Recommended Anime/Manga?

[xbl0x180]

By the looks of the characters, it looks as if it's set in a Japanese middle school

[Raytrace]

By the looks of the characters, it looks as if it's set in a Japanese middle school

haha yeah just wondering about the name - does it have a soundtrack full of Prophet 5 pads and flutes?

[Ghegs]

Finally got through Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Kamille got upgraded from "annoying brat" to "barely tolerable", but that's about it. I still didn't care about the new characters and it seemed like there was always somebody on board who could've used an extra helping of the Bright Slap. And it seems that almost every episode somebody, once even a prisoner, just walks into a mobile suit and takes off without any authorization or permission. It's like nobody's paying any attention on the ship(s).

The story didn't seem as cohesive either. Granted, my mind might've wandered off a few times, but I felt a couple of times events took place that there just wasn't any build-up to. Like in one the last episodes they're suddenly in the middle of a large battle, but there was no mention about a large gathering of forces before. Or in an earlier episode, where they're trying to divert an asteroid off course and it's talked about like it's been going on for a while now, but I had no recollection about such things being even hinted at. Could've been a problem with the translation, I suppose.

The story also kept switching between antagonists so there was none of the excellent Amuro vs. Char -dynamic like in the original show. Scirocco could've been interesting, but he didn't really get developed much at all. In the end I still wasn't exactly sure what he was about. Jerid and Yazan seemed mostly interchangeable, like there just had to be a trashtalking mobile suit pilot on the opposing side at all times.

But what I really found groanworthy was the ending. Spirits of the deceased suddenly storming in, helping out and Zeta going Super Saiyan? What the hell was that, I was under the impression that Gundam is the forerunner of the whole Real Robot-subgenre. Didn't fit in with the show at all in my opinion. Sure there had been earlier times when Kamille "felt a disturbance in the Force" but I just chalked that up to Newtype-instincts. Spirits talking to each other and powering up the Gundam was just too much for my usually very capable suspension of disbelief.

In the end, I only really liked the parts with Amuro in them, which were very few. Do I really have to watch Gundam ZZ now, or will I be missing out on some big plot points if I just jump ahead to Char's Counterattack?

[Icarus]

Is it set in Ireland?

It's an anime about the early life of The Corrs.

[xbl0x180]

I was hoping to see an animu about a quirky Riverdance club set in Japan

[Gus]

Jokes about the name aside, that's an amazing show.

[xbl0x180]

Okay, so I finally sat down to finish up the rest of Clannad and here are my brief/general impressions upon first view:

1. The animation is good, very fluid. Yes, there is a lot of CG added, but not distractingly so, the way it was with Gankutsuou. The music was alright, and there was a common background song that would play whenever something dramatic or tragic happened, which added to the mood of the scene. If I was to give a rating solely based on quality of animation and background music, then this one would be a 7 or 8, easy.

2. The character designs are okay up to a certain point. Tomoya, Tomoyo, Kotomi, and Kyou were well-designed. I can picture these characters as high schoolers in a story about their last year of school. However, once we get to Sunohara, Ryou, Nagisa, and Fuko, then it becomes a mish-mash of middle schoolers that go from annoying, exasperating to irritating and nonsensical. I guess kids at that age can look and behave much younger than they look, but this was bad. This also applies to Nagisa's parents who are also drawn to look too young (and it's commented on by the characters a few times) and acting way over-the-top. So it's a mixed bag of good designs and designs I did not like (they weren't necessarily bad, but they did not fit the story).

3. The story had so much potential and it missed the mark at every step. The thing is, if this was planned to be only 24 episodes, then the writers should've concentrated on only two or three characters to get their audiences invested in Tomoya's world. They could've done 24 episodes of just Tomoya's relationship with his father - there was so much there that wasn't explained or even cleared up. They could've done a whole series on just Nagisa and her parents (although I probably would've tuned out after a few episodes). Um, they could've gone to do any story and really develop the characters. What they did, though, was COMBINE all their stories and tried to fit as much into 24 20-minute episodes, which resulted in poor character development, poorly-executed dramatic moments, bad edits, and sometimes just leaving things unresolved (and, hence, having no reason for including characters in the first place). In short, way too many characters and back stories to fit into a small series.

