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Vader
18 Aug 2006, 02:56
I watch a fair amount of anime but as of late I have found myself pining for more than I have.

I'm not really sure what's out there so I figured I'd ask my favourite bunch of disfigured crettins. That's you.

Stuff I like (in the order I think of them):

Hellsing
Cowboy Bebop
Dragonball Z
Princess Mononoke
Ninja Scroll
Vampire Hunter D/Bloodlust
Memories
Spawn (the animated series)
Guyver
Samurai Pizza Cats


I particularly enjoy the following themes:

Zombies
Vampires
Gore
Martial Arts
Comedy
Mechs (ish)


Comics/manga I enjoy reading:

Hellsing
Priest
The Walking Dead*


Things I dislike:

Ghost in the Shell
Appleseed
The Battle Royale mangas
Hentai/"Fan service"/etc
Spawn (the comics - overuse of narration)


So, with that in mind (as well as the following footnote), make haste in throwing your suggestions at my face.

*This is an absolute must read for everyone. It's not your average zombie comic; it goes far beyond the boundaries of convention - it has character portrayal and development so exquisite that you genuinely fear for them when they are in danger and rejoice for them when they find safety. It's very, very character driven and the zombies act as little more than the reason the story takes place. It gives a refreshing point of view on the concept of a zombie holocaust, concentrating on the usual social commentary only briefly, almost as a nod to the masters of old. It's a very hard book to put down. eBay it now!

Lex
18 Aug 2006, 04:24
Have you seen Berserk and/or FLCL? I highly recommend those. Those are my two favourite animé series. Berserk is 18 hours in total (27 episodes, I think) and I watched it in two days because it was so gripping. FLCL is incredible, as many others would tell you easily. It's only 6 episodes long, but packed with intensely brilliant content all the way through.

Pigbuster
18 Aug 2006, 04:55
Paranoia Agent is my favorite Animé. I really need to order the DVDs sometime.

Zero72
18 Aug 2006, 09:53
SPANKY THE DOLPHIN

OOHHHHHHH GOODY GOODY

Anyway.

I loved Gundam Wing and Trigun, and used to watch Dragonball Z, but that's about it.

Lex
18 Aug 2006, 10:46
To Vader:

Of course, the rest of the Studio Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki are incredible. You listed Princess Mononoke as being among your favourites, and it's a Miyazaki masterpiece. Some other great Studio Ghibli films are Castle In The Sky, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, etc. I highly suggest you watch those. However, with the style preferences you've listed, you may not appreciate some of them (Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro, in particular), though I assure you they are great. So, start with Berserk and FLCL.

SupSuper
18 Aug 2006, 11:37
I simply love FLCL and Hellsing, and possibly even Golden Boy because of the utterly wacky humour.

I've also liked Princess Mononoke, Cowboy Bebop, Gundam Wing and Trigun.

I'll spare you of the huge list of anime I hate.

Paul.Power
18 Aug 2006, 11:43
Azumanga Daioh! is my personal favourite. But then, my anime-watching record aside from AD! consists of shaking my head in bewilderment at Sailor Moon and Excel Saga, while getting excited about the blast furnaces in Princess Mononoke.

KamikazeBananze
18 Aug 2006, 12:04
Hellsing is, indeed, really good.

I'm going to take the plunge and suggest Naruto. NOT THE DUB. As long as you watch past Episode 3, it gets very good. My brother's seen up to Episode 50, and is addicted. However, there are 196 episodes so far, and two movies. Various jokes, slapstick and horrible puns in Japanese. Hence why you shouldn't watch the dub. What'll happen to the jokes that work in Japanese?

Full-Metal Alchemist is also brilliant. No idea what the dub is like. It's very... well, almost philosophical at times. But it's very good, and has a good bit of funny. It has several bits that could make you a tiny bit disturbed, though.

Oh, and since I'm here: Any recommendations for me?

Essentially, I like fantasy and sci-fi. Not too much gore, i.e. if gore, then not gratuitous. Humour is a must. If it doesn't have any, or much, but it's really good, then OK.

I've seen Hellsing (a few episodes), Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Naruto, Full-Metal Alchemist and some Gundam Wing. Oh, and Evangelion.

