Recommended Anime/Manga?

[Raytrace]

can anyone recommmend any similar to Bubblegum Crisis in mood cyberpunky/sci-fi type animes?

[moozooh]

can anyone recommmend any similar to Bubblegum Crisis in mood cyberpunky/sci-fi type animes?

A shot in the dark, but Armitage III, perhaps? It's a decent four-piece OVA that I enjoyed as a kid. Nice electronic music there.

[Raytrace]

can anyone recommmend any similar to Bubblegum Crisis in mood cyberpunky/sci-fi type animes?

A shot in the dark, but Armitage III, perhaps? It's a decent four-piece OVA that I enjoyed as a kid. Nice electronic music there.

cool imma check thanks

[Obiwanshinobi]

Gonzo are responsible for the Radiant Silvergun cutscenes. This should automatically make them cool around here.
I suppose Treasure would have asked some accomplished animation studio to work on the S&P2 story if it was financially viable.

[Daigohji]

And speaking of, Discotek's release of the original 1st season of Lupin the 3rd finally came out. My pre-order got here today. Damn good stuff!

How does the video transfer look on that set? I believe they squeezed the whole series onto four discs.

[Raytrace]

Episode 2 of Bubblegum Crash a lot better than the first then again I think I just like that AI cos that's Julian Minci's voice :p

[drauch]

And speaking of, Discotek's release of the original 1st season of Lupin the 3rd finally came out. My pre-order got here today. Damn good stuff!

How does the video transfer look on that set? I believe they squeezed the whole series onto four discs.

I'm running it through my Xbox360 via HDMI and it looks pretty damn good. I don't really have anything to compare it to, and I'm especially not picky, but I'd say it's a pretty nice transfer.

[xbl0x180]

can anyone recommmend any similar to Bubblegum Crisis in mood cyberpunky/sci-fi type animes?

A shot in the dark, but Armitage III, perhaps? It's a decent four-piece OVA that I enjoyed as a kid. Nice electronic music there.

cool imma check thanks

On a smaller scale, there is also the Cyber City Oedo 808 OAV series done by Kawajiri Yoshiaki. This is definitely cyberpunk in the same vein as BubbleGum Crash




Detonator Orgun might be okay since it was by Kikuchi Michitaka (the guy who does all those Silent Moebius animation from Asamiya Kia's manga), although it's more of a Tekkaman Blade robot stuff




Maybe the OG Dominion Tank Police, but that's more slapstick.




There is Grey: Digital Target, which was released only on VHS here. This plays more on a survivalist theme; not so much on the dark cyberpunk.




There was also an OAV called Down Load done by Rin Taro (the same guy who did Kamui, some Harlock stuff, and the creepy mime segment in "Neo-Tokyo").




None of these come anywhere near the total awersomeness of BubbleGum Crisis. They're just OAV cheapies from the late 80s and early 90s


Anyway, there is also Sonic Soldier Borgman, which has a pretty rockin' music score and a similar animation style as BubbleGum Crisis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ogmmvziA0

My personal favourite is Shin Cutey Honey, which has bits of cyberpunk mainly due to the Spider cyborg and a few other characters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REKDoyn2VFQ

I also really liked Iria: Zeiram The Animation. Not cyberpunk at all - she's a bounty hunter, so it's more on the level with Outlaw Star (another series I liked). It's worth a preview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx00D8dFj0k

[Raytrace]

woah thanks XbloX180! - Imma check all those out when I get the chance

Just finished Bubblegum Crash, not bad but yeah, nowhere near the quality of Bubblegum Crisis.....

[xbl0x180]

Gonzo are responsible for the Radiant Silvergun cutscenes. This should automatically make them cool around here.
I suppose Treasure would have asked some accomplished animation studio to work on the S&P2 story if it was financially viable.

Not really. I loved Radiant Silvergun, but I don't associate Gonzo with good anime

[Daigohji]

woah thanks XbloX180! - Imma check all those out when I get the chance

Just finished Bubblegum Crash, not bad but yeah, nowhere near the quality of Bubblegum Crisis.....

There have been a few AD Police spin-offs from Bubblegum Crisis. The three episode series from the 90s took a darker, slightly more real world look at the impact of cybernetics on humanity. It lacked the flashy action of the main series, but it was pretty interesting. I haven't seen the more recent TV series or Parasite Dolls, but they're supposedly pretty weak. There was also a short-lived AD Police manga series that Dark Horse translated and released as a graphic novel in the mid 90s, but that's bound to be long out of print by now. It's worth picking up if you can find it though.

Genocyber was an interesting mix of cyberpunk and psychic action. The first OAV in particular was very experimental, including some weird effects, model shots and live action among the more traditional animation. It's also one of the most obscenely violent things I've ever seen, though it fits the extreme tone of the show.

