Recommended Anime/Manga?

thepeaguy · Post by **thepeaguy** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:13 pm

Dare I say "Full Metal Alchemist" here? :p

Dandy J · Post by **Dandy J** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:24 pm

watch black lagoon fags

DJ Incompetent · Post by **DJ Incompetent** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:01 pm

So...I don't really do the whole Manga thing, but I found they put out a Kingdom Hearts book retelling the Chain of Memories GBA thing. I've done the game, so I ran through the book and... well, let's just say I've never read through anything so predictable but still felt so unique. So I was captured enough to read the whole thing. Kinda waitin' on the next books to come out. And I don't feel cheated out of pages and story 'cause there would be nothing to edit out...at least that's what I'd tell myself in this case since it's Disney..

Actually, I do believe they're puttin' out a Final Mix KH2 for Japan only and that'll have the entire GBA game redone for PS2 as well.

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:13 am

Saw "Tales from Earthsea" (Studio Ghibli) at a movie theatre last week.

http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/

Don't know how to say. But if you want me to describe it, it lost the magic of the previous film from Ghibli.

I doen't feel the film attrack my attention as the previous, "Spirited Away", "The Cat Returns" & "Howl's Moving Castle"...

This time they use the drawing style of "Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind", you could see this in the character's cloth design, scen design, etc.

I am a big fan of Nausicaä so it definatle not the reasons I dosen't like this film, but I know I dosen't like it as much as the rest.

Anybody seen it yet?

greg · Post by **greg** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:54 am

SAM wrote:Saw "Tales from Earthsea" (Studio Ghibli) at a movie theatre last week.
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/earthsea/

Anybody seen it yet?

No, not yet. It was just released in Japan this summer, and hasn't made its way to North America yet. This movie is made by Miyazaki's son, and I believe he said something about how he didn't feel that his son was ready to create a film by himself yet. I am still interested in seeing this film, naturally. Maybe it will be available on DVD by the time I go back to Japan this February.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:48 am

greg wrote:he said something about how he didn't feel that his son was ready to create a film by himself yet.

Goro Miyazaki is 39 years old. If you aren't ready at 39, chances are you'll never be.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:16 pm

Ode to Kirihito

Possibly one of the greatest comics I've ever read with all the sophistication of Moore, only well before him. Absolutely tremendous achievement that truly rocks the foundation of what good manga (and even good comics) can be.

Edit: Tales from Earthsea? Now I'm very curious about that...hopefully it will turn up here in the US soon.

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:33 pm

If you aren't ready at 39, chances are you'll never be.

er no what a depressing thought

greg · Post by **greg** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:27 pm

Ceph wrote:Goro Miyazaki is 39 years old. If you aren't ready at 39, chances are you'll never be.

Experience and Expertise should be the main factor, not age. Being a director is a huge artistic challenge. Maybe if this movie falls flat, that may be a sign. I haven't read much about audience reaction to the film yet, other than Sam's comments here.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:52 am

I just read Ohikkoshi and it was awesome it's great to see Samura doing something so diffrent from BOTI. I expecially enjoyed the first story very touching I also enjoyed the short comedic comic at the end.

I also just read Monster volume2 which is also great. Althought it doesn't feel very Japenese, which isn't a problem mind you. It has great suspense and is shaping up to be something great.

Post by **Icarus** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:06 am

Dale wrote:I just read Ohikkoshi and it was awesome it's great to see Samura doing something so diffrent from BOTI. I expecially enjoyed the first story very touching I also enjoyed the short comedic comic at the end.

Just picked up Ohikkoshi myself, and really enjoying it. Always liked Samura's art style and storytelling. Another recommendation for this manga from me.

As for stuff to watch, there really isn't much this season. I do recommend the new version of Negima though - imaginatively titled Negima!? - as its really excellent stuff. Done by the same studio that did Pani Poni Dash! I believe. Its an alternate telling of the Negima story, it has some great art direction, brilliant action sequences, and is absolutely hilarious.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:53 am

Trinity Blood for all you with nun fetishes.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:23 am

black lagoon

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:14 am

Twiddle wrote:black lagoon

Only watched the 1st season, quite good so far.