Xinos
18 Aug 2006, 12:07
I generally don't like the light hearted comedy Anime, since it's basicly only fan service and lame un-original jokes. But there are some comedy anime that are great, such as


Ebichu
FLCL
Sexy Commando
Ping Pong Club


Dramatic anime is usually more worthwhile =P. Movies especially, alsmost everything Studio Ghibli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli) does is great. I usually can't stand stuff like Azumanga Daioh, as it's wholy based around the fact that the charecters are cute. Although the big yellow cat that speaks english is awsome. ~I WISH I WHERE A BIRD~

But the best anime series, by far, has to be Monster. I can't press this enough. It's purely serious, very dark. About a doctor who saves the life of a extreamly intelligent psycho. (Who is the namesake of Monster). The reason why this show is so great is because the charecters are very beleivable, very real. The pure evil that resides in the show is of the charecters, not in some supernatural powers. FINALLY!

Monster: ★★★★★
Hellsing: ★★★☆☆
Full Metal Alchemist: ★★★★☆
The first 22 episodes of Naruto ★★★★☆
Naruto at it's current now: ★☆☆☆☆ (It's turned into Dragon Ball. Seriously, don't get stuck in this generic suckyness)

Plutonic
18 Aug 2006, 13:19
How has no one mentioned Akira? A fantastic film. The Ghibli stuff is all great too of course. Will post more when i remember them.

SupSuper
18 Aug 2006, 14:02
I've watched Akira but it was too... well, like someone was doped up on drugs. I couldn't make much sense out of it.

Vader
18 Aug 2006, 14:03
Ugh, right, here we go, in no particular order:

Akira: I have the 2 DVD boxset with the original and the remastered versions. Excellent stuff.

Monster: I thought it was French? I don't understand French.

Full Metal Alchemist: Never seen it but I've heard it's quite good. Care to elaborate?

Naruto: I liked the subbed Narutos but only saw the first 15 or 20 episodes.

FLCL: Never even heard of it.

Azumanga Daioh!: See above.

Gundam: I really, REALLY like the Gundam game on PS2 called MS Saga. It's pretty much a SNES RPG on the PS2 with chibi mechs! YEEEAAAHH! I found the dialogue in Wing terrible, though.

Spirited Away: I must have forgotten to add that to the list of things I like :)

Trigun: Never seen it but whenever I see it advertised I think of Chrono Trigger for some reason.

Paranoia Agent: Never even heard of it.

What's the one about pirates called? It's another of these ongoing ones like DBZ or Naruto. The guy in the comic shop says it's good.

KRD
18 Aug 2006, 14:56
Although you've covered most of the greats already, I think I've got a few you haven't in my sack of goods.

Tokyo Godfathers - An extremely honest and contemplative film about three Tokyo bums who, sometime during a winter, find a baby in the trash and decide to keep it. Changes the way they percieve life. The less you know about the storyline the better, just watch the thing.

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/3080_800.jpg


Haibane Renmei - Not my personal favourite, it's a slow-moving psychological drama about angelic creatures living in an otherwise human world, but aren't allowed outside their city. And living just about exactly like the humans, exept for the wings and the halo above their heads, heh. Obviously it's full of religious symbolism and the last few episodes [I think there are 13 in all] are just wonderful. Gives you lots to think about, I couldn't manage watching more than an episode a day. Anime chick flick? Perhaps, but not really in a bad sense.

http://lepoussinvengeur.canalblog.com/albums/haibane_renmei/m-haibanepb04b.jpg


Mind Game - It's an experimental kind of thing with all sorts of visual styles and themes intertwining, the storyline jumping from one insignificant detail to another. Definetley not something anyone would like, most of the time you're wondering whether it was soft or hard drugs that the makers were abusing during the process of making it. But the fact it's about a shy young man who, after dying from being shot in the ass, starts realising what life really is about makes it cool. I thought it was funny and kind of deep at times, but you have to be able to appreciate the weirdness in order to get sucked in.

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/4697_510.jpg


Steamboy - Action-packed film going on in an alternative version of 19th century England. Not too philosophical, although there are hints of existentionalism and morale present. The question a young boy from a family of scientists finds asking himself is do we use the new [steam, obviously] technology carefully or rule the world with its help. Not at all as black and white as it sounds. Extreme talent and imagination must have went in the creation of the machines battling around London, and since most of you here are UK'ean I'd say you'll want to see it. From the creator of Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo.

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/4969_800.jpg


Texhnolyze - The best for last. I love this thing. The visual style is, I suppose, slightly dull colour-wise, but it just fits so well with the theme of Lux, a dark and moody city where people have forgotten what enjoying life felt like. Everyone's stuck doing what the society tells them they should be doing, the social theme's pretty strong throughout. First episode is more of a collection of impressions, you won't see how some things are related, but it all starts making sense later on. It's not the kind of anime where you connect with the characters, laugh and cry with them. It doesn't really have main characters actually, it's the figuring out of the whole that matters. It's probably just me, but this is brilliant. Oh, Texhnolyze are basically bionic implants, but I'm not telling anything. Eccentric female doctors, weee!