Cyber City Oedo 808 is highly recommended. Unfortunately, my favourite version of the OAV series has never been released on DVD. In their 90s UK release, Manga Entertainment replaced the weak synth score with a much more fitting heavy metal one by Rory McFarlane, but the licensing for that music has lapsed, so we'll never hear it on DVD. The PAL VHS release really is the best way to experience this show.

[Raytrace]

There have been a few AD Police spin-offs from Bubblegum Crisis. The three episode series from the 90s took a darker, slightly more real world look at the impact of cybernetics on humanity. It lacked the flashy action of the main series, but it was pretty interesting. I haven't seen the more recent TV series or Parasite Dolls, but they're supposedly pretty weak. There was also a short-lived AD Police manga series that Dark Horse translated and released as a graphic novel in the mid 90s, but that's bound to be long out of print by now. It's worth picking up if you can find it though.

Genocyber was an interesting mix of cyberpunk and psychic action. The first OAV in particular was very experimental, including some weird effects, model shots and live action among the more traditional animation. It's also one of the most obscenely violent things I've ever seen, though it fits the extreme tone of the show.

Cyber City Oedo 808 is highly recommended. Unfortunately, my favourite version of the OAV series has never been released on DVD. In their 90s UK release, Manga Entertainment replaced the weak synth score with a much more fitting heavy metal one by Rory McFarlane, but the licensing for that music has lapsed, so we'll never hear it on DVD. The PAL VHS release really is the best way to experience this show.

yeah I actually watched AD Police Files first, I thought it was great,n but in retrospect not nearly as great as Bubblegum Crisis, certainly not on the art front anyway.

Genocyber looks interesting, but I kinda don't really like overtly 'nasty' gorey violence or stuff like that, still maybe Imma give it a try :p

I c interesting, and for future reference, is there an LD of it, and if so which soundtrack does it have?

[Daigohji]

I can't believe I forgot to mention one of the best cyberpunk anime out there: Battle Angel Alita (or just Battle Angel, as the US DVD release was titled). Only two OAVs were made, corresponding to the first two volumes of the manga, but it's high quality stuff. The original nine volume manga is one of my top five all time favourites. The more recent sequel (Last Order) starts well, but soon drifts off into a shonen tournament slump.

I c interesting, and for future reference, is there an LD of it, and if so which soundtrack does it have?

I'm not sure if there was a US LD release of Oedo; there certainly wasn't a UK one. There is a US DVD, but it has the synth score. Oedo was released in the UK during the brief period in the mid 90s when Manga Video UK was doing some of their own English dubs rather than just licensing the US versions. They were marketing anime as a genre of adult SF rather than a whole medium, and tweaked some releases to fit that profile. It started with a process nick-named 'fifteening', where additional profanity was added to the dub in order to bump up the age rating. This was done in Oedo, though it's a good fit in this instance. The UK dub is actually pretty good.

Oedo was the best example of Manga Video's experiments in replacing the score in anime. The worst attempt was the abysmal techo track they used in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe after ripping out Koh Otani's orchestral score. The weirdest was the bunch of songs by Yello that they inserted into the Space Adventure Cobra movie. I actually like the latter, as it gives the movie a quirky atmosphere. Sadly, all of these oddities are only available on long out of print PAL VHS. UK anime distributers never dabbled in LDs.

[moozooh]

I can't believe I forgot to mention one of the best cyberpunk anime out there: Battle Angel Alita (or just Battle Angel, as the US DVD release was titled). Only two OAVs were made, corresponding to the first two volumes of the manga, but it's high quality stuff.

Eh, I absolutely hated that. Like you, I rate BAA among my top favorites, but the anime adaptations made no justice to it whatsoever; no idea how have you managed to enjoy them at all. It seems to be a running trend with good manga: adaptations are incomplete, or outright bad, or both.

More into the list of notoriously retarded adaptations of great manga: Hellsing TV (the OVA is fine), Blade of the Immortal, Trigun. If you've seen them but not read the original manga, you've essentially seen nothing.

[Hagane]

Blade of the Immortal

Fuck whoever was in charge of this adaptation. I had such high hopes for it.

In a related topic, the latest chapters of Blade of the Immortal are probably the best in any action manga ever. I wonder how many more tomes will Samura do, with so many important characters dead/out of combat.

[Raytrace]

Cyber City Oedo 808 is highly recommended. Unfortunately, my favourite version of the OAV series has never been released on DVD. In their 90s UK release, Manga Entertainment replaced the weak synth score with a much more fitting heavy metal one by Rory McFarlane, but the licensing for that music has lapsed, so we'll never hear it on DVD. The PAL VHS release really is the best way to experience this show.

