll definitely have a lot to talk and think about with it, unlike Mahouka.
I've been meaning to watch this series for a loooong time. Maybe I'll finally start it after I'm done with Planetes.
None of the shows this season were really clicking for me in terms of blogging potential, and I was really interested in writing about an old show for a change. The original plan was to blog Evangelion, but I decided to do Utena since I never watched all of it.
In terms of reviewing bad anime, I always wanted to do School Days, but unfortunately that would require actually watching it again, which I'm not so inclined to do.
A part of me wanted to do a series for reviewing animated video game adaptations, but most of those are just boring to watch and talk about, rather than being offensively bad.
It'd be nice to tear into series like Naruto or various other shounen that are or have become garbage, but I've long since dropped those series.
So, instead I'll just stick to writing about things that I like. I do still want to write moe AnJ articles, as well as some more Story Arc Online entries.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on July 21, 2014, 02:41:25 PM
None of the shows this season were really clicking for me in terms of blogging potential, and I was really interested in writing about an old show for a change. The original plan was to blog Evangelion, but I decided to do Utena since I never watched all of it.
Sounds like a good change of pace. :) Do you plan to blog just one episode a week like in the past?
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on July 21, 2014, 02:46:40 PM
It'd be nice to tear into series like Naruto or various other shounen that are or have become garbage, but I've long since dropped those series.
Considering how awful the pacing for those kinds of series are, I'd think it would be just become boring to write about week after week. Like, even as far as the manga go, I skim over the new chapters in my weekly review in the Currently Running Manga thread, and I barely find anything worthwhile to say about a new
Bleach chapter other than "it sucks." :sweat:
At the least, it'll be an episode a week. But there isn't a set schedule, so a new blog could come out within hours of the previous one if I'm interested enough.
Oh nice, I'm going to have to read this later! I still haven't seen Utena yet, but maybe this will convince me to start.
And I'm reminded of my SSM reviews, which I haven't kept up with since I just haven't been able to get around to watching my Blu, since if I'm not busy, someone else is using the TV. I want to try to at least get the next episode done this week.
And as my inconsistency promised, the second blog is up. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2994)
Good review. I pretty much agree with all of it. :thumbup:
I did try to keep my expectations in check, but the series didn't really impress me. For the record, I read the manga, and only watched a few episodes of the show. I attribute something like Attack on Titan being popular because of 2 reasons (very shallow ones at that). For one thing, it has what one might call the "cool/bad-ass" factor to it. Now let me be clear, I think that the Titans look stupid, and the art-style doesn't feel appropriate for this type of story, but most anime fans just see the elements that they like, such as sword (or sword-like weapons), cool maneuvers which are admittedly well-animated, and basically a post-apocalyptic zombie plot with a dwindling population of survivors fending them off (and the Titans are basically just giant zombies when you really stop to think about it; there's even a clear homage to Day of the Dead in one particular scene of the manga).
The other factor that it has going for it is that pseudo-dark and mature nature that attracts many anime fans who want to say that they are watching something deep and for adults, but don't really understand what makes something adult in the first place. This is very similar to Death Note and how it was initially received by so many people, but in Death Note's case the author was never fooled about what it is he was writing, and the series was self-aware enough to not actively try to be pretentious about its story. With AOT, while it's fine that it takes itself completely seriously, you really get the idea that the author thinks the series is smarter than it is (or at least I do), but the characters are far too one-note and lacking in proper development to really call it that. Unlike something such as Monster or REAL, you don't really get a sense of strong themes such as life and human nature being explored with the characters.
Another problem I have with this series is that, for the type of survival story it is, you really get a sense that it's playing it far too safe. It's easy to see that, no matter what situation they are in, the main characters will make it through anything at least until the end of the series, and that just kills so much potential tension from any conflict in this series. It tries to throw you off by killing off a bunch of minor characters, but the fact that you don't care about them pretty much makes them nothing more than fodder. A story of this nature really could've benefited from a Game of Thrones style approach in not having a single true main character, and essentially making it so that no single character was ever truly safe. And just like that series, it doesn't have to kill people off just for the sake of it, but rather as a natural progression of the story. The Walking Dead (the comic series, not the show), is another smart source of influence that demonstrates a good way to tell a survival story of this nature, but instead we have what we have, and the AOT that we do have is quite honestly a decent, but very flawed action show. There just isn't that much too it past all of the hype.
Excellent review, Mahou. :thumbup:
Like E-K, I pretty much agree on what you thought about the show. AOT just has the kind of superficial elements, post-apocalyptic survival story, grimdark nature, zombies, lots of people dying, etc. that attract a lot of people to it, but as a story it plays it surprisingly safe and isn't that much different from other battle shonen out there. The anime is a fun watch, and I do think the manga has started to become more entertaining again in recent chapters, but overall I agree that it's not nearly as good as the hype suggests it is.
Both of you, dance like you want to win. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3006)
Wait, what do you mean that Korra is watchable again? (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3010)
Great article, Rac! I agree that Korra has finally gotten up to the standard of quality we've all been expecting this season, and is a marked improvement from the last two. Moreover, I enjoy how the characters have shown growth and development in these episodes, in a better way than the previous seasons handled it. And yeah, I'm hoping they give Asami more to do in the finale at least, but at least she feels more useful/part of the group in this season than in the last.
It's cool you'll be doing be devoting an article to Nick's scheduling of the show and "the changing landscape of television," as well as another article for the web-premiere episodes. I look forward to reading both articles soon once they're ready. :)
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3018 - I'm not proud of this article but these grievances need airing.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 07:17:40 PM
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3018 - I'm not proud of this article but these grievances need airing.
:worship:
Someone really needed to right this after all that ranting we got into on the other thread. It's just so goddamn true, though.
Oh, and speaking of recycled animation, do you know how long the recap for a typical one-piece episode is? FIVE entire fucking minutes. I'm not shitting you, it's literally that long, and that's not even including the TWO-AND-A-HALF minute opening credits either (though, to be fair, they at least got rid of the ending credits altogether. Still, just imagine it. With those recaps, you only get about 13-15 minutes of "new" material per episode (and I say new sparingly because they'll even go so far as to recycle animation within the episode itself), and then the next episode will take up about 5 minutes of the run-time (sometimes even longer!) going back over those 15 minutes from the previous episode, so it's like watching a slightly abridged version of the episode that you literally just watched before the next one.
Yeah, and that their cash-cos. It's the most popular series that they currently have running. It just makes you wonder how little effort they put into their other properties if that's how they treat their biggest money-maker.
Oh, and don't even get me started on Battle of Gods. I enjoyed the movie for what it was, but for a film, it's hilariously cheap and obviously rushed animation. Now, even if the animation was outsourced to an outside studio (which I recall hearing that it was), keep in mind that it was still Toei paying the bills for it, and as LD's article says, "fast and cheap" may as well be Toei's motto. They are like the Capcom of anime studios,except that even Capcom does better animation than them, and that's a fucking video game publisher; how sad is that?
How did we get from this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vViZ1utfex4) to this? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz31FrvO4iM)
Damn, that was a bit of a treat to read.
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on August 05, 2014, 07:37:49 PMIt just makes you wonder how little effort they put into their other properties if that's how they treat their biggest money-maker.
You should've seen how they ended the
Toriko anime. Being a shitty adaption with non-existent animation, directing, and terrible pacing wasn't enough, but they had to go and change the ending of that arc in a way that was completely insulting to both the manga and viewers' intelligence. :srs:
Actually, now that I think about it, how they ended the
Zatch Bell anime was just as bad. Clearly, they don't give a fuck about anything they have except their big money makers they can milk money from forever and ever.
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 10:46:11 PM
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on August 05, 2014, 07:37:49 PMIt just makes you wonder how little effort they put into their other properties if that's how they treat their biggest money-maker.
You should've seen how they ended the Toriko anime. Being a shitty adaption with non-existent animation, directing, and terrible pacing wasn't enough, but they had to go and change the ending of that arc in a way that was completely insulting to both the manga and viewers' intelligence. :srs:
Isn't the manga still going?
Wow, they've really messed that one up.
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
...which would mean I would have to watch Fairy Tail again. :pedro_nooo:
Also be grateful I didn't mention HIM. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiki_Inoue)
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 10:46:11 PM
Actually, now that I think about it, how they ended the Zatch Bell anime was just as bad. Clearly, they don't give a fuck about anything they have except their big money makers they can milk money from forever and ever.
Yeah, sadly that came around a time where the Zatch Bell series was kind of cursed. Ikue Ohtani was on maternity leave and Raiku borked his fap... I er mean, his drawing hand to the point where the manga went on a hiatus. That and I think the anime was mid arc when Raiku's hand was out of commission. I guess Toei felt like they needed to end it there. Still, it was flimsy as shit considering all the shit Toei did to it.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:03:33 PM
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
A-1 is more of a mixed bag than always bad like Toei, at least from what I've seen of their stuff. I thought they did solid work on
Magi,
Silver Spoon, and
Zveda Plot, for instance.
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 11:12:25 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:03:33 PM
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
A-1 is more of a mixed bag than always bad like Toei, at least from what I've seen of their stuff. I thought they did solid work on Magi, Silver Spoon, and Zveda Plot, for instance.