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/6255_510.jpg

Blame Sel for the pictures!

Edit: Blame Sel for the lack of pictures, then. But they work for me.

bonz
18 Aug 2006, 14:59
Blame Sel for the pictures!
Do you people actually see the pictures in the post?
All I see is the link address, just as if only the URL tag was used.

This happens both on FF and IE, with all of the 4 color styles on the forum and on my machine at home and at work. :p

Vader
18 Aug 2006, 15:38
Argh! Now I get why the IMG tag was left out for so long :p

I saw episode one of Haibane Renmei, I think. There was a person falling and then lots of blood as their wings burst out of their back. That was cool.

UK'ean

Erm, WTF? The word is British. I'm not sure I trust your judgement.

philby4000
18 Aug 2006, 15:57
Series I've watched:

Dragonball Z, Not to be taken seriously.
Gundam Wing, Mechs! Explosions! Polotics! In space!
Beserk, Great, despite going completely mental in the last few episodes
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (First gig), First class. I recomend this to everyone. Dispite the annoying talking tanks.

Films I've watched:

Akira, WTF? Loved everything but the ending.
Ghost in the Shell, which I love.
Ghost in the Shell 2: innocence, has more in common with GITS:SAG (lol, that's the best acronym ever) than The first film. Still a great anime, and absolutely beatiful too.
Metropolis, I'm not a fan of the style, but stil watchable.
Perfect Blue, MINDFU*K.
Vampire Hunter D, bewildering, but cool.
Shadowskill, which sucks.
Oh, and Blackjack, which is equal parts boring and annoying.

I have also seen the first episode of Cowboy Bebob, the name put me of initialy, and I want to see the rest. Had a very similar feel to firefly.

Xinos
18 Aug 2006, 16:28
Monster isn't in french, it's Japanese like all other anime. And you watch it with subtitles. Though monster takes place in Germany.

Japan seems to be the only country where the voice actors actually care if the voices sound good and are accurate to the mood of the show.

Paul.Power
18 Aug 2006, 16:34
... Never even heard of it.

Azumanga Daioh!: See above.Comedy series set in Japanese school. Yes, it's Japanese schoolgirl syndrome, but relatively refreshing. Manages to be sane and insane at the same time - highly skewed normality rather than total fantasy. And funny, in a sort of deranged way.

Vader
18 Aug 2006, 16:53
Monster isn't in french, it's Japanese like all other anime. And you watch it with subtitles. Though monster takes place in Germany.

Japan seems to be the only country where the voice actors actually care if the voices sound good and are accurate to the mood of the show.

My understanding of it is that anime is a style, not a geographic reference. Typically anime is the animated version of a manga. There are exceptions to this rule, obviously (Cowboy Bebop went straight to TV and Spawn is an American comic turned animated series. The main thing in this case is that the style was directly translated - with much sucess I might add - to the series), but anime can come from anywhere in the world. It is true, however, that anime typically comes from Japan. That is not to say that it is bound to any or all of these rules, it is simply a style which originated in Japan. I believe it was borne of combining traditional Japanese painting styles with 1950's American animation styles.

On the subject of voice-acting, I partially agree. Cowboy Bebop, for example, is excellently voice-acted and even the voice-acting in Dragonball Z suits the style of the show perfectly. I often feel that since I don't understand Japanese I have no real way gauging just how well voice-acted a series is.

Xinos
18 Aug 2006, 17:14
Whatever, yes you are right, but it doesn't matter. Don't get worked up over such small details. I don't think I have to specify that I am talking about Japanese anime since that's what the whole thread is about.

Anyway, I ripped the intro of Monster for the fun of it and put it on YouTube. My first submission to that site..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EBjRkU4CNU

KRD
18 Aug 2006, 17:23
Argh! Now I get why the IMG tag was left out for so long :p

I saw episode one of Haibane Renmei, I think. There was a person falling and then lots of blood as their wings burst out of their back. That was cool.



Erm, WTF? The word is British. I'm not sure I trust your judgement.

1. Turns out I was right in putting the IMG tag to the test, eh Bonz? See the images yet?

2. Yargh, that's Haibane Ranmei. Although there's not all that many bloody scenes later on. At least not compared to some of the anime out there. Eek!