I have just realised the emm 'version' I have has 'Rory McFarlane Soundtrack Dub' as an option - hmm I dunno if I can handle the english voice acting though - I'll give it a try...

haha watching now this dub is pretty funny - is this one of the ones where Manga Entertainment put tonnes of extra swearing in?

'yeah yeah whip de fvckin do! - Just piss off and let me enjoy my motherfvcking hangover in peace!'

[Raytrace]

watched ep 2 of Cyber City Oedo 808 - proper loved it

[Op Intensify]

Eh, I absolutely hated that. Like you, I rate BAA among my top favorites, but the anime adaptations made no justice to it whatsoever; no idea how have you managed to enjoy them at all. It seems to be a running trend with good manga: adaptations are incomplete, or outright bad, or both.

I've read the original manga series and seen the OVAs, and I think the OVAs are completely faithful to the tone, atmosphere and characters of the comic, if not even better.

[Raytrace]

when I was watching Oedo 808, I kept thinking Sengoku looked exactly like the main guy from Redline, I wonder is that a tribute in Redline (as they're both by Madhouse)...

[Obiwanshinobi]

when I was watching Oedo 808, I kept thinking Sengoku looked exactly like the main guy from Redline, I wonder is that a tribute in Redline (as they're both by Madhouse)...

Same expressionless eyes? I don't think so. Madhouse aren't THAT suicidal. The latest Hajime no Ippo series being rather good and all.

[Raytrace]

Same expressionless eyes? I don't think so. Madhouse aren't THAT suicidal. The latest Hajime no Ippo series being rather good and all.

Well the quiff as well, then again I suppose quiff's probably aren't that uncommon...

Finished watching Gunsmith Cats - liked it all

[O. Van Bruce]

Now seriously... it amazes me how you completely miss contemporary jewels like Jinrui Wa Suitai Shimashita and still keep saying that today's anime and manga are crap.

This anime could easily be the best of the year and even some years ago and you would still be talking about anime from the 90's...

[xbl0x180]

We're talkin' about manly anime right now. I'm currently running through the nth viewing of "Irresponsible Captain Tylor." Why does this series ROCK so damn much?!

[drauch]

Soooooooooooo good. One of the only series to make this bitter piece of shit I call myself laugh out loud.

[trap15]

Seen that around on the forums too much, so now I'm downloading it. Let's see what all the fuss is about

*grabs pack of Dr. Pepper*

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Now seriously... it amazes me how you completely miss contemporary jewels like Jinrui Wa Suitai Shimashita and still keep saying that today's anime and manga are crap.

This anime could easily be the best of the year and even some years ago and you would still be talking about anime from the 90's...

I'm watching it. It's nowhere near as hilarious as Daily Lives of Highschool Boys but to be fair, I doubt much of anything will be. It's even better than Cromartie High. Still, good choice from this summer season.

[Raytrace]

watched first 10 minutes of Lupin III TV before falling asleep (I was v tired) - really liked it and art was brilliant, with it's own style lots of wide nibbed pencil strokes and stuff.

[Raytrace]

Now seriously... it amazes me how you completely miss contemporary jewels like Jinrui Wa Suitai Shimashita and still keep saying that today's anime and manga are crap.

This anime could easily be the best of the year and even some years ago and you would still be talking about anime from the 90's...

by the looks of the plot synopsis of that I don't think I'd like it no matter what era it was created in, I'm just not 'into' that sort of story usually, maybe I should give it a go though...

[O. Van Bruce]

Now seriously... it amazes me how you completely miss contemporary jewels like Jinrui Wa Suitai Shimashita and still keep saying that today's anime and manga are crap.

This anime could easily be the best of the year and even some years ago and you would still be talking about anime from the 90's...

I'm watching it. It's nowhere near as hilarious as Daily Lives of Highschool Boys but to be fair, I doubt much of anything will be. It's even better than Cromartie High. Still, good choice from this summer season.

by the looks of the plot synopsis of that I don't think I'd like it no matter what era it was created in, I'm just not 'into' that sort of story usually, maybe I should give it a go though...

The kind of humour Jinrui presents it's completely different than "Daily Live"... "Daily live" was an excellent show with a very "lulzy" humour that kept you laughing your ass off. Jinrui deals with human society and depicts it metaphorically on the world the author presents... human vices and social problems in japan and the world are depicted through the characters in an stilized way that make you smirk at the dark humour presented... it gets morbid when you discover all of the connections bettwen reality and fiction, and discovering then is part of the fun... having so many metaphores, it's advisable to coment it with other people to get new views and perspectives about what happens in the story.

It's almost the same kind of humour that Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei has.

Besides, the art and voice acting present a VERY sharp contrast with the themes and humour the show presents and that's a part of the charm the show has.

[Raytrace]

started watching Gall Force - I'm halfway through first film - enjoying it so far