Recommended Anime/Manga?

[Ruldra]

Finished Shigurui. Pretty good overall, though I'd say after the halfway point the story turns into a filler-fest and nothing really happens until the tournament. A bunch of the later volumes could've been removed with no real impact to the story. And (spoilers) the ending fight was very underwhelming after such a build-up to it. I suppose that's how quick a real swordfight would be like, but I was expecting more after the vengeance duel.

Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read. Considering checking out Basilisk next.

[cj iwakura]

Anime lost a master today.

RIP, Ryutaro Nakamura. (Serial Experiments Lain)

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... asses-away

so much for despera, i guess...

Some people think this might actually mean it gets finished, as a tribute. I hope so.

[KAI]

I'm watching Ore no Imoto 2. Midnight public suicide banzai!

Just one more week till Oyasumi Punpun 12!

[Domino]

Just finish rewatching AD Police Files. Always good stuff.

Semi on topic: Who-here go to Cons? I'm not a Con goer for these two reasons:

1. My taste of anime is too old for plenty of Cons considering what is their current programming.
2. It's more like a party than anything. What the hell does a rave party/dance balls has to do anything with anime?

[drauch]

1. My taste of anime is too old for plenty of Cons considering what is their current programming.
2. It's more like a party than anything. What the hell does a rave party/dance balls has to do anything with anime?

Pretty much my reasons as well. I went to a few, with my last one about a year ago or so, which left such a sour taste in my mouth that I'll probably never go to another one. My Little Pony booths, Steampunk, Gothic-Lolita Tea Parties, Arts and Crafts, DDR, Karaoke, Sword fighting demonstrations by some goofy white guy who is at every American con, and a load of other shit that wasn't related to anime. I think there was maybe one thirty minute panel on Gundam, and a few One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc. cosplay shoots. Other than that, nothing. And of course the obligatory rave.

No cool cosplay. I was Kenshiro from FotNS. Someone asked me if I was Chuck Norris. Had approximately two people know what I was from. I figured people would even recognize my giant Nausicaa tattoo, being that it's Ghibli, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Would have loved to talk to some people about classic anime and manga, but I think those times are long dead and in the past.

[Domino]

Pretty much my reasons as well. I went to a few, with my last one about a year ago or so, which left such a sour taste in my mouth that I'll probably never go to another one. My Little Pony booths, Steampunk, Gothic-Lolita Tea Parties, Arts and Crafts, DDR, Karaoke, Sword fighting demonstrations by some goofy white guy who is at every American con, and a load of other shit that wasn't related to anime. I think there was maybe one thirty minute panel on Gundam, and a few One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc. cosplay shoots. Other than that, nothing. And of course the obligatory rave.

No cool cosplay. I was Kenshiro from FotNS. Someone asked me if I was Chuck Norris. Had approximately two people know what I was from. I figured people would even recognize my giant Nausicaa tattoo, being that it's Ghibli, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Would have loved to talk to some people about classic anime and manga, but I think those times are long dead and in the past.

Personally Cosplaying scares me a bit. I went to an anime con years back there were a panel about Shmups and the person who was hosting the panel emailed me saying if I want to demo out DoDonPachi to everyone. I agreed to it and I was playing just the First Stage of DoDonPachi. I wasn't playing for score but I did explain the basics including the scoring, hitboxes, tropes, skills, etc. The audience were like "that shit is impossible" and another said "Touhou!" If I could go back I wish I was showing off Aero Fighters or an early 90s shmup.

Oh, got a little off topic a bit. This con just happened back in May and I didn't go. They just removed the schedule but they had most of the things you talked about it. My two infamous former fat/lazy roommates were there showing "anime theme" game shows just because their tickets and most likely their hotel room was free. The more I looked at it the more I was like "I'm not paying $50 for a weekend of this shit." There was like maybe two-three panels that I wanted to go see (The Gundam panels and how Japan is using Modern Anime to Rewrite Japanese History, all hosted by a 30 year old Catholic Virgin Pedophile friend of mine).

Also to be honest why cons still brother with the viewing rooms. Nowadays isn't most people aren't using the viewing rooms?


Edit: There's also This shit that is coming up in November. It saids its an "anime flea market" but if you read it states will also have Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel/DC, etc.

[null1024]

I went to an anime con years back there were a panel about Shmups and the person who was hosting the panel emailed me saying if I want to demo out DoDonPachi to everyone. I agreed to it and I was playing just the First Stage of DoDonPachi. I wasn't playing for score but I did explain the basics including the scoring, hitboxes, tropes, skills, etc. The audience were like "that shit is impossible" and another said "Touhou!"

See, this is great justification for immolating people. Going "that shit is impossible" to the first effing stage of DDP. What.