4. I was unsympathetic to Nagisa. She just seemed too wishy-washy, too weak, too immature, too boring. Coincidentally, the seiyuu who did Nagisa in this series also did Nagisa in Strawberry Panic - and that character had the same character qualities! Hahah. Ironically, the best episode in the show is for the most part unrelated. They really should've gone with the Tomoya and Tomoyo story arc, and made 24 episodes of that; it had a lot of promise to be on the level of Kimagure Orange Road (once you take out the slapstick element between Tomoyo and Sunohara)

[ryu]

good, now go watch clannad after story.

first time i watched both years back i thought they were brilliant and enjoyed them greatly. rewatched them with a friend this year and we had a great time taking them apart, talking what's so wrong about them etc. that was a good time too.

[Gus]

4. I was unsympathetic to Nagisa. She just seemed too wishy-washy, too weak, too immature, too boring. Coincidentally, the seiyuu who did Nagisa in this series also did Nagisa in Strawberry Panic - and that character had the same character qualities! Hahah. Ironically, the best episode in the show is for the most part unrelated. They really should've gone with the Tomoya and Tomoyo story arc, and made 24 episodes of that; it had a lot of promise to be on the level of Kimagure Orange Road (once you take out the slapstick element between Tomoyo and Sunohara)

I actually agree with this entirely, though Nagisa isn't quite as bad in After Story.

[xbl0x180]

I don't have Clannad: After Story, so I'm probably going to see a few more episodes of Nana before I decide on my next acquisition (since my copy of 801 T.T.S. Airbats was lost in the mail). Last night, I saw the second box set of Kimikiss: Pure Rouge - Collection 2 for 20 bucks total



I didn't think I'd say this, but Peach Girl and Strawberry Panic are some of the better current anime series I've seen so far.

[ryu]

.. you BOUGHT clannad? are you insane???

[xbl0x180]

Yeah!

I buy these videos. There must be over one hundred anime videos in my collection (62 of them are just Urusei Yatsura). It's totally crazy

[drauch]

Yeah, that's what my collection is going to be like eventually. I wish they would just re-release all of it into a damn box set! Or at least condense it or something...

[Raytrace]

Im up to episode 15 of Mobile Suit Gundam

I Like.

[xbl0x180]

Yeah, that's what my collection is going to be like eventually. I wish they would just re-release all of it into a damn box set! Or at least condense it or something...

Let me be a warning to anyone else thinking about doing this: DON'T. Owning so much s*** is more of a hassle than good. Seriously, I recently started cataloguing my videos using DVD Aficionado and I have a crazy amount. So far, I have 666 titles listed with almost 1,000 discs: about 250 of those are anime and another 250 are Criterion Collection videos. This isn't counting my VHS collection.

You are better off setting aside the money you'd spend on videos and buy some relatively safe/"conservative" stocks that pay dividends. You can collect dollar bills rather than DVD junk, which will become obsolete and completely worthless in a coupla years. That being said, I recommend Marmalade Boy: 76 episodes went a long way in making the series memorable with the first 40 being gold. It's selling reeeeeal cheep on Amazon right now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6oYHRfMJTo

[drauch]

Yeah, I used to use DVDAF as well. Last I remember I've got like 1600 DVDS and a billion titles. I got rid of most of my VHS a few years ago, but I still have a bunch shoved in random crevices at my parents place. I remember there was one point in high school where I had VHS in like every room of the house. I miss frivolous collecting.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, those were the good ol' days of collecting anime on VHS format. But upon seeing some the retail prices for a single VHS copy of Japanese dubbed Bubble Gum Crisis priced at $39.99 USD per episode was insane, especially at the local Suncoast Pictures retail store back in the early 1990s. Sure added up really quick if you wanted to get the entire collection. Naturally, I'd wait until such a bundled set was released & of course, at a lower price. Just like with anything, the retail price will drop down with anime regardless of the format it's on (VHS, LD, DVD or Blu-Ray).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Raytrace]