3. UK'ean is a registered trademark of KRD International. Watch your mouth!

MtlAngelus
18 Aug 2006, 17:44
Well, shows I've enjoyed:
Inuyasha, if you don't feel like giving the series a try, check out the movies at least(the 3rd one particularly)
Slam Dunk :p
DBZ
Hellsing(only saw one episode... :()
Yu Yu Hakusho

Vader
18 Aug 2006, 18:01
Whatever, yes you are right, but it doesn't matter. Don't get worked up over such small details. I don't think I have to specify that I am talking about Japanese anime since that's what the whole thread is about.

I'm not getting worked up, I'm just saying that I think. The fact that I was being specific and in some parts long-winded doesn't imply that I am worked up. It implies that I am trying to be clear and accurate in what I am trying to say.

I didn't specify Japanese anime in this thread. I even listed the Spawn animated series (an American production) as one of the things I like.

I'm not worked up, just having a discussion :p

edit: The Monster intro is alright, I guess. I wasn't expecting huge amounts from an intro, mind.

Xinos
18 Aug 2006, 19:13
Hehe, ok. That's right, you did create this thread.

Btw, you listed Memories, as in the three short films?

MonkeyforaHead
18 Aug 2006, 21:45
Azumanga Daioh
This series is so wacky that even Pickleworm's been able to get into it. Worth a look, I'd say. And FLCL too, definitely. I still honestly haven't been able to make much sense of that after multiple viewings, but the animation is nothing short of stellar and the writers must have been on EIGHT different kinds of psychotropic substances when they did up the plot.

What's the one about pirates called? It's another of these ongoing ones like DBZ or Naruto. The guy in the comic shop says it's good.
One Piece? I've only seen one clip from one episode, but it seemed quite good. One of the villains gets an entire city to dance unwillingly by playing a guitar through a huge sound system or something. :p

And holy christsicles, is DBZ still going? How long can you beat a dead horse for before it decays beyond having anything left to beat?

BetongÅsna
18 Aug 2006, 23:10
Because I am The Nicest Person You Know, I'll make a list of a few of my favourites with links for handy information.

Azumanga (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=799)

FLCL (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=277)

Evangelion (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=49)

Paranoia Agent (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3169)

These have been mentioned already. The first 3 are all musts (especially Eva, if you're into psychological drama. Stick with it past the first few episodes, it should grow on you), though I would recommend Paranoia Agent only if you're into something a little bit stranger. It's psychological again, but is frankly bizarre and can be a little heavy going. It's about an attacker (who may or may not be real), a young boy on rollerskates with a baseball bat, who targets people who feel as though they are under stress or cannot deal with life as it is (hence the confusion as to whether or not the people merely blame an attacker for their own actions).

The other ones I'd recommend would be

Elfen Lied (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4148) - Alex loves this one. This is a bit disturbing, if you find it possible to find cartoons disturbing. It's about a small, naked, schizophrenic girl-mutant who has a tendency to tear off people's limbs, and the people who love her. Seriously, I make it sound awful there but it's incredible, once again, if you're into psychological drama.

Gunslinger Girl (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2947) - Alex's other favourite. It's about a secret Italiian governmental organization who take near-death young girls, save them with the use of cybernetics (or something) and train them to take care of the government's dirty work (come to think of it, Alex seems to have a thing for young murderous girls). Sounds corny, but pulls it off really well. Well worth a look, but if you don't enjoy the first episode or two you'll probably not warm to it throughout the series.

Gankutsuou (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4194) - This is based looselyish on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It's set in a futuristic world which is portrayed beautifully by the unique and stunning art that this anime boasts. It's worth watching just for the visual feast, but the plot is so thick and well written (better than most cartoons, understandably) that it should be impossible not to enjoy by anybody who likes a good drama series. Not for those with a short attention span.

School Rumble (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4114) - This is definitely one not to miss. It's often described as "what Azumanga would be like with boys". It's a love comedy focussed on a class in high school. Its charm lies not so much in the romance, as the relationships, love triangles etc are reasonably ordinary (though overexaggerated) but in the ridiculous characters and generally hilarious situations they find themselves in, making it far and away the funniest anime I've ever watched. It's brilliantly written and acted for what it is, which is roughly comparable to a sketch show with 3 or 4 long sketches in every episode. The humour is similar to that of Azumanga, only in much greater doses and coming at you at a greater pace.