[drauch]

Goddammit. Yeah, I left the aforementioned con two days earlier because I was so disgusted. Wasted a ton of a money, but I'd be damned if I wasted two more days of my life, and the rootbeer schnapps I had concealed in my cutoff jacket with football armor attached wasn't helping.

It's like the modern anime con is so uninformed with the history of anime and the current contemporary shows besides a select few, or they just don't care. That, or the sub-culture of the "nerd" is just meshing together into one big amalgamation of current trends with no emphasis on any particular sub-genre, game, or type of artistic media. Each anime con I look at, doesn't matter where it's at in the U.S., they all seem to follow the same template: "What's popular? Oh, Dr. Who, J.J.'s Star Trek films, Marvel films, The Hobbit, MLP, Harry Potter, etc." Not trying to bash any of those, but shit... it's an anime convention! I dunno, you would think the problem would be obvious when the majority of events are thematically different than what is being celebrated.

[Raytrace]

1. My taste of anime is too old for plenty of Cons considering what is their current programming.
2. It's more like a party than anything. What the hell does a rave party/dance balls has to do anything with anime?

Pretty much my reasons as well. I went to a few, with my last one about a year ago or so, which left such a sour taste in my mouth that I'll probably never go to another one. My Little Pony booths, Steampunk, Gothic-Lolita Tea Parties, Arts and Crafts, DDR, Karaoke, Sword fighting demonstrations by some goofy white guy who is at every American con, and a load of other shit that wasn't related to anime. I think there was maybe one thirty minute panel on Gundam, and a few One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc. cosplay shoots. Other than that, nothing. And of course the obligatory rave.

No cool cosplay. I was Kenshiro from FotNS. Someone asked me if I was Chuck Norris. Had approximately two people know what I was from. I figured people would even recognize my giant Nausicaa tattoo, being that it's Ghibli, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Would have loved to talk to some people about classic anime and manga, but I think those times are long dead and in the past.

yeps I went to one, well my first ever and possibly last one here last year, there was NOTHING of interest to me there, except I obviously liked being able to buy Gunpla at the Gundam shop (you can not buy Gundam models in shops here). Full of Naruto fans, full of American Comics characters cosplay (which would be I suppose fine, except the convention name has a 'k' for kon). I saw one cosplay I liked, which was a Kamina, the rest was pretty much Naruto plus people dressing up as characters from games, and tbh games I pretty much despise (i.e Modern Call Of Honour Warfare Field).

Yes I accept that I am a grumpy old man and that 'mecha' is irrelevant to 'the kids' - but I had hoped to see some mecha series cosplay, literally that one Kamina was the only one, not one Gundam or Macross.

I certainly didn't feel like I could talk to any of the people there about anime I like at all, which was something I was looking forward to. Actually the only person I talked to, and who was into old school anime was a guy from Ulster who I saw upstairs in the Fighting game tournament room, he was carrying the Qanba stick with the handle, so I just said to myself, 'surely I can talk to this guy!'. And yep he was sound, actually i kinda regretted not asking him what his online persona was called etc. etc. at the time, I think he built Gunpla too. Unfortunately I had to leave in a bit of a rush at this stage so I couldn't talk for long.

I don't know and I suppose this isn't necessarily a bad thing (and I think Neil Gaiman has stuck up for this outlook), but it seemed like a lot of people just cosplay as a 'thing' in and of itself. Whereas I would have always presumed that people would cosplay as some character they felt very attached to, I don't really think that is the case though.

Anyway I'll end my rant and sum it up like this, literally nothing apart from the Gundam shop interested me. And ok the fighting game tournament was something I liked watching a bit of too.

[Raytrace]

Edit: There's also This shit that is coming up in November. It saids its an "anime flea market" but if you read it states will also have Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel/DC, etc.

the order of the 'Buy and Sell' section says it all:

manga below wigs and cosplays

'If it's nerdy, it's here!'

Hey maybe they'll show The Big Bang Theory episodes at it too!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY \o/

[NTSC-J]

1. My taste of anime is too old for plenty of Cons considering what is their current programming.
2. It's more like a party than anything. What the hell does a rave party/dance balls has to do anything with anime?

Pretty much my reasons as well. I went to a few, with my last one about a year ago or so, which left such a sour taste in my mouth that I'll probably never go to another one. My Little Pony booths, Steampunk, Gothic-Lolita Tea Parties, Arts and Crafts, DDR, Karaoke, Sword fighting demonstrations by some goofy white guy who is at every American con, and a load of other shit that wasn't related to anime. I think there was maybe one thirty minute panel on Gundam, and a few One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc. cosplay shoots. Other than that, nothing. And of course the obligatory rave.

No cool cosplay. I was Kenshiro from FotNS. Someone asked me if I was Chuck Norris. Had approximately two people know what I was from. I figured people would even recognize my giant Nausicaa tattoo, being that it's Ghibli, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Would have loved to talk to some people about classic anime and manga, but I think those times are long dead and in the past.

