Recommended Anime/Manga?

[KAI]

I watched Satoshi Dezaki's They Were 11.
I miss the 80's and old sci-fi animes.

[xbl0x180]

Just finished off the second season of Rosario + Vampire and it is I have been stating all along: One of the stupidest cartoons I have ever seen. I think that about sums it up. Holy s***, I am left aghast at what passes for "anime" these days - this is animu at its best hahah!

Anything from here on should be a step up. So, with that said, I opened up another one that's been sitting on the shelf:



"Rumbling Hearts." I've been avoiding this show because of the title. I watched the first three episodes and it's not that bad. Sure, there is CG, a bit of moe, the show is based on a VN, and the drama seems rushed (which makes it melodramatic). Still, it's not bad at all. Immediately after episode three, I clicked on its wikipedia article and saw that the literal translation of the title is "The Eternity You Desire." Now a title like that, as inflated and pretentious as it may sound, probably fits the series better than "Rumbling Hearts." I might have confused it with the other series called "School Rumble." So far, I think it's one of those run-of-the-mill love triangle-themed shows, so I don't see how the writers and animators could fumble up such a simple premise. These things usually pan out at the end

[Siren2011]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG2yepeULbw

^Anyone who isn't utterly infatuated with that trailer should probably consider getting a new pastime, or something. That is pure anime goodness, right there.

[drauch]

Ehhh, I dunno. Looks kinda...gross. Those CG cars and the character faces look pretty bad.

[xbl0x180]

Ehhh, I dunno. Looks kinda...gross. Those CG cars and the character faces look pretty bad.

CG is to animation what autotune is to music

Anyway, I don't like stories where kids are made into assassins, soldiers, pilots - roles that are for adults. It smacks of annoying stuff such as Kick-Ass and Spy Kidz.

[Raytrace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG2yepeULbw

^Anyone who isn't utterly infatuated with that trailer should probably consider getting a new pastime, or something. That is pure anime goodness, right there.

I quite liked the look of it apart from the polygonal cars tbh, I liked the heavy ink look...

[Siren2011]

CG is to animation what autotune is to music

Uhh, I would respect this opinion, but after a couple pages back you claimed GITS to be one of the best anime films ever. Doesn't that have a shitload of computer generated content? My hipster detector just went out of control, man.

Also, I've been thinking...a lot of the themes people hate on that "break" new anime for some people here are probably tolerated by the same people if they were in an old, hand drawn anime from the late eighties, early nineties.

drauch, I think you're cool and funny, but I couldn't help but wonder the above when you condemned "cutesy" stuff in one breath (as seen in the Diebuster thread), then went googly-eyed for the original Cutey Honey...which is virtually the same goddamn stuff, but polished in the charm of the golden days of Japanese animation. It's nostalgic properties override your capacity to care if its "lighthearted" and "girly"; themes which you'd claim to hate if you recognized that an anime with these themes was made in 2007 with a single computer rendered dildo five minutes in. That's not to say that some studios can't execute them in a tolerable way, but it's kinda hypocritical to cast them all off as bullshit. KnowwhatImean?

It's not the themes themselves you guys hate (for most of them, anyway), but the way they are presented. I'm the same way, but at least I admit this instead of pretending shows that I haven't even watched beyond a trailer are beneath me.

[Raytrace]

CG is to animation what autotune is to music

Uhh, I would respect this opinion, but after a couple pages back you claimed GITS to be one of the best anime films ever. Doesn't that have a shitload of computer generated content?

I don't think the original GITS has much polygonal stuff at all, only 2.0. I might be wrong though

[Raytrace]

Also, I've been thinking...a lot of the themes people hate on that "break" new anime for some people here are probably tolerated by the same people if they were in an old, hand drawn anime from the late eighties, early nineties.

yeah I can see your point but from my (extremely limited) viewpoint, it seems to me that although these cutesy/lulzy bits existed in the 'classic' older animes, they didn't ever seem to be as vacuous or just 'tacked on' - for me there's a world of difference between the occasional cutesy/funny bit in SDF Macross or MSG compared to the utter cutesy pukefest that is Lagrange which I think is supposed to be a mecha themed show - (and I actually do like the mecha in it, in the rare occasion they're even a part of an episode)...