Does anyone have a Video CD collection of anime?

those would have cool covers I'd say (if they exist)

[xbl0x180]

I have one Cream Lemon VCD that I bought from Anime Nation many years ago. I think it was a legit release from Japan. VCD was around for a while, but it seemed to be mainly the format of bootleggers.

Listen up, kids, do not buy anime. Save yourself the cash. I'm a lost cause... next pay check, I'm gettin' MOAR

[Raytrace]

I had Star Trek VI on CD-i haha - it may have been low res, but I'll never forget how AMAZE it was to actually be able to pause properly...

[drauch]

Buying stuff rules! CONSUME! (your paycheck)

[xbl0x180]

I had Star Trek VI on CD-i haha - it may have been low res, but I'll never forget how AMAZE it was to actually be able to pause properly...

I felt the same way when I saw The Bikini Car Wash Company on DVD. I CAN ACTUALLY PAUSE PROPERLY

[xbl0x180]

Just received both seasons of Kokaku Kidotai/"Ghost In The Shell" and the second set of KimiKiss. However, there was a recent Barnes & Noble Criterion Collection blow out last week, I spent nearly 600 bucks on that, so it'll have to wait a while before I get to see it. I think I must have over 300 Criterion videos after this last one

[Raytrace]

I had Star Trek VI on CD-i haha - it may have been low res, but I'll never forget how AMAZE it was to actually be able to pause properly...

I felt the same way when I saw The Bikini Car Wash Company on DVD. I CAN ACTUALLY PAUSE PROPERLY

haha yeh and I have to confess, I did own a Dutch Sex 'Education' CD-i which definitely benefited from all this perfect pausing haha

[Raytrace]

Just received both seasons of Kokaku Kidotai/"Ghost In The Shell"

cool stuff - though I was too thick to properly follow all of the plot elements, musically and artistically/cinematographically I really did enjoy Ghost In The Shell the movie.
I'm at episode 38 of Space Runaway Ideon at the moment, and I'm loving it, though it does show a real lack of faith in human nature hehe, though maybe it's just honest

I think I'll be watchin Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam next, or maybe the Gunbuster 2 episodes first...

[xbl0x180]

Oh, dude, do not watch GunBuster 2. That show is doo-doo related. Stick with Zeta Gundam

[drauch]

Ewwwww Gunbuster 2. How is Victory Gundam? Has any of ya'll seen it?

[Raytrace]

Oh, dude, do not watch GunBuster 2. That show is doo-doo related. Stick with Zeta Gundam

ok maybe I won't - I kinda liked Gunbuster 1 the movie, thought I don't actually like the design of the mecha, I like the sadness of the 'not aging in space' stuff.

Yeh Zeta Gundam does look ace from the first episode which I have watched, though it is pretty weird for me the ultra 80s soundtrack compared to the warm analogue 70s ish sounds of Mobile Suit Gundam

[Raytrace]

Ewwwww Gunbuster 2. How is Victory Gundam? Has any of ya'll seen it?

ok Gunbuster 2 seems to deffo be unpopular :p - nope I havent seen Victory - all I've seen are the 43 episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam which I LOVED...

[xbl0x180]

I pretty much stopped at the Gundam F-91 movie, so no V, G, W, and any other Gundam after that. I think 08 MS Team maaaay be okay, but I do not like the character designs for that one.

GunBuster should be seen in its OAV glory, not in an edited "movie" version. I agree, too, that it was really sad at the end. The other "ending overseeing Earth" that I liked was from Honneamise. Only Tarkovsky's Solaris has made me feel sad on that level. If I was an actor and had to think of a "sad moment" to psych myself, it would be those movies