Yeah A-1's fine (and honestly I think Foggle's being a little oop when it comes to SAO's animation). Its just Fairy Tail that's ass.
AND NO I AM NOT DOING PIERROT!
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:19:02 PM
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 11:12:25 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:03:33 PM
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
A-1 is more of a mixed bag than always bad like Toei, at least from what I've seen of their stuff. I thought they did solid work on Magi, Silver Spoon, and Zveda Plot, for instance.
Yeah A-1's fine (and honestly I think Foggle's being a little oop when it comes to SAO's animation). Its just Fairy Tail that's ass.
AND NO I AM NOT DOING PIERROT!
What about Silver Link?
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 05, 2014, 11:25:49 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:19:02 PM
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 11:12:25 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:03:33 PM
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
A-1 is more of a mixed bag than always bad like Toei, at least from what I've seen of their stuff. I thought they did solid work on Magi, Silver Spoon, and Zveda Plot, for instance.
Yeah A-1's fine (and honestly I think Foggle's being a little oop when it comes to SAO's animation). Its just Fairy Tail that's ass.
AND NO I AM NOT DOING PIERROT!
What about Silver Link?
They're just average.
...and Lerche is just Seiji Kishi.
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:27:08 PM
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on August 05, 2014, 11:25:49 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:19:02 PM
Quote from: Cartoon X on August 05, 2014, 11:12:25 PM
Quote from: Lord Dalek on August 05, 2014, 11:03:33 PM
^Ironically this reminds me of what became of Blue Exorcist and how Marquis now wants me to write an A-1 article.
A-1 is more of a mixed bag than always bad like Toei, at least from what I've seen of their stuff. I thought they did solid work on Magi, Silver Spoon, and Zveda Plot, for instance.
Yeah A-1's fine (and honestly I think Foggle's being a little oop when it comes to SAO's animation). Its just Fairy Tail that's ass.
AND NO I AM NOT DOING PIERROT!
What about Silver Link?
They're just average.
...and Lerche is just Seiji Kishi.
Fine then, Zexcs.
i remember how yu yu hakusho did episode recaps with completely different animation. the start of the 2nd episode of bui vs. hiei being the best episode. new anime can learn a thing or two from yyh.
New review! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3055)
Cool review! It seems this show had some potential, but ultimately all the separate elements didn't add up to a great experience overall. But it does seem like there's some good in there that makes it at least a decent lazy weekend marathon show. Since it's on Netflix, I might give it a look sometime when I'm not up for watching another show on my backlog.
I saw the ad for this on my Netflix account and just rolled my eyes. What you describe is pretty much what I expected it to be. Not to my taste.
Very good review.
I think Rac was way too hard on Kai in the Korra review. He doesn't remind me of Mako at all nor do I think he's annoying. I already mentioned which two characters he reminds me of, which is why he is probably my favorite new character in this book. Anyway, that reminds me how bland Mako is. He hasn't had any character development at all. The closest thing he got to that was when he become a cop, which is just a job and excuse for why he helps Korra (and for Book 2, Republic City) since he and Bolin did not have one at all in Book 1. They just helped because they knew Korra..and Pro Bender brings all people together. Yeah, that little speech Mako gave in Book 1 was just awful. Ah, anyway, Mako still never fusses up to anything he does wrong in relationships and is the exact same character he was in Book 1..who was already boring.
Also, Rac is right about Asami not getting much to do. It did look like she was going to get some good onscreen time throughout the entire season up until they got stranded in the desert but that all changed afterwards. I don't think she even got to pilot an airship thanks to the metal guards, which was her go to job in Book 2, so they kind of somehow made Asami take even more of a backseat during the last few episodes..I still have hope though. She did have a decent presence in the first 10 or so episodes.
Great write-up. I've been on the fence about checking this series out. It doesn't sound up my alley, but perhaps I'll give it a look, anyways, after I catch up with Archer.
Tonight on After the Cel Shading: Aldnoah.Zero really sucks. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3190) Film at 11.
I finally wrote about Kill la Kill again. It's kind of a personal piece. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3200
Great write-up, Foggle! :thumbup:
It's a nice analysis, and while I didn't initially view if that way, I can certainly see where you're coming from. I will admit that I feel a bit opposite of you about the series, in that personally I preferred the second half to the first half, and I do think that it actually had a message to it, which I briefly touched upon in my write-up for that story arc, but putting that aside,mi do fully agree with your sentiment about the final episode's message, which is that we need to move on.
I've always felt that way about any series that I get really invested in. For instance, I'm a fan of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and I thought that the series had as perfect of an ending as you could hope for. Then I found out about the comics that continue the story and....I just didn't want to read them. In my mind, the story was concluded, and I just didn't feel interested in being what happened after that, because I was throughly satisfied with what I'd gotten out of the series and instead just wanted to move onto new things.
With something like Cowboy Bebop, a lot of people argued whether Spike was really dead or not for the sake of the possibility of a sequel. And, yes, Watanabe purposely left it up to people's own interpretation, and never explicitly said that Spike was dead, but he also made it clear that whether he was alive or dead wasn't really what was important about the ending. People who are so fixated on just that are completely missing the point of the ending. I know that sounds strange since he's the main character, but really think about it. Spike himself said that he wasn't going to where Vicious was to did. He was going to see if he was really alive. Spike needs to fulfill his story by facing his past, and the important thing here is that he CONCLUDES HIS STORY. In that regard, whether he's alive or dead does not matter at this point. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be the same character anymore now that he could let go of his past, and the sequel potential still would not be there, because Spike's story was done. And, regardless, this was a series that was primarily about episodic adventures, which is something that most people seem to forget about, as well. It was never something fixated too much on continuity, so the ending can really just be seen as the end of Spike's adventures with the Bebop crew. I also know this because the ending of Cowboy Bebop is a direct homage and reference to the ending of another famous and iconic series that also purposely ended in a way that let the viewer interpret the outcome of the main character's fate, but also never continued beyond that point because for all intents and purposes, that was the end of his story, whether he was dead or alive.
Likewise, with Kill La Kill, the ending is the conclusion of Ryuko's story. She had her complete character arc, and the writers did what they wanted to in order to fulfill a complete story-line. What this special proves is that, there is really no point to a new series because there is nothing left to tell, and Imaishi and Trigger can move onto different works that they can actually be passionate about, rather than being forced to continue something that they already feel that they have satisfactorily finished just because it's popular.
Good stuff, Foggle. I still have to get around to watching the rest.
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on September 29, 2014, 01:19:28 PMWith something like Cowboy Bebop, a lot of people argued whether Spike was really dead or not for the sake of the possibility of a sequel. And, yes, Watanabe purposely left it up to people's own interpretation, and never explicitly said that Spike was dead, but he also made it clear that whether he was alive or dead wasn't really what was important about the ending. People who are so fixated on just that are completely missing the point of the ending. I know that sounds strange since he's the main character, but really think about it. Spike himself said that he wasn't going to where Vicious was to did. He was going to see if he was really alive. Spike needs to fulfill his story by facing his past, and the important thing here is that he CONCLUDES HIS STORY. In that regard, whether he's alive or dead does not matter at this point. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be the same character anymore now that he could let go of his past, and the sequel potential still would not be there, because Spike's story was done. And, regardless, this was a series that was primarily about episodic adventures, which is something that most people seem to forget about, as well. It was never something fixated too much on continuity, so the ending can really just be seen as the end of Spike's adventures with the Bebop crew. I also know this because the ending of Cowboy Bebop is a direct homage and reference to the ending of another famous and iconic series that also purposely ended in a way that let the viewer interpret the outcome of the main character's fate, but also never continued beyond that point because for all intents and purposes, that was the end of his story, whether he was dead or alive.
It reminds me of some of the reviews for Winter Soldier that were criticizing it because "Well, you just know Cap won't die so there's no tension!"
I don't know who watches action movies (or any, really) solely to see if the protagonist will
live. I enjoy stories to wonder if the protagonist will
succeed over the villain. To me that's the more important goal.
That's why I always thought the whole "Spike is dead/is not!" argument fairly pointless. It doesn't really matter as far as the story is concerned. He succeeded. He won.
Excellent write-up, Foggle. While I enjoyed the OVA more than I did the final episode, I completely understand where you're coming from.
I've seen more than my fair share of people wishing there favorite series would never end, that there would be more sequels and spin-offs starring the characters they've grown so attached to, but for me the end is the end, and that's all there is to it.
Quote from: Rynnec on September 29, 2014, 05:21:36 PM
Excellent write-up, Foggle. While I enjoyed the OVA more than I did the final episode, I completely understand where you're coming from.
I've seen more than my fair share of people wishing there favorite series would never end, that there would be more sequels and spin-offs starring the characters they've grown so attached to, but for me the end is the end, and that's all there is to it.
Too bad Kubo and Kishimoto could never learn from this logic. :humhumhum:
I swear to god that I've heard Kubo say that Bleach Gould be ending soon for years, now. It's now 2014 and....yep, it's still going. But I'm still assured that it's "almost" over. Go figure.
You know how modern shounen logic works: final battles need to be dragged out for god knows how long to make things feel more "epic".