Tenchi Muyo (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=920) - This used to be on Cartoon Network when DBZ first started showing, but unfortunately it seemed to lose out in the ratings to the more mainstream "fight, train, dialogue, fight" appeal of Goku And Pals. Either way, after seemingly showing the series (and its alternate re-telling Tenchi Universe) in a random order at a time anywhere between 11pm and 6am on a Thursday night, they dropped the series and started only showing crap (I lie, I liked DBZ). It's another love comedy, I suppose, although it's more of a comedy-drama, slice of life type thing. It's about a seemingly normal young man living with his father and grandfather whose house suddenly becomes the lodging place of 6 or so suspiciously beautiful female aliens who sort of crash land in his back garden. Amongst them are 2 princesses of some planet somewhere, a space pirate (whatever that is), a police officer and a mad scientist. Considering this line-up, the house works extremely normally after they get there, although people seem to keep coming out of the sky to kill people, or something. It gets hard to follow if you don't pay attention, but again it's an interesting watch.


Incidentally, I only watch subtitled anime. Or foreign films, for that matter. I just much prefer them in their more pure form. That and all the voice actors in the dubs are half-arsed Americans who sound like they want to steal all the blood from my liver with their monotone/hyper/breathless babble.

The reason Japanese voice actors actually care is that anime is basically the main outlet for pop music over there - the biggest pop stars are also anime actors, and more often than not the latest single was the title music of the newest anime. They need to be talented, as they're all damned rich!

SupSuper
18 Aug 2006, 23:25
whose house suddenly becomes the lodging place of 6 or so suspiciously beautiful femaleThat seems to be a common trend in anime. :p

Zero72
18 Aug 2006, 23:50
Yeah, especially considering that the unedited version contained plenty of nudity.

Edit: Which Cartoon Network repeatedly concealed, to my great amusement, with half-assed bathing suits drawn over everything.

Even more amusing was how they wouldn't let anybody say "kill" in Gundam Wing. It was always "I'll destroy you."

In a sense, isn't "destroy" a little worse than "kill?"

BetongÅsna
19 Aug 2006, 00:07
You'd have thought so, yes.

God, I hate Gundam.

I never really saw Tenchi as a fanservicey sort of thing, but now you come to mention it, it really is.

Xinos
19 Aug 2006, 01:24
Yes, how could I forget One Piece? It's great =)
I didn't get into Gundam. It was based only on the robot battles, the charecter story in between was rather dull.
That's why I love Evangelion, great story, charecters and fights.

As for wackyness and crazy, Azumanga Daioh is not worth mentioning next to Ebichu and Ping Pong Club.

Here's some more I recommend checking out:
Genshiken
Beck
Noir
Wolfs Rain
.hack//SIGN
Last Exile !
Mushishi !

Lex
19 Aug 2006, 05:31
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Chobits or Serial Experiments Lain yet. Those are both really awesome.

KamikazeBananze
19 Aug 2006, 11:49
I've seen the first 8 episodes of One Piece. Not bad, though it seems to be mainly aimed at kids, and the whole yelling out attacks thing hurts me.

How many episodes of Naruto have you seen, Xinos? It does get pretty good later, though the dragging on of the battles and the fact that many of the characters refuse to believe what just happened happened does begin to grate a little.

The Naruto dub is, from all accounts, horrible. The voices have been changed in a way that is, apparently, against the theme of the characters. Example: Shino, who, in the original, has a deep, incredibly calm voice which could get very creepy, got a high-pitched, child's voice. Doesn't fit.

I've watched Akira as well. My response: Huh? It's very confusing, until you read the back. Then look at the glossary on the DVDs. Then watch it again.

Ghost in the Shell was very good. I liked it a lot, though I only understood most of it AFTER watching it. Saw it on the 31st Dec 2005/1st Jan 2006. As a result, my sister opened my door half-way through, and fired a party popper. I fell out of my seat.

Has anyone noticed that so much animé involves philosophical themes?

Naruto, at many points, goes over free will, destiny, ambition, power and greed. Full-Metal Alchemist talks about religion and what makes us human. Evangelion... far too much to talk about.

KRD
19 Aug 2006, 14:10
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Chobits or Serial Experiments Lain yet. Those are both really awesome.

I have. Lain. Somewhere. Although apparently it disappeared after I've edited that post a couple times. Lain's awesome.