I guess these conventions are the same all over. I went to the Sakuracon in Seattle and had the same experience: a lot of people dressed up as Shonen Jump manga characters dancing around. I understand how it would be appealing for teenagers who have just discovered anime and are still in the "Japan is so cool" phase, but I was baffled by the people there who were my age and long-time fans of manga/anime who were thrilled by all of it. Aside from Dragonball, all of the properties represented were recent stuff. Not even any Akira or Berserk!

[Skykid]

Finished Shigurui. Pretty good overall, though I'd say after the halfway point the story turns into a filler-fest and nothing really happens until the tournament. A bunch of the later volumes could've been removed with no real impact to the story. And (spoilers) the ending fight was very underwhelming after such a build-up to it. I suppose that's how quick a real swordfight would be like, but I was expecting more after the vengeance duel.

Hmm, I didn't really feel much filler in Shigurui, perhaps because it was all so eloquently told. It had a habit of introducing small character arcs (that usually ended in their death) right from the outset, so it didn't seem to change pace at any point. I've definitely read manga more unnecessarily extended.

SPOILER CONTINUED:
The last fight, like many, is meant to be brief and realistic. Perhaps it couldn't live up to the hype by that point short of the sky opening up and God wreaking some kind of world-annihilating vengeance, but I enjoyed it.

[BryanM]

Eh all conventions exist for huge corporations to advertise their latest products. You think the guy who's self printed a hundred copies of his own comic can afford a booth at Comic-con? Ha, good luck good sir. He's got about twelve dozen TV shows and games to fight for that space.

While it's nice to hear about Magic the Gathering, they literally could have set up a tent somewhere, had their little panel, and at the end of the day had the same result.

nerds

Gone on record as stating gamers are The Worst (below terrorists and infomercials), but have been considering to expanding this to nerds as well, maybe.

I guess this forum where these sub elitists were, was where I got the idea. These guys want to feel superior over other human beings... based on the format of foreign children's cartoons they prefer to watch? Seriously?

I was Kenshiro from FotNS. Someone asked me if I was Chuck Norris.

That's tragic and wonderful

[Domino]

What we need is a Shmup-Con with guest stars GanjinPunch and Skykid.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Set up a date and time and I'm sure they'll both be there. A dedicated shmup-con for the ages.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Raytrace]

What we need is a Shmup-Con with guest stars GanjinPunch and Skykid.

and GP can give a lecture on old LD and Amiga based fansubbing techniques :p

[Raytrace]

I finally washed My Neighbour Totoro with my 4 and 6 year old (yes it was the first time I saw it too). I did verily like the art and music. I preferred Porco Rosso though, by quite a bit tbh.

[KAI]

Watched and loved Little witch Academia, now I'm really hyped about Kill La Kill.

[DaneSaga]

I recently watched Bride of Deimos (along with Amano Yoshitaka’s Fantascope Tylostoma in the same night). (Deimos) Is a lovely little OVA with great art and an exquisite baleful atmosphere. I did feel I was missing out a little not being familiar with the manga especially with the sudden appearances of Deimos and the ever so brief introduction in the beginning of what looks to be the main plot of the story, though this never impeded my enjoyment during my viewing.
I thought Shiozawa Kaneto and his demure tone of voice was a great choice for Kaname’s character given his context in the tale, and a somewhat welcome surprise as I'd just come from watching LOTGH in its entirety where he voices the man everyone loves to hate in Paul von Oberstein.

As of right now I‘m alternating between Kenpu Denki Berserk and series 1 of Uchuu Senkan Yamato each night. Have seen both before but this is my first time experiencing them in their Bluray form.

[KAI]

FUUUUUUUCK X2!!!
Samurai action fans, Shimamoto fans, don't miss this!!

[Domino]

Oh yeah guys, I'm curious about something:

What is your criteria on buying any Anime DVD?

I only have like one shelf of Anime DVDs but that's after cutting off like 80% of the DVD collection, and sold all my laserdisc years ago. I know plenty of good titles but one way or another I just don't feel like buying them. I guess I'm super picky nowadays.

Like for me I enjoy Samurai Pizza Cats but scared of buying the DVDs because my taste of humor/anime changes over the years. Humor stuff isn't what is cracked up to be for me.

[Raytrace]

started watching Ergo Proxy - I quite like it after 1 episode anyway.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Oh yeah guys, I'm curious about something:

What is your criteria on buying any Anime DVD?

I only have like one shelf of Anime DVDs but that's after cutting off like 80% of the DVD collection, and sold all my laserdisc years ago. I know plenty of good titles but one way or another I just don't feel like buying them. I guess I'm super picky nowadays.

Like for me I enjoy Samurai Pizza Cats but scared of buying the DVDs because my taste of humor/anime changes over the years. Humor stuff isn't what is cracked up to be for me.