Man, Foggle, I can imagine that writing about this was very cathartic for you. Brilliant write-up. I agree the OVA does feel unnecessary to some extent, since it doesn't add anything to the ending or story of the series, but at the same time, I don't think it was meant to. As it is, despite being the technical last episode, it's not the end of the series canonically, since the events of this OVA take place sometime after the battle with Ragyo but before the final scenes of the last episode (evidenced by how Satsuki gets the short hair-cut we see her have at the end of #24 at the end of this OVA). Ultimately, the OVA just serves as one last hurrah for the series, and to make the point you highlighted in your write-up: things can't stay the same forever, and we must move-on. Obviously, they could probably extend KLK if they really wanted without as much problem since the ending is more open to new possibilities than those of series like CB or NGE, but the core character arcs and central conflict of the series have already been resolved, and there is nothing more we need to see with these characters, and nothing left to explore otherwise, and thus the ending should remain just that, and I think they recognize this. Good for them, and us all, I say. It's better a series go off while in it's prime and having resolved it's purpose, rather then pointlessly continue for the sake of it.
Aw, thanks for all the great comments, guys! :e_hail: Really encourages me to write more for the blog. :el_hail:
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on September 29, 2014, 01:19:28 PM
It's a nice analysis, and while I didn't initially view if that way, I can certainly see where you're coming from. I will admit that I feel a bit opposite of you about the series, in that personally I preferred the second half to the first half, and I do think that it actually had a message to it, which I briefly touched upon in my write-up for that story arc, but putting that aside,mi do fully agree with your sentiment about the final episode's message, which is that we need to move on.
Yeah, I think most people like the second half more than the first one, so I'm a bit of an odd bird there. Really, I loved the whole show, though I found the final episode to be somewhat disappointing compared to the previous climactic ones (like #15).
QuoteI've always felt that way about any series that I get really invested in. For instance, I'm a fan of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and I thought that the series had as perfect of an ending as you could hope for. Then I found out about the comics that continue the story and....I just didn't want to read them. In my mind, the story was concluded, and I just didn't feel interested in being what happened after that, because I was throughly satisfied with what I'd gotten out of the series and instead just wanted to move onto new things.
Yeah, that's usually how I feel too, though I will admit to thirsting for more Firefly episodes over the years, and right now I wish there was a third season or movie of Space Dandy. :sweat: But after reading those recent Firefly comics, I've finally realized it was a good things that the series ended when it did with the film. The comics are just awful.
QuoteWith something like Cowboy Bebop, a lot of people argued whether Spike was really dead or not for the sake of the possibility of a sequel. And, yes, Watanabe purposely left it up to people's own interpretation, and never explicitly said that Spike was dead, but he also made it clear that whether he was alive or dead wasn't really what was important about the ending. People who are so fixated on just that are completely missing the point of the ending. I know that sounds strange since he's the main character, but really think about it. Spike himself said that he wasn't going to where Vicious was to did. He was going to see if he was really alive. Spike needs to fulfill his story by facing his past, and the important thing here is that he CONCLUDES HIS STORY. In that regard, whether he's alive or dead does not matter at this point. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be the same character anymore now that he could let go of his past, and the sequel potential still would not be there, because Spike's story was done. And, regardless, this was a series that was primarily about episodic adventures, which is something that most people seem to forget about, as well. It was never something fixated too much on continuity, so the ending can really just be seen as the end of Spike's adventures with the Bebop crew. I also know this because the ending of Cowboy Bebop is a direct homage and reference to the ending of another famous and iconic series that also purposely ended in a way that let the viewer interpret the outcome of the main character's fate, but also never continued beyond that point because for all intents and purposes, that was the end of his story, whether he was dead or alive.
Bingo! The point of the ending wasn't whether Spike physically died or not. It was all about how he needed to move on from his past, in a way.
QuoteLikewise, with Kill La Kill, the ending is the conclusion of Ryuko's story. She had her complete character arc, and the writers did what they wanted to in order to fulfill a complete story-line. What this special proves is that, there is really no point to a new series because there is nothing left to tell, and Imaishi and Trigger can move onto different works that they can actually be passionate about, rather than being forced to continue something that they already feel that they have satisfactorily finished just because it's popular.
I mean, Kill la Kill's ending isn't particularly definitive, but you can tell that Trigger is done with the characters and universe. A forced second season would just cheapen the appeal of the original series.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on September 29, 2014, 02:00:21 PM
It reminds me of some of the reviews for Winter Soldier that were criticizing it because "Well, you just know Cap won't die so there's no tension!"
I don't know who watches action movies (or any, really) solely to see if the protagonist will live. I enjoy stories to wonder if the protagonist will succeed over the villain. To me that's the more important goal.
Yeah, exactly. A good writer can create tension without having the main characters be threatened by death. And sometimes living can be worse than dying.
Quote from: Rynnec on September 29, 2014, 05:21:36 PM
Excellent write-up, Foggle. While I enjoyed the OVA more than I did the final episode, I completely understand where you're coming from.
I actually liked the OVA more than the final episode too. Thematically, at the very least.
QuoteI've seen more than my fair share of people wishing there favorite series would never end, that there would be more sequels and spin-offs starring the characters they've grown so attached to, but for me the end is the end, and that's all there is to it.
That's what fanfiction is for!
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on September 29, 2014, 05:44:57 PM
I swear to god that I've heard Kubo say that Bleach Gould be ending soon for years, now. It's now 2014 and....yep, it's still going. But I'm still assured that it's "almost" over. Go figure.
I actually thought Bleach was over for the longest time since he first said that shit like five years ago, or something.
Now let's see if Attack on Titan actually ends in three years like the creator says it will...
Quote from: Cartoon X on September 29, 2014, 09:02:42 PM
Man, Foggle, I can imagine that writing about this was very cathartic for you. Brilliant write-up. I agree the OVA does feel unnecessary to some extent, since it doesn't add anything to the ending or story of the series, but at the same time, I don't think it was meant to. As it is, despite being the technical last episode, it's not the end of the series canonically, since the events of this OVA take place sometime after the battle with Ragyo but before the final scenes of the last episode (evidenced by how Satsuki gets the short hair-cut we see her have at the end of #24 at the end of this OVA). Ultimately, the OVA just serves as one last hurrah for the series, and to make the point you highlighted in your write-up: things can't stay the same forever, and we must move-on. Obviously, they could probably extend KLK if they really wanted without as much problem since the ending is more open to new possibilities than those of series like CB or NGE, but the core character arcs and central conflict of the series have already been resolved, and there is nothing more we need to see with these characters, and nothing left to explore otherwise, and thus the ending should remain just that, and I think they recognize this. Good for them, and us all, I say. It's better a series go off while in it's prime and having resolved it's purpose, rather then pointlessly continue for the sake of it.
Yeah, it was really cathartic for me. :) Of course, OVAs rarely are supposed to add anything to the TV series they're a part of, but I think this one kind of took that idea and ran with it to make a point. And definitely, I'd rather have a good show end before its time than see it dragged out forever and ruined.
Quote from: Foggle on September 29, 2014, 10:41:01 PM
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on September 29, 2014, 05:44:57 PM
I swear to god that I've heard Kubo say that Bleach Gould be ending soon for years, now. It's now 2014 and....yep, it's still going. But I'm still assured that it's "almost" over. Go figure.
I actually thought Bleach was over for the longest time since he first said that shit like five years ago, or something.
Now let's see if Attack on Titan actually ends in three years like the creator says it will...
On the subject of
Bleach, Kubo said the current arc would be the final one when it started three years ago...but he also said that he could keep it going for TEN years if he had it in him. So...y'know. I do think Jump actually is pushing for Kubo to pick up the pace and aim to finish it sooner than later nowadays, but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes another year or two for it to actually end.
Korra blogging returns with more of my random tirades on politics. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3213)
Good write-up, as usual. The set-up for this season has all of the pieces set in place to make for something really interesting. Now, let's just hope that they can deliver on it in full force, seeing as how this is the last animated season of Avatar that we will ever likely get (after which point the story will continue in the comics).
Good article, doctor. It's such a shame they don't air this show on TV anymore.
Part 1 of the fall clusterfuck is finally here... http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3222
Good job everyone! :thumbup:
Some great shows this season.
Great job, y'all! :e_hail:
This is a pretty good season. I found a dozen shows I'm willing to try and keep up with. That's pretty rare, and I can easily see myself sticking with at least half of those all the way through to the end.
Let's see, this season, here's what I'm following in order of preference:
1. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works- Thanks in large part to Fate/Zero
2. Rage of Bahamut: Genesis- Great production values, and seemingly fun characters
3. Parasyte- It plays out like an awesome horror comedy, even if some of the comedy is unintentional
4. Mysterious Joker- A really fun Saturday morning cartoon style kids show
5. Amagi Brilliant Park- Everyone else here loves it, I think it's "meh" so far, but I'll see where it goes
There are still some more shows to premiere, so I may add more to my list.
Here's what I consider to be the worst of the season so far, based on what I've seen:
1. Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon
2. World Trigger
3. When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace
In some respects, it's no wonder I like this season so much, because the bulk of what I wanted to keep up with are part of franchises I'm already a fan of in the first place, and those are the most likely to be the ones I will end up sticking with through to end. Of the bunch, though, Parasyte is my #1 priority, bar none, for reasons I've already explained, but of course Mushi-shi is also one of my top favorite anime, so it's final season is something I'm not likely to let slide by me either. This really is quite an above-average season, though. I think the good stuff far outweighs the bad.