I've never really been able to get into the silly stuff myself. It's all too much like DBZ to me when I see pre-teen ninjas on skateboards slinging magical swords twice their size and such oddness. I mean the plot, the characters and the underlying philosophy can be as complex as anything, but I can't for the life of me get... consumed. Not the way I do with anime that looks [Eek, I'm shallow.] a bit more mature. Even the likes of Ping Pong Club, which I admit is hilarious, don't attract much of my attention. So anyway, here's a couple more I like.

Gankutsuou - Like the Donkey said before, it's basically bringing the idea of The Count of Monte Cristo a step [or twenty-five] further. Revenge is best served cold and all that, although this time around mysterious lunar entities, sci-fi technology and giant robots get involved in the mix. It's spectacular on the outside, but also offers some good old-fashioned satisfaction, seeing the rotten Parisian society inevitably get the punishment they deserve. Ha!

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/4968_510.jpg


Blood: The Last Vampire - From the creators of GitS, meaning the visuals will be stunning. Saya is esentially a cold-blooded demon slayer. Not much emotion about her, not even much of her history revealed throughout the [rather short, but that's not a bad thing] film. Still, the occurances are noir to the point of making you wet your pants, the katana-driven action scenes flawless and so full of gore it'll last you a month. I suppose it can seem shallow at times, but after you've watched it you'll realise the criticism of war and human nature is strong. Goes on just before the Vietnam war, actually. Worth watching, it was one of the first anime films that managed to make me completely forget it's a cartoon I'm watching.

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/1706_800.jpg


Mari Iyagi - Korean, not Japanese. You can tell in an instant. I don't really know how to describe this, I guess it's a film that makes you wonder whether growing up is as necessary as you've been led to believe it is. The storyline is basically a slowly advancing collection of childhood flashbacks, very distorted. You get to choose which parts you'll take as real and which as mere nostalgic overreacting, but the magical feeling is overwhelming and it makes you think about a lot of things. A marble letting you access a fairytale-worthy world? Perhaps sounds deja vú'ish, but it's very different from Japanese anime. Anyone with a bit of patience should try it.

http://www.joker.si/images/clank/6534_510.jpg

Xinos
19 Aug 2006, 14:20
I saw well over a hundred episodes. 150, 180 maybe, I can't remember.
It's just an infinite array of new pointless enemies they have to fight and the show isn't going anywhere. Sasuke ran off and they have been trying to get him back for ages, but it's all side stories where they do pointless missions fighting more pointless battles. I'm sick of it.

It stopped being original around 50 and just became the same. Alwase fighting some pointless battle, alwase meeting a newer more powerfull ninja that they can't possibly beat but they still do 3 or 4 episodes later. It's extreamly predictable, fighting fighting fighting. First Naruto is powerless, and it takes several episodes untill he uses his ultimate powers to kick the bad guys asses, alwase the same boring outcome. It just got so lame I couldn't stand it.

Naruto started off as cool, but then publishers realised what a hit it was and decided to stretch it out into infinity just like dragon ball z. It's just a show for kids who don't need anything more in a anime than big muscles and cool hairstyles.

One Piece is much better than Naruto. Even after 200 episodes it's not boring, it stays fun and there is alwase new crazy charecters and villians.

---------------
As for Chobits and Serial Experiments Lain.. Chobits was one of the first shows I saw, so therefore I liked it. I didn't take it for what it was: A very slow and shallow show. It's not very good at all. Just fanservice.

Lain however is very good. Confusing and lot's of high tech geekyness. Though it might be boring if you don't know much about computers.

Paul.Power
19 Aug 2006, 16:32
As for wackyness and crazy, Azumanga Daioh is not worth mentioning next to Ebichu and Ping Pong Club.True, but it also has the advantage that it at least tries to be vaguely normal, in setting if not in characterisation.

BetongÅsna
19 Aug 2006, 18:51
Randomness in a normal situation can only be pulled off by a few shows, but anything can just be off the wall. The former is far superior.

Lex
20 Aug 2006, 01:12
A good example of the former in BetongÅsna's post is FLCL. :)

Pigbuster
20 Aug 2006, 04:12
I just thought that I'd say that I like manga a lot better than animé.
Things that I find unwatchable on TV can be the opposite in comic form. I think that it's because you can read a lot faster, so when a guy monologues, it lasts maybe a minute, but on a show, it can be a lot more.

Xinos
20 Aug 2006, 08:54
Randomness in a normal situation can only be pulled off by a few shows, but anything can just be off the wall. The former is far superior.

No.. "It can only be pulled off by some directors". Don't judge the show depending on what pace it is.