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:49 am

I just got volumes 12 and 13 of the Dark Horse translation of Berserk for Christmas and am horrified that they started translating the sound effects. They've already done a full third of the series, why start translating the sound effects now? It's so distracting and obtrusive... Anyways, this has irritated me enough to consider buying the japanese volumes. Can anyone recommend a place to buy the japanese collections?

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:11 pm

Tokyo Tribe 2

the anime adaptation

Gangsta culture invades Japan in full force. Excellent art and style.

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 2:32 pm

Anything by Katsuya Terada.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:54 am

Wow...just finished the Berserk anime... Jesus, way to end that series (I'm reading the manga too, but seriesly, the ending of the anime must have pissed a lot of people off.)

I can only assume that at the time they had every intention of continuing where they left off.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:28 am

CMoon wrote:Wow...just finished the Berserk anime...

Me too, yesterday. Initial reaction: kind of unsatisfying. Seemed to just wrap it up with a final stab at shock value. Was never inspired to care about the characters by the end. Entertaining overall, but felt just a little too shallow and pointless to me (entire series). GUTS IS TOUGH / FOLLOW YOUR OWN DREAM x 24 episodes.

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:57 am

Maybe I like it more because I'm reading the manga. Realize this whole series is really only the prologue to the story.

Honestly I've never read as much more than a modern rendition of Conan.

I guess I like Conan

Post by **Icarus** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:03 pm

This is all I'm watching this season.

Gungriffon Geona · Post by **Gungriffon Geona** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:48 pm

Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann

A new anime made by Gainax (makers of Evangelion and FLCL).

How to describe this show, well, its got Giant Robots, drills, Yoko's boobs, and it looks like FLCL mixed with a little bit of Disgaea.

Basically the story goes a little something like this. In the future Humanity lives underground. They just live there peacefully and slowly continue to dig to expand their villages. Needless to say, our protaganist, Simon, is one of those diggers. Still just a young boy he is one of the best drillers in his village of Jeeha. The people live a little in fear of random earthquakes and the ceiling collapsing on top of them but they continue to live this way nonetheless. Some people believe there is a surface above the ceiling, where they no longer have to live in fear of earthquakes and being squashed but others refuse to think that is true. One day while digging, Simon finds a very small drill that glows brightly. It is on this day that things begin to change.

These are the three main characters:

Simon in the middle, Kamina to the left, Yoko to the right

needless to say it's rather hilarious stuff, not mention really badass. Kamina is a massive joke of a character, given he has the "never give up" mentality that nearly gets him killed several times, a insanely long sword that puts sephiroth to shame, and some of the most insane glasses ever. he even puts them on the Ganmen, Gurren, itself. (as you've probably noticed, the mecha have faces on there torsos, which actually move their mouths to the speech of the pilot.) the head on top is actually a smaller Ganmen named Lagann.
The intro for those who want to check it out.

I don't know why, but watching this I get a "Super Robot" vibe that I haven't seen since the days of Mazinger and and Voltron. and that's in a good and wacky way, not in a bad and "cool because of nostalgia" way.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:10 pm

Rob wrote:
CMoon wrote:Wow...just finished the Berserk anime...
Me too, yesterday. Initial reaction: kind of unsatisfying. Seemed to just wrap it up with a final stab at shock value. Was never inspired to care about the characters by the end. Entertaining overall, but felt just a little too shallow and pointless to me (entire series). GUTS IS TOUGH / FOLLOW YOUR OWN DREAM x 24 episodes.