More of my mumbo jumbo disguised to look like I'm talking about Korra. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3315)
Juu reviews more Cross Ange. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3332)
Part 2 of the clusterfuck: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3305
Great write-ups again, everyone. :)
Quote
The original soundtrack is ill-matched, completely juxtaposing the show – dubstep and body horror anime do not blend well together.
EXACTLY! I'm glad someone else agrees with me on this.
Great write-ups, guys! :thumbup:
Also, give it a rest already. I feel like that's all you ever talk about whenever you bring up the show. You sound like a broken record. :P
Yes, this is a review of Over the Garden Wall. Yes, my review of the last half of Korra Book 3 is three months late and still incomplete. Listen to some show tunes while I work on that. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3469)
Good job Rac! :joy:
I wrote a spoiler-free review of Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone. I hope you like it!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3520
I wrote my sad thoughts on this despicable sequel known as Psycho-Pass 2. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3567)
Great write-up, Doc. I was optimistic about this season going into it, but it got progressively worse each episode and half-way through I figured it was just going to continue to do so and I gave up and dropped it. From what I've heard from just about everyone blogging it, though, that seems for the best. By far the most disappointing anime of the year. Hopefully the film will be good and wash the bad taste of it from everyone's mouths.
Reading the blogs of people who watched the show is like listening to those video game logs where characters record stuff as they slowly go insane. I think one blogger went missing after finishing the show. They've only been able to find his shoes.
Ah, I remember hearing about that last year. Those sorts of series confound me as to their appeal. If it just had hot teenage vampires that would be one thing, but why are abusive relationships some sort of fetish in so many shojo and josei romance series? I will never understand that, and I don't think I want to.
drooling over teenage relationships is bad enough.
Winter Anime 2015 Clusterfuck! http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3594
Great work, everyone!
I'm not really feeling this season, myself. Of the shows I checked out, the only one that really got me particularly interested to see it's next episode was Death Parade. And of the ones I didn't...well, they don't seem worth watching either. Except Yatterman, it seems. I'll see if I can try the first episode of that one tomorrow.
I can truly say that none of those shows interested me at all.
That Jojo entry was surreal.
The only must-watch show this season is Rolling Girls. Everything else is either gutter trash or acquired taste.
If the rest of Rolling Girls is like it's first five or so minutes then I'll be pleased. If it's more like the other 15...I dunno. I'm waiting to see what happens in this week's episode before I make any commitments to it.
The first installment of my Monthly Manga Recap feature for the blog is now up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3695) In this month of manga, we explore a romantic yet totally platonic relationship between two married women, analyze how a boy's fucked up abusive childhood has made him look like a girl, speculate about whether Urasawa is really going to make 9/11 the climax of Billy Bat, congratulate Space Brothers' Mutta for finally going to space, reflect on how Magi's Hakuryuu gave his mother one hell of a love bite, and much much more!
Damn! That was one hell of a write-up. I haven't had the time to read everything, but I agree with you on One Piece and Magi.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Now that there have been enough weeks to judge how the shows have started, this season's turned out rather well. I'm actually watching four more anime than I usually do in a cour.
While I preferred last fall, in terms of keeping up with stuff, I've fared a lot better with this season, mainly thanks to setting up a schedule to keep track of what to watch and when and catching the shows on time. If I keep this up I might actually finish all the shows I'm watching on time without putting anything off on hold for months (tbh, I haven't watched the Parasyte anime since the 2nd episode...).
Here is my long-awaited avant-garde anime blog, Who Is Imouto? – A Critical Analysis. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=1635
Please enjoy. :)
That is one of the most insane things I've ever read.
Good job.
Thanks! :joy: I retained all the lines you inserted, though I did change some of them around a bit. ;)
In preparation for the new KND, a guest writer came by to give us a new article. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3826)
Anime opinionz. http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3837
Nice work, Cartoon_X. BBB sounds like something right up my alley.
Great work again, everyone! :thumbup:
This season looked really interesting on paper and a lot of people were excited for it, but now that's come to pass it's pretty underwhelming and everyone seems rather bitter about it. I seemed to have appreciated more than some others here (probably because I have read the manga for a lot of these and hence know what I can expect from them), but in terms of genuinely great premieres, only Blood Blockade Battlefront and Gintama really hit the mark. The execution of the Food Wars! anime infuriates me since I really enjoy the manga, and I'm expecting Yamada-kun's premiere to be just as dishearteningly disappointing. The fact Lupin's been delayed is also a travesty and perhaps a crime against all of humanity, or at least anime fans, since it would have undoubtedly blown everything else that came out this season out of the water. Still, there's plenty I'm interested in keeping up with right now, so it's still a decent season. Though, knowing my tendencies to lose interest/fall behind on shows, the only series I expect myself to keep up with every week from beginning to end are Rin-ne, Gintama, and Ninja Slayer if it lives up to expectations.
I'm looking forward to Ninja Slayer as well.
Quote from: Cartoon X on April 11, 2015, 07:47:40 PM
The fact Lupin's been delayed is also a travesty and perhaps a crime against all of humanity, or at least anime fans, since it would have undoubtedly blown everything else that came out this season out of the water.
For real. I was
so hyped for the new Lupin series after Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone last year, and then... nothing. There hasn't even been an official delay notice posted, nor is there a new air date. Such a bummer. :(
Meh, gets me time to catch up with other series. :sly:
Quote from: Foggle on April 11, 2015, 09:35:10 PM
For real. I was so hyped for the new Lupin series after Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone last year, and then... nothing. There hasn't even been an official delay notice posted, nor is there a new air date. Such a bummer. :(
The latest news I've heard about it is in regards to the "Lupin III Anime Night" events (http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/04/10-1/toho-cinemas-plans-lupin-iii-anime-night-events) sponsored by TOHO cinemas in promotion of the series, which supposedly will come out sometime this year. My guess is that we won't see it until the Fall season, unfortunately. :-\
Nice write-ups.
There actually is some symbolism present in B3, but I don't know if it's intentional yet. I'll have to see where the story and characters go first to be sure. Otherwise, yeah, this is good old fashion Nightow. Sort of a weird mix of X-Men and the more lighthearted episodes of Cowboy Bebop, it sure is a lot of fun. I've been waiting for a series like this for a long time.
X-Men and Bebop? :drool:
The soundtrack sure is great.
And here we have Cartoon X blogging about manga again!
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3919
This is not animation.
I'm furious.
Just flip the pages really fast.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=3986 - CLUSTERFUCK TIME IS NOW TIME!
This is probably one of the worst seasons in recent memory. Few shows had a decent first episode, and the ones that did were hardly impressive.
Looking it over, and I really should have proofread my entries more. There's some grammatical errors I missed that are flat-out embarrassing, ugh.
Looks like a pretty big whiff. Though looks like I might give Ushio and Tora a try at the very least.
What I wouldn't do for a fantasy anime that was good and not based or centered around a video game world. It can't be that hard. Really.
EDIT: Also wouldn't mind a proper Flame of Recca anime that does the manga justice if more older series are possible.
And I just learned Satoshi Nishimura is directing Ushio & Tora. Now I have to watch it all.
Also, that OP is incredible (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt8W_FA3QBE) on so many levels.
I don't think that I can agree that Super is worse than GT, but it was definitely a very boring premiere. I'm all for trying to be more humorous like Dragon Ball, but whereas Dragon Ball actually had GOOD humor and a focused narrative to its story arcs, this premiere offers neither of those things.
Even DBZ's very filler-heavy premiere at least set up a new villain by the end of the episode. This show didn't even have that going for it (though, then again, the same could be said about GT). I'm thoroughly convinced that Toriyama's involvement in this project is more mininal than he lets on, and that Toei is just being cheap and lazy since this series will clearly make money for them no matter what they do.
The problem with
Super is that it's story right now is literally just re-telling
Battle of Gods and
The Resurrection of 'F', but we've already seen the condensed versions of those stories and hence don't need to watch them again with less impressive animation and more padding. Apparently
Super is being made with the idea of how Toriyama would have written the plots of the movies if he had done them in the manga right after finishing the Buu arc, and it shows, because the pacing of the episode totally feels like a chapter of the manga stretched out for 22 minutes with a bunch of filler added in. The show might pick up when they get to new material, but they probably will just ape the movies' plots for the first two cours (at least) and that's pretty lame.
Still, I can't not be interested in this week's episode. The comedic possibilities are too great for them to fuck it up.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on July 09, 2015, 01:26:33 PM
And I just learned Satoshi Nishimura is directing Ushio & Tora. Now I have to watch it all.
Yeah, with how great Hajime no Ippo and Trigun were as adaptions I have confidence that U&T will remain an entertaining show beginning to end.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on July 09, 2015, 01:26:33 PM
Also, that OP is incredible (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt8W_FA3QBE) on so many levels.
Yup. Hands down the best opening of the season. It also probably has the best ending too, but I haven't watched them all yet.
Seeing as how HnI and Trigun are two of my favorite anime, I really should check out U&T.
As for DBS, it's Dragon Ball, so no matter how bad it might turn out (though I wouldn't outright call it bad, yet), I will shamelessly stick with it since DB is one of my favorite manga of all time, and if my nostalgic attachment to the franchise was enough to get me to suffer through all of GT, I don't believe that keeping up with Super would be a problem.