Vader
20 Aug 2006, 17:56
I just thought that I'd say that I like manga a lot better than animé.
Things that I find unwatchable on TV can be the opposite in comic form. I think that it's because you can read a lot faster, so when a guy monologues, it lasts maybe a minute, but on a show, it can be a lot more.

I know what you mean but converse to that is the Spawn series. I find the comics are a very dull affair with excessive narration and bland dialogue. The animated series carries a bit more pace and punch to it and gives the narrated stuff a bit more sense of place and significance.

Xinos
20 Aug 2006, 18:57
Yes, and reading the manga can be too much work. Why not take the easy lazy way out and enjoy the animated version?

SupSuper
20 Aug 2006, 20:31
Plus manga around here is translated to french (don't ask), while anime is kept subtitled (if it's any good, otherwise it's... dubbed *shudder*)

Vader
20 Aug 2006, 22:03
Yes, and reading the manga can be too much work. Why not take the easy lazy way out and enjoy the animated version?

Infidel! The easy, lazy option is more often than not the inferior one.

Xinos
20 Aug 2006, 22:08
Plus manga around here is translated to french (don't ask), while anime is kept subtitled (if it's any good, otherwise it's... dubbed *shudder*)

I didn't know the internet had regions.

Vader
20 Aug 2006, 22:15
Presumably he meant printed literature, purchasable from retail outlets in the real world. In other words, books in shops.

That said, you can now legally read the first 6 issues of The Walking Dead online, in the form of the first graphic novel for free: http://www.imagecomics.com/onlinecomics.php

DO IT NOW!

Edit: Actually, it looks like it's only the first issue but with the first graphic novel's cover. As such it really doesn't do the series as a whole any justice. Especially given the change in artists after issue 6 or so.

Macobsession
20 Aug 2006, 22:34
Well i aparently watch more anime then the standard japanese person(trust me i talked to a few of them...)
Reccomended:
Trinity Blood= Vampire/Vatican Anime(the dubbed version is coming to Adult swim in like 3 weeks....but the original is far better)
Bleach= High combat anime/manga, deals with spirit world and demons(the dubbed version is coming to Adult swim in like 3 weeks....but the original is far better)

Naruto= ninja anime/manga I reccomend only watching up to like 130(after that is all fillers). Watch it in japanese too.
Bokuatsu Tenshi Dokuro Chan= GORE...GORE...and extremely funny. Its a short series but still good. The begining is the best. Its about an angel that beats things to death and then brings them back to life.
Fate Stay Night= Combat anime. Very well done. About the secret war for the holy grail that occurs every decade or so.
Tsukuyomi Moon Phase= Vampire comedy. Its about a young vampire girl and a guy whos immune to her powers.
Sousei no Aquarion= Mecha anime. Very good. Its my favorite anime. Very funny but also action packed. Its like power rangers meets Evangelion.

.....soooo many more to reccomend...but not time right now....going out... I'll reply with more later....i watch way too much anime...

Xinos
20 Aug 2006, 22:52
My watching habbits are rather bad. I have virtually no motivation.
I can burn through real life acted shows, but anime is alwase so slow to get through.

Wolfs Rain. 30 episodes:
Day 1: Watched 5 first episodes. Good. Let's keep this up.
Day 2: Watched 5 more episodes. Sweet, I'm on a roll. I will be finnished in no time!
Day ~14: Oh yeah! Wolf's Rain! Watched 2 or 3 more episodes.

When I fiiiiiiinaaally got to episode 28, it took me about two weeks to get around to seeing the final two episodes, and don't get me wrong, the show was great and exciting all the way through. But I just couldn't be bothered to getting around and watching it.

That goes to say almost every anime show out there is like that, unless they are REALLY gripping. Some good 13 episode shows can take weeks to finnish, even if I love them. Monster and Hikaru no Go, as well as GTO and some others I burned through as fast as possible, even though they are all close to 100 episodes.

Vader
20 Aug 2006, 23:01
I hear that. My girlfriend and I tried to watch all of DBZ. We're up to the Android Saga I think.

We'll finish it one day.

SupSuper
21 Aug 2006, 02:20
Presumably he meant printed literature, purchasable from retail outlets in the real world. In other words, books in shops.Yes, I did, I don't see the point of going out of my way to find online something that doesn't really interest me that much. Plus reading a book or watching anime on tv is more appealing than their online counterparts.

Anyways, since everyone keeps posting about the good anime out there, I'm gonna write about all the anime that I consider **** but still have to watch sometimes because there's simply nothing better to do. At all.