[null1024]

Ehhh, I dunno. Looks kinda...gross. Those CG cars and the character faces look pretty bad.

The faces, not so much. The cars, looked a bit like something out of Initial D, really blatant CG.
Otherwise, things looked pretty cool.

[Raytrace]

Ehhh, I dunno. Looks kinda...gross. Those CG cars and the character faces look pretty bad.

The faces, not so much. The cars, looked a bit like something out of Initial D, really blatant CG.
Otherwise, things looked pretty cool.

yeah the cars had a kinda 'diffuse'y shader which really stuck out against the other stuff - I think if you're going to put polygons in anime, you should at least use some kindof toon/cel shader

[Raytrace]

I'm on episode 8 of Space Pirate Captain Harlock, there is definitely a certain style to this that I just love, all the dreamy sequences, the harp, the ocarina - love it, and the opening theme is pure epics, possibly even more epic than Ideon's masterpiece...

[Siren2011]

Harlock is indeed amazing. My friend went as him for Houston Matsuri, looked just like the dude.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater

[drauch]

CG is to animation what autotune is to music

Uhh, I would respect this opinion, but after a couple pages back you claimed GITS to be one of the best anime films ever. Doesn't that have a shitload of computer generated content? My hipster detector just went out of control, man.

Also, I've been thinking...a lot of the themes people hate on that "break" new anime for some people here are probably tolerated by the same people if they were in an old, hand drawn anime from the late eighties, early nineties.

drauch, I think you're cool and funny, but I couldn't help but wonder the above when you condemned "cutesy" stuff in one breath (as seen in the Diebuster thread), then went googly-eyed for the original Cutey Honey...which is virtually the same goddamn stuff, but polished in the charm of the golden days of Japanese animation. It's nostalgic properties override your capacity to care if its "lighthearted" and "girly"; themes which you'd claim to hate if you recognized that an anime with these themes was made in 2007 with a single computer rendered dildo five minutes in. That's not to say that some studios can't execute them in a tolerable way, but it's kinda hypocritical to cast them all off as bullshit. KnowwhatImean?

It's not the themes themselves you guys hate (for most of them, anyway), but the way they are presented. I'm the same way, but at least I admit this instead of pretending shows that I haven't even watched beyond a trailer are beneath me.

Aye, I could see how that could be taken that way, but that wasn't my intention. I love cutesy stuff, as I love Creamy Mami, Sailor Moon, Chi's Sweet Home and various shojo stuff, but what I meant was I hate to see it in "serious" anime that is designated for a mature audience, much like Michiko to Hatchin is. It just doesn't fit. I can get over new animation as long as it's executed well. I'm actually quite excited for the Dororon Enma-kun U.S. release, as I'm a huge fan of the manga.

[Op Intensify]

Mamoru Oshii's Innocence and The Sky Crawlers both make stellar use of 3DCG. And to a lesser extent, the two Last Exile series.

[xbl0x180]

Uhh, I would respect this opinion, but after a couple pages back you claimed GITS to be one of the best anime films ever. Doesn't that have a shitload of computer generated content? My hipster detector just went out of control, man.

Also, I've been thinking...a lot of the themes people hate on that "break" new anime for some people here are probably tolerated by the same people if they were in an old, hand drawn anime from the late eighties, early nineties.

drauch, I think you're cool and funny, but I couldn't help but wonder the above when you condemned "cutesy" stuff in one breath (as seen in the Diebuster thread), then went googly-eyed for the original Cutey Honey...which is virtually the same goddamn stuff, but polished in the charm of the golden days of Japanese animation. It's nostalgic properties override your capacity to care if its "lighthearted" and "girly"; themes which you'd claim to hate if you recognized that an anime with these themes was made in 2007 with a single computer rendered dildo five minutes in. That's not to say that some studios can't execute them in a tolerable way, but it's kinda hypocritical to cast them all off as bullshit. KnowwhatImean?