Still, I wish that it was a sequel to BOG and ROF, rather than a re-tread of them. I've already seen the former, and would rather see the latter as a film. I just want new stories.
U&T is going to be a 39 episode series cutting out all the filler and one-shots and instead adapting the major arcs. Normally I'd be wary when it comes to something like that, but not when it comes to Nishimura. Also from what I've seen compared to the old OVA, he has managed to distill the essence of the story very well. Will definitely be keeping up with it.
As for Super, well, I am disappointed that it's adapting the movies. That really isn't anything I wanted to see, and will be a waste of the 100 episode run if they're too draggy and filler-heavy. Maybe I'll catch back up when this movie stuff is done, but by then my interest might well be drained.
AHEM.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8kDMmZSh.png&hash=1f4c13418366416f1df9c8fda59b7235481f8b69)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=4012)
To be honest I liked Super. It's clear that either Toriyama or Toei is trying to tap into that cartoonish comedic side of Dragonball, and for me personally I think it did it pretty well. It was childish and it didn't really set things up aside from Beerus, but I think focusing on the going ons of the daily lives of the heroes is kind of what Dragonball needs for the moment. Because right now the public mindset for Dragonball is that it's 100% action all the time instead of the comedy that really made it good. So I feel being comedic for a little while then having the spectacular fights might be for the best. Plus while it's in comedy mode you can set things up for later down the line.
I'm actually all for DB being more comedic than action-driven again. My problem with Super's premiere is that nothing in it was particularly funny, IMO. I like the aspect of the heroes having down time and their own personal moments, but those only work as breaks after focused story arcs. Starting out a series that way just makes it feel like it could be a chore to watch, IMO.
In that respect I see what your saying. If the comedy doesn't work then neither does the episode. It does remind me of the recent Dragonball movies though. Also the scene with Videl, Goten and Trunks that was pretty heartwarming for me.
Yeah, I did like that scene, but something like that would work better if it came as part of a character arc rather than just as a moment in and of itself. What I mean is something like the heartwarming bonding moments between Gohan and Piccolo, both of whom had dual character arcs going on when Piccolo was training Gohan. We've hardly ever seen Goten and Trunks interact with Videl in any meaningful way in DBZ, so the moment doesn't come off meaning much other than being an admittedly cute scene for what it is, IMO.
I think it's too early to say conclusively, but this might lead into Videl having more time with the Son family, Goten in particular. She is getting married to Gohan so I would assume that she would be going along with their adventure to some degree. Plus, obviously, this will give Gohan some screentime.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3JnfZZb.gif&hash=b2e41c59b5b93363ba08babaa50126ee86bdbc0e)
REJOICE! The clusterfuck is over! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=4123)
The Death Note adaption looks like it was written by those fans who used to write essay length posts about how Light really was a good guy and just misunderstood. There's just something creepy about that section of the fanbase that I'm not really sure should be catered to like this.
What? MORE Crowds-Sourcing? Well if you insist.... (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=4265)
Hey I was wondering, is anyone going to do a column on Resurrection F, and if not may I do it?
I'm seeing the film next Tuesday and was thinking of doing a review of it, but if you'd like to write one yourself you're more than welcome to. :)
I'm hoping to get a chance to see the film, but I'll probably be too busy.
FREEZA FREEZA FREEZA FREEEZZZAAA!!! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=4530)
Great job, us! :joy:
It really is a fun movie, though, and the best DBZ movie by far. Though, that's not really saying much in and of itself.
It's just too bad that Super will most likely kill the new life that BOG and ROF granted to this franchise.
I'm not sure why, but every few months I keep getting a new comment or two on this article: http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=2538#comment-52680
Looking back on it, I think my writing sucks (as does that of my most recent write-ups, probably), but people seem to like the article. I think it has something to do with more people discovering this classic over time, and there not being a whole lot of people who blog about it, understandably.
It does make me want to try and improve, as well as to revisit the series in future articles. I do plan on giving the manga another re-read after finishing my current re-read of Dragon Ball, so perhaps after that I might be able to come up with something else to write about it.
I find a lot more people talking about it nowadays than they did even five years ago. Which is a good thing. A lot of older shows sort of slide into the abyss outside of hardcore fans.
Well, older shows like DBZ, YYH, Sailor Moon and so on, which have had tons of over-seas exposure, still hold pretty sizable fan-bases after all of these years. It's more peculiar for a series like AnJ, which is incredibly obscure among English-speaking anime fans, to have drawn this much attention, but perhaps if more people show interest in it via word of mouth then it may have a shot at receiving a much-deserved English publication. It's still avery obscure entity among the anime and manga community in North America at this point, though, so the chances of it becoming much more popular are very slim, especially due to its age.
You'd probably have to get one of the smaller companies currently kickstarting Tezuka and older classics interested in it. I know I'd kickstart it in a heartbeat if someone needed the help to officially release it. Sort of like the Skull Man series from the 90s, it's a series I would buy ahead of time if it is the only way I could get my hands on them.
I think a lot of the references popping up in series like Bakuman and Food Wars and countless others have done a lot for its exposure overseas. Not to mention Crunchyroll getting the second series (still waiting for the first) to stream. It feels like its more popular now than it has been in a long time.
Rather than age, the biggest barrier to publishing AnJ is it's length. 20 volumes is simply too long a commitment for a company like DMP or Vertical to give a chance on, and a kickstarter to support such an endeavor would have too high a price. Even Tezuka kickstarters can't raise much more than $30,000 at best, and that's just to publish 2 or 3 books. A 20 volume series would need at least six times that amount to get fully published, and as the massive Tezuka kickstarter DMP attempted a while back that utterly, totally failed showed, there just isn't enough of a market or audience to raise that much money from classic anime/manga fans in a limited timeframe. :(
A guest writer has written a vibrant piece about Steven Universe. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=4850)
My sides during the entire article.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi407.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp160%2FDaxdiv%2FGIF%2520Party%2FHomer%2520loses%2520it_zpsjpctlgle.gif&hash=37999967dd328774a11479d530dfd5ba4c1d5ef4)
We're doing 12 Days of Anime where we post an article every day until Christmas discussing interesting moments in the medium or old shows we only caught up with this year.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5074
Merry December 27th.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5084
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5090
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5098
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5102
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5106
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5110
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5116
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5121
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5136
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5144
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5150
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5156
Togashi's biggest writing problem is probably in endings. In YYH he didn't have to have them, since all the arcs essentially go into the next one, but when he had to write one for the series, it was a steaming turd that had to be saved by the anime staff. The only ending he's written in HxH was the one at the end of the Chimera Ant arc which makes up for the bizarre weakness of that arc being the start of it (the beginnings of his arcs are usually really strong) but that's really the first thing he's ever really ended in HxH. I'm also not sure if he can properly end this thing since it's gotten so unwieldy over the years.
Also, glad I never heard of Isuca before. Sounds like everything I dislike about shonen in this one. Though I'm pretty sure that image is from another show. ;)
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on December 28, 2015, 08:57:10 AM
Also, glad I never heard of Isuca before. Sounds like everything I dislike about shonen in this one. Though I'm pretty sure that image is from another show. ;)
No, it's from Isuca.
Quote from: The Shadow Gentleman on December 28, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on December 28, 2015, 08:57:10 AM
Also, glad I never heard of Isuca before. Sounds like everything I dislike about shonen in this one. Though I'm pretty sure that image is from another show. ;)
No, it's from Isuca.
:D
I actually love Digimon Adventure Tri so far. The funny thing is that I agree with most of the criticisms in the article, but feel that they are a lot more minor than the article makes them out to be, especially the stuff about character development when we've definitely gotten about as much as you could fit in four episodes with this many characters (and let's not forget that there are still twenty episodes left).
I also never noticed that the reception was that mixed. I've personally seen a lot of Digimon fans who really like Tri so far, and maybe just a few who aren't that hot on it, and absolutely no one who outright hates it (especially compared to Adventure 02), but then again, I haven't specifically been browsing around for people's opinions on it.
As for Hunter X Hunter, I pretty much agree with everything that Dr. Insomniac said in his article. And to be honest, I'm not nearly as frustrated by the wait between chapters as everyone else is, since seeing how the story concludes has always been the least interesting thing about this series to begin with. It's always the conflict at hand that's most interesting.
Oh man... did this season suck. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5176)
*puts on Artful Dodger hat* But sir, where's the Norn9?
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on January 14, 2016, 08:20:36 PM
*puts on Artful Dodger hat* But sir, where's the Norn9?
Nobody signed up to do Norn9.
...for obvious reasons.
Masamune Shirow.... :el_cry: I guess I'll go back to hoping for a Tank Police series again as unlikely as that will ever be. Looks like he's lost his mind here.
But yes, this was about what I expected from this season. A whole heap of nothing. Spring can't come fast enough.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on January 14, 2016, 10:37:16 PM
Masamune Shirow.... :el_cry: I guess I'll go back to hoping for a Tank Police series again as unlikely as that will ever be. Looks like he's lost his mind here.
Masamune Shirow is like the Mark Millar of manga IMO. Great at ideas, terrible at execution, and a bit of a creep to boot. He should have at least let Rikdo write the script when he hired him to do the art - then it would at least have had good dialogue. Oh well.