I've read some dumb stuff on this forum, but I think you've taken first prize with this one. I like the anime fine, but "shallow and pointless" are the last words I would use to describe the series. In terms of rich characterization Berserk is better than just about anything in the medium, so either read the manga or ask an adult to explain it all to you.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:29 pm

NTSC-J wrote: In terms of rich characterization Berserk is better than just about anything in the medium,

Speaks poorly for anime.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:37 pm

I'm talking mostly about the manga, which is the true Berserk. The anime is more like Berserk-lite. But if all you seriously think the story is about is "GUTS IS TOUGH / FOLLOW YOUR OWN DREAM", then you either weren't paying attention or you haven't gone through adulthood and can't understand the mature themes.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:48 pm

That's great if you got an important message from the show, but I couldn't get past the flimsy and cliched characters. Every character was entirely predictable in a bad way.

It was entertaining (like Terminator 2 is entertaining).

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:16 am

Part of Berserk's greatness is taking what looks like a standard action fantasy story and making the characters truly human. The characters are no more predictable than any of us and will often take actions that are surprising and impulsive.

For me, its Miura's exploration into morality and humanity that's most remarkable. He deals with themes that no one else will touch like STDs, the impact of sexual violence on women and children, sexism, and homosexuality in real terms.

The anime neuters the story hard by leaving out The Idea of Evil, the Instercise, the armor, the Beast of Darkness and all that, so if all you saw was Guts swinging a sword that's a shame. Berserk does demand a certain level of maturity and experience with relationships and sexuality to truly grasp it all. So if you didn't like it, fine. If it's not your kind of story, that's ok. But don't say there's nothing there just because you don't have the patience to try to understand it.

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:43 am

Guts might appear to be the typical badass in the anime but the manga offers a ton more insight into his flaws and weaknesses. For instance when Guts and Caska have sex in the anime its portrayed as something tender but in the manga Guts flashes back to when he was raped (I think this might've been cut from the anime as well.)

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:02 am

Yeah, I just watched the show. I don't read manga.

I did not buy the characters humanity. Griffith was the most interesting and believable. I didn't hate Guts and Casca, but both were very weak. I'm not sure where Guts places on the unstoppable killing machine with big sword toughguy, silent but really sensitive timeline of anime characters. But even if he was the first, not very interesting. Casca - tomboy around the crew but really just wants some tender lovin'. Their personalities couldn't have been revealed in less interesting ways. Casca melting in Guts' arms seemed forced and predictable, amazingly. They have a relationship like rivalling siblings AND tots who won't admit they have a crush on each other. It's kind of cute.

I could've asked for some interesting opposition to Griffith/Guts/Casca too. The commanders/whatever/bald headed guy rubbing his hands together in shady courtyard meetings were all as compelling as video game stage bosses. There's just not enough to get absorbed in. Even if Guts/Casca's or Griffith/Casca's or Guts/Griffith's relationships were interesting, half of the show is moving from battle to battle, the next step in Griffith's master plan where they encounter King Hippo in Captain N-caliber warriors.

The most memorable thing from the series for me were the sequences of violence and cruelty (#1 entire scene of breaking Griffith out from the dungeon). The invicibility of Guts' character (until the end) really hampers the believability of (or empathy for) the character. Abused, neglected children join a gang and have dysfunctional relationships with each other that resolve themselves awkwardly and etc.

SPOIELR

Ends with Griffith screwing everyone over. Actually, I haven't spent much time thinking about the ending so not quite clear on the point of the final scene.

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:28 am

Man, fuck the anime. It isn't canon, it screws stuff up, leaves holes; it isn't Berserk. If you want an engaging, powerful experience read the manga. All three major characters get fleshed out way more and become as real as fictional characters can get. Like JohnF said, the scene with Casca and Guts kissing for the first time got fucked up by the anime by leaving out the most important part.

And if you want to figure out "the point of the final scene" you have to read the books because the character that resolves it was chopped out of the anime altogether. How they would even approach a second season is beyond me.

If the anime bored you to tears so much that you won't read the manga, it's all your loss. But trust me, 20 years of manga made by one guy has a whole lot more in it than some filler 25-episode cartoon.