I've noticed that the current anime available at the brick 'n' mortar establishments isn't like how it was with being able to check out the wide diversity like with Suncoast/FYE, etc. back in the early to mid 2000s era.

If you have a local Fry's to visit, they have a somewhat interesting selection of anime on both Blu-Ray & DVD formats. On the average, I've noticed that it's about $40-$45 per Blu-Ray anime title though.

Over at the local Best Buy, it's slim pickens in regards to anime on both DVD & Blu-Ray -- they used to have a bigger selection to choose from back in 2003-2004.

Back in the early 1990s, Suncoast was notorius for selling individual pre-recorded VHS tapes of anime priced at $39.95 & up. There wasn't much anime on LD during that time either, stateside.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[drauch]

Oh yeah guys, I'm curious about something:

What is your criteria on buying any Anime DVD?

I only have like one shelf of Anime DVDs but that's after cutting off like 80% of the DVD collection, and sold all my laserdisc years ago. I know plenty of good titles but one way or another I just don't feel like buying them. I guess I'm super picky nowadays.

Like for me I enjoy Samurai Pizza Cats but scared of buying the DVDs because my taste of humor/anime changes over the years. Humor stuff isn't what is cracked up to be for me.

A lot of anime companies nowadays have a few episodes, or at least screen for a few months certain animes on Youtube and other sharing sites. Definitely nice to check it out before you buy them. And for the ones that don't... there is always torrenting and the like. Not going to get into the controversial subject, but if it finalizes your purchase, then it was for a good cause, right?

For me, I pretty much buy most classic anime. I've watched so many films and shows each day that I have a pretty good grasp on what I feel like I'll enjoy and what I won't. On small occasions I'll find something I despise, but if you're patient you can typically get it for a decent price, and if it comes to it, sell it for a decent price as well. I'm big on owning physical copies and collecting what I love, so that's part of the fun for me.

[Edmond Dantes]

Oh yeah guys, I'm curious about something:

What is your criteria on buying any Anime DVD?

These days, due to space and fund limits I pretty much only buy shows I already know I like... or that I find cheap.

I personally would love to be able to just snap up every anime I see, but it sucks to have to live on a budget because you made an ill-considered entertainment purchase, moreso if you take it home and find out the show in question kinda sucks (which has happened to me more than once).

[DaneSaga]

Oh yeah guys, I'm curious about something:

What is your criteria on buying any Anime DVD?

I only have like one shelf of Anime DVDs but that's after cutting off like 80% of the DVD collection, and sold all my laserdisc years ago. I know plenty of good titles but one way or another I just don't feel like buying them. I guess I'm super picky nowadays.

Like for me I enjoy Samurai Pizza Cats but scared of buying the DVDs because my taste of humor/anime changes over the years. Humor stuff isn't what is cracked up to be for me.

I torrent everything I am remotely interested in these days and purchase in DVD/ BD form if I enjoyed it enough and think it warrants multiple viewings.
I no longer impulse buy physical media of moderately appealing titles any longer as I just don’t have the space nor do I particularly want to waste my money on things I might regret buying.
Though unfortunately this train of thought doesn't seem to extend to upgrading the DVD collection to Bluray, which is proving to be quite costly and space depriving on its own

[Aleksei]

If anyone wants all four Please Teacher single DVDs ( I bought them when they came out, one by one, my first anime purchase ) with original cases for 20 bucks shipping included, PM me; half will be donated to the shmups forum server cost.

[Domino]

Thanks for your responses regarding the DVD/Blu-Ray buying habits guys.

Now for $5.00 I picked up the ultimate guide of one of the most manliest 80s OVAs EVAR:



MD Geist!!! Almost 90 pages of AWESOMENESS!! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MD GEIST IS IN HERE, BUT IN JAPANESE!




Film Story, shots from the OVA.




Tons of interviews!




Music Interview




The Laserdisc price is cheaper than the VHS!! Oh my! If you can see it on the left page that's an ad for Roots Search, one of the most craptastic 80s OVAs! OH YEAH!!!!

[drauch]

Whoa, cool book. I really dig the first M.D. Geist. Cool to see a California Crisis ad along with that Roots Search one as well! Damn shame that studio didn't make anything after Crisis. I've still yet to watch Roots Search. I've had a copy forever, and yeah, I don't think I've heard a pleasant thing about it.

[DaneSaga]

The Laserdisc price is cheaper than the VHS!! Oh my! If you can see it on the left page that's an ad for Roots Search, one of the most craptastic 80s OVAs! OH YEAH!!!!

You can't get any more terribly awesome and manly anime than M.D.Geist
Nice seeing California Crisis on the right there as well. Such a neat little one-shot OVA from '86 with unique art direction and car chases aplenty.