It's worth nothing, though, that Rynnec's opinion of the episode was much more favorable than mine.
I'm starting a new feature comparing the anime version of Flame of Recca to the manga.
Introduction's here (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5341).
Though it might take me awhile to get this done. I haven't re-read or re-watched the entire series in years, so these installments will mostly be on a strict comparison between chapters and episodes. Still, currently doing the one for the first episode already shows quite a few differences.
Great write-up so far. We had discussed this concept before, and I've been wanting to do similar pieces for Dragon Ball and Full Metal Panic, myself, but this is a great look at how not to do an anime adaptation of a good manga. Bakuman is another example of a weak adaptation, as well.
I always liked how the manga for FoR did a good job of combining many of the elements found in many classic 90's shonen manga, but also melding them together so well to make it feel like its own thing.
Bakuman was such a disappointment. That first OP was an obvious sign that they plain missed the mark with the whole thing.
Thanks for the comments. I've been re-buying the FoR manga since it's so cheap nowadays and have been slowly rereading, and Crunchyroll adding the anime made it the perfect opportunity to start this feature. There are a lot of differences between the manga and anime, but they've never been compiled before. I'll try to do it here as best I can.
Flame of Recca episode 1! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5356)
Even in this first episode there were a lot of differences to note.
Cool! I don't know anything about Flame of Recca, but I support this. :)
Nice, I've been waiting for this. I'll get to it before bed tonight.
I'm thinking of doing a similar type of article for Dragon Ball, but not for the whole series, of course. Instead I want to compare key scenes between the manga and anime, and highlights how the episodes with less talent behind them fail to convey the outstanding humor, pacing, and fluidity of Toriyama's artwork.
Your comparisons between both versions also remind me of a recent Mother's Basement episode about Erased, though in this case it was about how good directing in the anime actually enhanced and improved upon a scene from the manga.
Episode 2! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5370) Suffice to say, I was not impressed with this episode.
I'm not sure how long episode 3 is gonna take me to do, but I'm not looking forward to it. They turn Mikagami into a moron. You'll see why whenever I finish it up.
Episode 3 is done. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5708)
This was the worst episode so far. How not to do an adaption. It's still more mediocre than bad, but man does it butcher the original material.
Late to the party, but great write-ups, Spark! Since I only had read the first volume of FOR a couple years ago, I decided that I'd read the manga and watch the anime in pace with your reviews. I just got done with reading through chapter 13 and episode 3 today, and yeah, I pretty much agree with all your points about how the anime's changes are detrimental to the story and characterization. I also don't care for how the anime takes out the humor and attempts to make the series feel more serious by making the fights more violent and dramatic. It completely misses the spirit of the source material but at the same doesn't commit to it's darker direction in a consistent or compelling way, making the stakes and events in the series really fall flat.
Honestly, I think the anime is even worse than you've been giving it credit for. The character designs feel stiff and lack the personality they had in the manga and go off model constantly, the BGM drones on and doesn't properly reflect the mood of the scene it's used in most cases, and the color palette is bland and washed-out. While I generally like Noriyuki Abe's use of heavy shadows and dark lighting, it just makes scenes look drab and ugly in this show, and while there are nice bits of animation here and there, most of the time the fight choreography is monotonous and movement is choppy and jittery. The depiction of Recca's flame is also a complete joke; while in the manga it actually looks like fire and is presented with a sense of grandeur (like at the end of chapter 7), in the anime it's just some small and pathetic-looking translucent red light. You can't tell me that the studio that animated the spectacle that was the Dragon of the Darkness Flame just a few years prior couldn't have done better. Not to say anything about the show's pacing. As a consequence to gutting the humor and downtime between the characters, there's no emotional highs and lows to each episode; everything stays at one mood constantly, making nothing stand out, and the show incredibly boring to sit through even with all the action going on.
I thought the first episode in particular was really bad. Beyond all the alterations you mentioned, it breaks basic rules of good storytelling. It's common sense to stick to the perspective of your main character at the beginning of the story and stay with it until the audience knows the supporting cast enough to start to mix it up. The manga did this from the first page, but the anime keeps switching the perspective between Kagehoshi and Recca throughout the episode, and includes a completely random scene of who I'm assuming are the series' main villains that has no direct bearing on anything that happens in the episode and just feels jarring and confusing as a result. Not to mention that the way the series establishes the characters often feels very incongruous. In the scenes where Kagehoshi is watching Recca save Yanagi from the beam in the anime, her reaction implies that she's concerned about what happens to him when he gets hit by the beam. Later on, though, the anime has her sadistically cut up Recca, which is inconsistent with her previous characterization, and makes her motivations and relationship to him confusing. And her spilling all the details about her past and relationship with Recca instantly makes her a less interesting and more one-note antagonist, whereas in the manga the mystery and ambiguity behind her actions makes her arguably the most interesting character and probably my favorite in the series so far.
And you discussed well how Yanagi is also far less interesting character in the anime, because she really doesn't have any character at all. Compared with the manga, where's she's naive and has various quirks, and her relationship with Recca feels genuine, her anime counterpart has nothing to her beyond just being a nice girl and the two have almost no chemistry, and honestly very few scenes together past the first episode. There's almost nothing to make me care about her as a character or Recca's devotion to her because the anime barely establishes and develops their relationship. I don't even feel particularly strongly about what I've read of the manga so far, but damn, just based on what I've seen and can compare I find the anime vastly inferior in almost every regard presentation wise. It's not simply just a bad adaption - this really is a badly made show in several regards. I can't believe the same director who made YYH and GTO could make something this poorly constructed. Even Bleach, as much as I don't care for it, was at least competently made and directed and didn't detract from what worked about the source material.
Well, that's my rant. :sweat: I was definitely surprised about how much the anime pissed me off while I was watching it, when I'm not even into the manga very much yet. Anyways, looking forward to reading more of your comparisons and following the series (well, the manga mostly) as you go along! :e_hail:
Thanks for the comments!
Everything you said about the FoR anime is fairly dead on. I was a little less harsh on the first two episodes than I should have been, but after rewatching episode three and seeing how they made a fan favorite character (who they change the hair and eye color of... for some reason) into a complete dimwitted psychopath pushed my buttons pretty hard. Mikagami isn't even my favorite character, but they just wrecked him there.
I do hope you keep up with FoR. The manga is a lot of fun, one of my favorite action manga just because of how sharp and well thought out it is. Anzai's characterizations and composition makes the story fun to follow and the plot has just the right amount of stakes. While I haven't enjoyed his latter series all that much, I think he nailed it here. That's why it's such a shame that its adaption suffers like it does.
The anime, in contrast, rips out the fun, the humor, and Anzai's plot points like Pierrot believes it can tell its own story instead. But, IIRC, the first real arc coming up is fun like Rescue Yukina in YYH, it's what made me a fan, but in the anime they absolutely wreck the tone to make it like a worse version of Maze Castle. Now that takes talent to mess up like that. The antagonists, especially one when we get to him, gets jobbed so badly it takes all mystique out of him when we are later supposed to take him seriously. Man, just thinking about the anime changes gets me irate. It just doesn't make sense, FoR didn't need tweaking!
If there is a show that deserves a new anime to make up for a previous one, this is a prime candidate. I'm still standing by the OP and ED being the best thing about this adaption.
What attracted me to the series at first was Recca being a fun protagonist, and the character dynamic with the different personalities clashing. When we finally did get to the more serious stuff, it felt more weighted because we came to care about the characters all the more, and wanted them to be able to return to their normal selves. It also served as a good frame of reference for how they developed throughout the series. Removing those humorous elements, to me, is equivalent to removing essential parts of the story and fundamentally changing who the characters are at their core.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 18, 2016, 12:26:40 AM
Thanks for the comments!
Everything you said about the FoR anime is fairly dead on. I was a little less harsh on the first two episodes than I should have been, but after rewatching episode three and seeing how they made a fan favorite character (who they change the hair and eye color of... for some reason) into a complete dimwitted psychopath pushed my buttons pretty hard. Mikagami isn't even my favorite character, but they just wrecked him there.
Yeah, I don't even know much about Mikagami so far, but he seems like a level-headed and reasonable guy in the manga, whereas the anime version's introduction seems like a psycho creep. It's baffling how they could screw up such an archetypal character that badly.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on April 18, 2016, 12:26:40 AM
I do hope you keep up with FoR. The manga is a lot of fun, one of my favorite action manga just because of how sharp and well thought out it is. Anzai's characterizations and composition makes the story fun to follow and the plot has just the right amount of stakes. While I haven't enjoyed his latter series all that much, I think he nailed it here. That's why it's such a shame that its adaption suffers like it does.
The anime, in contrast, rips out the fun, the humor, and Anzai's plot points like Pierrot believes it can tell its own story instead. But, IIRC, the first real arc coming up is fun like Rescue Yukina in YYH, it's what made me a fan, but in the anime they absolutely wreck the tone to make it like a worse version of Maze Castle. Now that takes talent to mess up like that. The antagonists, especially one when we get to him, gets jobbed so badly it takes all mystique out of him when we are later supposed to take him seriously. Man, just thinking about the anime changes gets me irate. It just doesn't make sense, FoR didn't need tweaking!
If there is a show that deserves a new anime to make up for a previous one, this is a prime candidate. I'm still standing by the OP and ED being the best thing about this adaption.