It's not the themes themselves you guys hate (for most of them, anyway), but the way they are presented. I'm the same way, but at least I admit this instead of pretending shows that I haven't even watched beyond a trailer are beneath me.

I like "Ghost In The Shell" series in spite of the heavy reliance on CG, which makes it look stilted and clunky. However, I like Shirow's designs, the voice acting (including the English voice cast), some of the music, and the Blade Runner-inspired story. I don't like autotune, but I still listen to French Popsters, such as Daft Punk and Air. I intensely dislike sampling, but in the hands of the fellows from Cabaret Voltaire it sounds really good. I hate stencils on public spaces, but I still dig graf tagging. This shouldn't be a surprise to everyone here - that some artists can make great use of these tools. In the hands of artists who aren't as good, these things serve as a way to prop up their average work.

When it comes to plot devices, I don't like stories where kids are pilots, soldiers, and assassins. It doesn't matter when they were made. I think the exceptions to these might be shows such as Giant Robo and Iron Man 28, where the kids are more akin to Johnny Quests and their fathers are the ones who own the corporation, the robots, and all the weaponry and technology. The other would be in "virtual world" or "alien" settings such as Laserion and Gold Lightan. In Laserion, the kid pilots stuff as in a video game whereas in Gold Lightan, the robots do all the fighting a la Transformers (i.e., they don't require piloting at all). I would never go googly-eyed on Femme Nikita-type stories involving 15-year old kids, no matter when it was made; I'd still dislike it because it wouldn't make sense to me from the point of view of the show.

Cutey Honey rocked my face off. Holy s***, man, Nagai Go cannot do wrong in my eyes. I love his style and it translated well into most animated versions of his comics. His works are probably some of the most well-known and easily recognisable throughout the world just on Mazinger alone; only Tezuka, Miyazaki, and maybe Matsumoto could top this. Nagai had two or three solid hits that propelled him into fame: Mazinger, Cutey Honey, and Devilman. Sure, he's been riffing of those three for the past four decades, but I don't mind since it's more of the same stuff I like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Nagai

[drauch]

Go Nagai is god.

[Siren2011]

He did Violence Jack??? That's awesome. I never would have guessed, not in a million years!

[xbl0x180]

You just can't go wrong with sex, violence, and Rock 'N Roll. This stuff is what gave anime an edge and made it better than anything else back then. Terasawa Buichi, Buronson, and Ikegami Ryoichi expounded upon these

[drauch]

Yeah, we pretty much have Go Nagai for perversion in manga. Speaking of Violence Jack, I wish they'd hurry up and translate the rest of the manga!

[xbl0x180]

Just finished off the second season of Rosario + Vampire and it is I have been stating all along: One of the stupidest cartoons I have ever seen. I think that about sums it up. Holy s***, I am left aghast at what passes for "anime" these days - this is animu at its best hahah!

Anything from here on should be a step up. So, with that said, I opened up another one that's been sitting on the shelf:



"Rumbling Hearts." I've been avoiding this show because of the title. I watched the first three episodes and it's not that bad. Sure, there is CG, a bit of moe, the show is based on a VN, and the drama seems rushed (which makes it melodramatic). Still, it's not bad at all. Immediately after episode three, I clicked on its wikipedia article and saw that the literal translation of the title is "The Eternity You Desire." Now a title like that, as inflated and pretentious as it may sound, probably fits the series better than "Rumbling Hearts." I might have confused it with the other series called "School Rumble." So far, I think it's one of those run-of-the-mill love triangle-themed shows, so I don't see how the writers and animators could fumble up such a simple premise. These things usually pan out at the end

Okay, I'm five episodes into this melodrama and I couldn't help thinking The Smiths' "Girlfriend In A Coma" would be very fitting for this show. I'm surprised there isn't an AMV combining both

[Raytrace]

When it comes to plot devices, I don't like stories where kids are pilots, soldiers, and assassins. It doesn't matter when they were made. I think the exceptions to these might be shows such as Giant Robo and Iron Man 28, where the kids are more akin to Johnny Quests and their fathers are the ones who own the corporation, the robots, and all the weaponry and technology.