It seems that I have some good things to look forward to in the manga then! Really is too bad the anime is such a stinker. Hopefully the success of
Ushio & Tora leads to more classic shonen manga getting new anime adaptions, and FOR gets another shot at some point.
I do like the opening and ending themes for the series quite a bit, though there are parts that could be better, like the middle sequence of the ED where the shot lingers on a panning road for a little bit too long for my liking. Songs themselves are quite nice to listen to, though. The OST is honestly pretty good too based on what I've listened to, but so far the anime doesn't seem to be using the tracks effectively, which is unfortunate.
Episode 4 is up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5758)
For future reference, Yanagi's powers work this way. She can heal surface wounds. She cannot heal herself. She can only heal internal injuries by using her blood to enter into her target's body that way. She is not the equivalent of a Phoenix Down in Final Fantasy, her powers have limits. I write this because I'm not sure the anime will keep any of this straight in the future.
Great writeup! Hopefully the next arc is treated better, considering the anime feels like it's been impatient to get to it.
I think the thing that bothered me the most about this episode is how they take all the fun and humor of the material. Recca feeling unworthy of being Yanagi's ninja was more endearing in the manga because the series wasn't afraid to poke fun at him and didn't present the circumstances as melancholy. It helped that the chapter that the anime skipped did well in establishing a sense of closeness between Recca and Yanagi, so you can empathize with Recca's guilt and Yanagi's sadness that he's avoiding her. I think the scene that shows the biggest difference in the mood of the two versions is the way Recca enters his fight with Mikagami in the Hall of Mirrors. The manga's version is over the top and comical, and he's determined with an infectiously shonen excitability. In the anime, on the other hand, he just runs straight to Mikagami with little fanfare and his attitude is very tense and pensive. The manga's version is just far more interesting and unpredictable way to start a fight than the anime's, and moments like this helps gives the fight and the series more flavor to it.
The anime keeps trying to make the series more serious by gutting the stuff that seems silly, but all it's doing is removing the series of any personality. It's like it's desperately trying to hide it's shonen roots by making things seems more dramatic by superficially upping the stakes by making the fights more violent and have shadowy figures scheme in the background, but it doesn't work because it's still committed to following what is a very shonen storyline. The result is that the anime version feels generic, and sometimes downright unpleasant, and because it's so lacking in compelling characterization and spills out all the mysteries early on, there's not as much to keep it engaging. It honestly feels like the anime doesn't respect or understand the appeal of it's source material, and is trying to pander to it's audience by emphasizing popular characters and fights rather than making a genuinely enjoyable show.
What it's really impatient to get to is the second arc which basically takes up more than half of the anime. That said, I watched the next episode to prepare for the next write-up and it kind of aggravated me with how much was changed, sometimes for no reason at all. The more I watch this the more I become convinced that Pierrot had no confidence at all in the material, and it shows with how much they change.
There's a reason nobody remembers the FoR anime. It's really, really dull.
Coming out with no reason or rhyme, it's Clusterfuck time! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5418)
Nice write ups. While there was some crap this season (well covered here) there does some to be a lot less of it than usual. I'm still pretty surprised at how strong the season has been as a whole when the majority of shows aren't unwatchable crap.
Finally got around to catching up with your write-ups.
Jesus Christ! I always knew that FOR was supposed to be a bad adaptation of the manga, but I never realized it was THIS bad. In less than five episodes they've managed the characterization of at least two members of the main cast, the humor is almost entirely removed, and the plot feels incredibly disjointed with so much actual essential stuff cut out. While it makes sense to rush through the early material for some manga when it comes to adapting into anime (such as Yu Yu Hakusho's first two volumes, as much as I do enjoy them), FOR was already pretty plot-focused right from the beginning.
It's a misfire. That's really the nicest way to say it. It's overly serious, its fight scenes are weak, the characters are stripped of character, and the story is changed around in a way that causes inconsistencies and plotholes that weren't in the original.
The next episode should prove it when I put it up. Those chapters were what really engaged me in the story back when I first read it. So watching what they did to it was a treat all its own.
Episode 5! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5810)
If it isn't clear what they were trying to change this manga into by now, it'll probably never be clear.
Episode 6 is now up! (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5854)
The Viz translation of this series is pretty good aside from one random volume that throws swear words all over the place, but the fan translation was done during the years of Literal Translation when otaku were quite insufferable about "accuracy" to the text and wasting their time re-translating already adapted works instead of ones that hadn't been touched. I had to go through several different pages to make sure I found ones that actually made sense and weren't stiff as a board.
That aside, hope you're enjoying the feature!
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on May 04, 2016, 12:52:03 PM
The Viz translation of this series is pretty good aside from one random volume that throws swear words all over the place, but the fan translation was done during the years of Literal Translation when otaku were quite insufferable about "accuracy" to the text
Ugh, sounds like Excel Saga. The Viz version is excellent despite not being extraordinarily faithful to the original text, but the fan translations are literally unreadable.
Quote from: Foggle on May 04, 2016, 01:09:46 PM
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on May 04, 2016, 12:52:03 PM
The Viz translation of this series is pretty good aside from one random volume that throws swear words all over the place, but the fan translation was done during the years of Literal Translation when otaku were quite insufferable about "accuracy" to the text
Ugh, sounds like Excel Saga. The Viz version is excellent despite not being extraordinarily faithful to the original text, but the fan translations are literally unreadable.
Yes, it was a big thing with manga and old SNES/Genesis games at the time to re-translate them to be as "pure" as the original text. There was even a time when the name Ted Woolsey was a bad word. Even games as minor as Mega Man X received pointless new translations. The fans were going to "fix" Viz's "bad" translations and put the "real" translations out there for the fans.
Years later and apparently most of them woke up and realized that Literal Translations were awful to read, dry, and contained no character whatsoever. Unfortunately, because of all their wasted time there is a lot of good stuff from before the mid-'00s left completely untranslated. There's a lot of good stuff nobody over here will ever get to read because of their quest for purity.
On the other hand, now I get to parse through two translations and an anime for this feature, so I get exposed to multiple translations of the same story. So it's not all bad.
At least the fan translations for Ashita no Joe (which is currently the only way to read it in English) are excellent. If Kodansha USA were to officially release the manga with that exact dialogue, nobody would be questioning whether or not they were professional quality translations or not.
I do agree that most fan translations are shit, though. Thankfully companies like VIZ have made manga much more accessible and affordable so that people don't need to keep relying on unofficial scripts which sound awful.
I'm releasing the Clusterfucks in chunks now to correlate with these fast-paced times. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=5981)
The Clusterfuck continues, as I go berserk over the new Berserk. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6022)
I did not even notice that much depth to the episode. You're right, if the bad animation wasn't so distracting, it would have been a good episode.
Quote from: gunswordfist on July 05, 2016, 10:16:46 PM
I did not even notice that much depth to the episode. You're right, if the bad animation wasn't so distracting, it would have been a good episode.
It really is a shame that the show's presentation can't live up to it's content. Alas.
Anyways, another day, another installment of the Clusterfuck! Today's review:
Days (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6047)
Part 4 of this season's Clusterfuck is up, about the newest season of HxH and Orange. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6011)
More. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6059)
I watched Angel's Egg and wanted to review it. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6097)
I'll just leave this here.... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6ZBzLLjCX4)
Part 1 of Clust Erfuck is here. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6102) Part 2 later.
It looks like I'm not missing much by not watching any anime this season. Sounds like slim pickings.
Yuri on Ice is the only one I've seen that could potentially be great, and All Out! could be a fairly decent sports anime for what it is. Other than that, absolutely nothing else from this season has my interest.
I enjoyed the first eps of Drifters, March comes in like a lion, and Yuri on Ice so I'll probably keep up with them. Ajin season 2 is also airing but I'll wait for the dub (which will probably come out in January). Beyond those series, there's nothing that interests me that isn't a sequel to a series I haven't watched/caught up on.
Looks like it's just JoJo and Haikyu for me. I'll probably be letting my sub expire once they're done. We obviously aren't having a season as good as Spring again any time soon.
*sighs* Spring was the best.
Quote from: LumRanmaYasha on October 08, 2016, 11:27:33 AM
It looks like I'm not missing much by not watching any anime this season. Sounds like slim pickings.
We actually skipped a fair amount of shows. No great loss.
Part twoooooo. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6147)
True story: I turned Heybot off after five minutes.
I wrote some shit about the Stephen Universes. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6194)
I don't mind most of the SOL SU episodes when they focus on Steven, Greg, or the Gems, but since the show's plot is more interesting it is kind of frustrating to have to wade through them sometimes, especially when they focus on insufferable or uninteresting Beach City characters like Lars, Onion, Mr. Smiley, the Pizza family, etc. The show also has problems with it's subtext and metaphors being confusing and having unfortunate connotations like with Smoky Quartz. I get that they were going for Amethyst and Steven finding confidence and strength working together after always seeing themselves as the weakest gems and having their own individual inferiority complexes and whatnot, but the message is definitely muddled by a lot of what fusion has commonly been used as a metaphor for and other stuff you've mentioned. SU has a lot of ideas that sound good on paper but don't quite work in execution, though it's heart is always in the right place and I think that goes a long way in selling some moments even if they don't quite make sense if you really think about them with a critical lens. Overall I still enjoy the series, but I think it would be better if they took a more serialized direction and let some plot threads and emotional arcs linger throughout most of a season rather than just small couple-episode arcs.