YOU NO LIKE AMURO RAY? :'(

[Siren2011]

Skykid would appreciate this:

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&secti ... er#/do7wdr

[Siren2011]

I am currently watching Berserk (series, not movie) in Blu Ray quality.

All I can say is, holy shit. This was how the series should have been seen from the start.

Also, I finally got started on Evangelion 2.22 revision. Aside from the breathtaking animation (though inferior to the original, as far as I'm concerned)
, it seems devastatingly meh so far. Hopefully that changes.

[xbl0x180]

When it comes to plot devices, I don't like stories where kids are pilots, soldiers, and assassins. It doesn't matter when they were made. I think the exceptions to these might be shows such as Giant Robo and Iron Man 28, where the kids are more akin to Johnny Quests and their fathers are the ones who own the corporation, the robots, and all the weaponry and technology.

YOU NO LIKE AMURO RAY? :'(

I prefer to watch Votoms any day over Mobile Suit Gundam. Amuro Ray being a kid definitely took away from the story; I barely got through watching it and I doubt I will watch it again (whereas I have seen 0083 a few times). The one instance where this did not matter was GunBuster, but, then, that show took all those token plot devices and combined them

[Raytrace]

I prefer to watch Votoms any day over Mobile Suit Gundam. Amuro Ray being a kid definitely took away from the story; I barely got through watching it and I doubt I will watch it again (whereas I have seen 0083 a few times). The one instance where this did not matter was GunBuster, but, then, that show took all those token plot devices and combined them

hmm I have to say I did like VOTOMS a lot but the last quarter kinda felt a bit flat for me or something, whereas I loved MSG from start to finish, then again I suppose if you hate the idea of the kid pilot it could be annoying. Have you seen 08th MS and 0080: War In The Pocket? they don't have kid pilots and I actually prefer them to 0083 or even everyone's favourite Char's Counterattack...

watched 4 more Orgusss last night - getting really good now - I just kinda wish the parallel universe was a bit more freaky/70s trippy, at the start I thought it was going to be completely different, with those things coming out of the girls necks and tha mad looking creature |Jayviet, but it didn't really go as 'farout' as I hoped it would...

[KAI]

The main reason why i don't like V Gundam, Kids.

[Raytrace]

The main reason why i don't like V Gundam, Kids.

yeah he is the youngest too, at the same time, he is far more 'mature' and less whingey than pretty much any of the others - and V Gundam is so depress, I love it :p

[drauch]

Yeah, V Gundam was kinda annoying. I think my major grievance is the ridiculous plot that kept losing me over and over. I didn't mind Uso so much, though; and yeah, it's depressing as hell.

[xbl0x180]

I prefer to watch Votoms any day over Mobile Suit Gundam. Amuro Ray being a kid definitely took away from the story; I barely got through watching it and I doubt I will watch it again (whereas I have seen 0083 a few times). The one instance where this did not matter was GunBuster, but, then, that show took all those token plot devices and combined them

hmm I have to say I did like VOTOMS a lot but the last quarter kinda felt a bit flat for me or something, whereas I loved MSG from start to finish, then again I suppose if you hate the idea of the kid pilot it could be annoying. Have you seen 08th MS and 0080: War In The Pocket? they don't have kid pilots and I actually prefer them to 0083 or even everyone's favourite Char's Counterattack...

I didn't like 08th MS Team because the designs look too plain and ugly, like other modern crap. 0080 seemed concentrated on drama rather than action, although the designs by Mikimoto Haruhiko are most excellent. 0083 had a good mix of compelling, action-oriented story along with good mecha and chara designs - and NO KID PILOTS, which was awersome!