I haven't watched AT since last year, though I remember seeing that Bee episode you mentioned, but what's wrong with the show now? I definitely remember a stretch of uncomfortable and weird for weirds sake episodes a few years back, but I felt the show was on an upswing the last time I started catching up with it.
The last time I watched Adventure Time, it just felt like something was missing. The lore had become stagnant. The characters unwilling to change at times, and the charm wasn't there anymore. I guess it's also because I had a discussion about how the show often goes back on character changes like Bubblegum becoming a little girl and Finn losing his arm.
Funny enough, around I time I last stopped watching AT they were really diving deeper into the lore with episodes like "Evergreen" that explained the origins of the Ice King's crown, which also later ended up factoring into to the show's story arc with Betty and the Ice King, and there were some genuinely funny episodes I liked a lot like "Pajama War." But the show unwilling to change can be a problem for sure. I think SU suffers from it as well - not wanting to disrupt the status quo too much and trying to stay in it's comfort zone of SOL episodes for as long as possible before it by necessity has to do another storyline to move the plot along.
This season's Clusterfucks are out.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6204
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6226
Yes Hand Shakers really is that bad.
Yes LWA is worth pirating over.
Yes Rewrite is the worst Key ever.
Yes I never want to talk about this season ever again.
I spit out a wad of something, and it turned out to be a Rose of Versailles article. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6289)
I had some leftover phlegm in my mouth, and when I took it out, it turned out to be a review for Kubo and the Two Strings. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6293)
Did a write up on Samurai Jack. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6298)
The Spring 2017 Clusterfucks are all up.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6445
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6408
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6380
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6346
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6317
And only three weeks late too!
Says someone who made multiple spelling errors in their entries that had to be corrected before publishing.
Here you go, Summer Clusterfuck is in the hizzle.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6512
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6536
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6560
The anime harvest continues.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6600
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6637
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6663
It's time.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6683
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6734
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6751
Winter 2018 Anime Season in short... just watch Made in Abyss on Prime.
Honestly, with the exception of Kado (great until the last quarter) and Re: Creators (which I didn't even finish because I got bored of it), I didn't bother watching any new anime series last year, not counting sequel seasons to already established series like SGRS, MHA, Osomatsu-san, and Bahamut. I heard that Made in Abyss and The Ancient Magus Bride are supposed to be pretty good. Did I miss anything else besides those two?
Land of the Lustrous?
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on January 22, 2018, 01:49:08 PM
Honestly, with the exception of Kado (great until the last quarter) and Re: Creators (which I didn't even finish because I got bored of it), I didn't bother watching any new anime series last year, not counting sequel seasons to already established series like SGRS, MHA, Osomatsu-san, and Bahamut. I heard that Made in Abyss and The Ancient Magus Bride are supposed to be pretty good. Did I miss anything else besides those two?
You might like Garo. 2017 anime as a whole wasn't as good as 2016.
Little Witch Academia and Magical Circle Guru Guru were quite good as well. While I thought 2017 was a decent year for anime, a lot of the shows I watched hit more middle of the road than the heights of 2016. 2018 though is looking bright imo, just off of what's coming in the spring season alone.
2017 wasn't particularly noteworthy year round, but what was good was really good.
Quote from: Spark Of Spirit on January 22, 2018, 06:00:16 PM
Quote from: Dr. Ensatsu-ken on January 22, 2018, 01:49:08 PM
Honestly, with the exception of Kado (great until the last quarter) and Re: Creators (which I didn't even finish because I got bored of it), I didn't bother watching any new anime series last year, not counting sequel seasons to already established series like SGRS, MHA, Osomatsu-san, and Bahamut. I heard that Made in Abyss and The Ancient Magus Bride are supposed to be pretty good. Did I miss anything else besides those two?
You might like Garo. 2017 anime as a whole wasn't as good as 2016.
2016 was impossibly great though.
Here's my rant about very special episodes and why they don't work. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6769)
Great article Doc! OK KO is probably my favorite ongoing cartoon, but I agree that when it doesn't succeed at conveying important messages when it places so many layers of abstraction on top of the topic. The episode where Dendy is revealed to be a Kappa and the show tries to explore racism and discrimination is another good example, though that's slightly better handled than the gun control episode was, which is so off-base when it comes to the consequences of gun use and why there should be regulation it just doesn't work. Ironically, I think their Captain Planet crossover was one of their most successful when it came to conveying its message, since at the end of the episode they make it clear that environmental problems cannot be solved just by beating a bad guy or doing something once, and that it takes a consistent lifelong effort on the part of everybody to reduce them. It's not perfect, but that single episode got across the goals of environmental protection better the original Captain Planet ever did.
I'm all for kids cartoons tackling complex and politically divisive topics, but it has to be handled smartly, and when it comes to a topic like gun violence, much more directly so no one can misinterpret or be confused by the point. And you're spot-on about why I appreciate South Park's skepticism, which some people confuse for being apathy but more often than not depicts the dangers of blind extremism.
I'm not sure how OK KO could do a good "guns are bad" episode without questioning its very premise. Like the main cast regularly work at a place that sells easily-acquirable weapons. For the message to have a point and not be inconsistent, the show would also need to call out Gar and several of the main characters for selling things that can kill people. And from what I've seen of the show, it doesn't seem capable of that level of self-criticism.
I remember someone throwing around the idea of how they could show Gar being ethical & selling guns only to heroes, but he already does that to begin with. Cause I have yet to see anyone that was truly malicious to buy weapons at Gar's Bodega. Then maybe someone saying that he should do background checks, which I feel like would be something tossed to the side line anyway. Yeah, the more I think about it, the something like OK KO being turned off by a weapon that turns people to living skeletons make even less sense in the context of the show and that is saying something.
All in all, I thought the editorial on episodes like this fail was pretty good. Especially the part about South Park, since I thought the one episode that highlights it well was the ones you implied with. I know they did the drugs episodes twice, first with the Future Self and the other where they had Rob Reiner as their target. They both perfectly show how bad it is when you go to the extreme. With that in mind, it does make me wonder how heavy handed the Cool Cat video will be.
Clusterfucks on the plate.
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6774
http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6802
Megalo Box is the only one of those shows that I care about. Glad it got a good review.
I shat out around two thousand and five hundred words about Digimon Adventure Tri. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6827)
Everything except Zombieland (and Vento Aureo) sucked. (http://animationrevelation.com/readables/?p=6884)
I thought Spyce was good, just not enough to write about it. Which is in contrast to another show I thought was bad but has enough to cover an entire article...maybe two.
I actually felt Vento Aureo's first episode was one of the stronger first episodes for any Part in the JoJo's anime. The scuffles with Koichi and Leaky Eye Luka did well to show off Giorno's personality and character, and they presented the mystery behind his Stand Power and revealed it in a creative and satisfying payoff. I also thought it was a great call to get to Bucchiarati's introduction and the iconic "taste of a liar" scene by the end of the first episode, since it gave fans a memorable moment and interesting cliffhanger to close off on, whereas most previous Part's first episodes ended a little more self-contained without a really exciting tease for what'll happen next. Like, for as much as I enjoyed Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, and DiU's first episodes too, they didn't really leave me itching to see Joseph vs. Straits, Jotaro vs. Kakyoin, or Josuke vs. Angelo the next week in the same way this episode got me excited to relive Giorno vs. Bucchiarati and the rest of the story beyond. My opinions might be colored a bit more positive than it normally would've because I got to see it premiere at AX, but I thought it was as enjoyable as JoJo's always been.
This season seems to have its usual pile of shit, but I've heard a lot of promising things about a lot of different shows as well. Zombieland Saga seems poised to be the clear breakout hit nobody was expecting though, so I'm interested to see if it'll be able to carry its comedic momentum all the way through its run.
So this isn't really about a review, but rather something for the board as a whole, I just couldn't think of another place to suggest this.
Anyway, I was thinking of a way to boost activity on here a little, and I remember how a few years ago, some of us did a YYH rewatch together. It didn't get a whole lot of attention- near the end, it was just EK and myself struggling to talk about the last arc. But maybe this would work better if we try it now with another series.
Any ideas which show we should try this with? I was considering an Avatar: TLA rewatch, but I also thought about how this is the anniversary of both Batman: TAS and X-Men, and they also have sequel series coming out soon. Do any of those sound appealing, or is there something else you had in mind?
A group BTAS rewatch would save me a lot of trouble. Could give us opportunities to do table talks on the show we could put up on the blog.
Actually, what if we do- hear me out- two shows per week? One episode of Batman and X-Men, in different threads. You can watch either or just go with one or the other depending on your mood. It'd be interesting to watch these two simultaneously and see how they changed their studios in the years since.
Quote from: Dr. Insomniac on July 12, 2022, 05:06:51 AM
A group BTAS rewatch would save me a lot of trouble. Could give us opportunities to do table talks on the show we could put up on the blog.
I was reading this newsletter about BvS, (https://buttondown.email/DavidMann/archive/the-stone-the-spear-and-the-superman-part-3/) and it got me thinking about my earlier post and doing roundtable discussions for BTAS.