So except a long angry ranty cursy post in the near future.

Pigbuster
21 Aug 2006, 06:45
I'm gonna write about all the anime that I consider ****

Evangelion, for me.
I just can't like a show in which I hate the main character so much.
And it sounds like it deteriorates into the writer's own personal therapy session by the end.

KamikazeBananze
21 Aug 2006, 13:03
Macobsession: Apparently, Ep 200 marks the resumption of the main storyline.

BetongÅsna
21 Aug 2006, 16:01
What, of Naruto? I thought it was a little bit after that, at the start of the new series.

KamikazeBananze
21 Aug 2006, 19:30
No, apparently episode 200 returns to the manga storyline.

Found the news here: http://www.noneedforbushido.com

Vader
21 Aug 2006, 20:48
And holy christsicles, is DBZ still going?

Nope, it finished afterabout 276 episodes in Europe/America and 288 in Japan, or something. There are about 12 more episodes in the Japanese series on account of things like bloodshed and swearing being chopped out. The remaining footage was 12 less episodes shorter. :P

Still, a friend and I watched DragonBall GT in one sitting. That's about 60 odd episodes and took a long time and a lot of will power so you may end up considering DragonBall Z endless if you watched it in one sitting.

Edit: Mind you, towards the end you'd be able to fall asleep as Goku starts a power up and wake up as he finishes it.

Xinos
21 Aug 2006, 20:51
I think you definitly should check Evangelion out. It's a hate it or love it thing. I'm just happy it's not only shallow robot fights and actually has depth to it.

SupSuper
21 Aug 2006, 20:58
Yeah, sometimes it gets really psychotic, but it's probably the only anime that I've liked even though I watched it all dubbed. :eek:

philby4000
21 Aug 2006, 22:01
Still, a friend and I watched DragonBall GT in one sitting. That's about 60 odd episodes and took a long time and a lot of will power so you may end up considering DragonBall Z endless if you watched it in one sitting.


I had one of the most embarasing experences of my life watching Dragonball.

My mother decided to sit down and watch just as krillin and master Roshi started on the wank jokes.:p

Macobsession
22 Aug 2006, 01:03
Macobsession: Apparently, Ep 200 marks the resumption of the main storyline.

Well they keep saying stuff like that....
it started with like 180, then 190, then 200, and so forth.
The main problem is the people who make the anime must first buy the rights to the second season and such....and various complications have apparently arised about that and now they're just milking the juice by adding more fillers.

Naruto is currently dubbed up to 197 now. I stopped watching at like 180 so I'm not quite sure whats up with the series right now.
I've also heard that 199 is supposed to be the end of fillers, but theres also rumors that it might be fake. Who knows....i'm gonna download 200 just to check when it does come.

KamikazeBananze
7 Sep 2006, 14:19
I've started watching subbed episodes of Bleach. I'm up to 24. It's very good so far. No filler that I can see. Maybe one episode so far.

And the opening theme... it's the first time I've heard an animé opening for the first season of an animé that doesn't make me want to kill someone.

Naruto's first... meh. FMA's first... huh. Excel Saga's first... argh. One Piece's first... please no.

This one is decent.

FutureWorm
8 Sep 2006, 04:27
And the opening theme... it's the first time I've heard an animé opening for the first season of an animé that doesn't make me want to kill someone.
TIME TO D-D-D-D-D-D-DUEL!

Pigbuster
8 Sep 2006, 06:09
YUGIOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Yugi, don't do it!
Yeah, Pegasus is just MESSIN' wit' ya!
No. It is my destiny. TO SAVE MY GRANDFATHER.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1485/yugiohvd8.png

I must believe in the heart of the cards.

KamikazeBananze
9 Sep 2006, 14:09
TIME TO D-D-D-D-D-D-DUEL!

No, that was one. And it had no words. It sucked.

YUGIOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Yugi, don't do it!
Yeah, Pegasus is just MESSIN' wit' ya!
No. It is my destiny. TO SAVE MY GRANDFATHER.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1485/yugiohvd8.png

I must believe in the heart of the cards.

Oh gods...

That's why I play M:TG. There aren't any 15-year-olds using horrible catchphrases from the TV show, or acting like animé characters, or asking what episodes I've watched and if I've seen the latest episode, it was so cool, Yugi managed to catch the evil guy Mr. Y and fought him in a 5-round duel and he was losing, but he believed in the heart of the cards, and he won, and I believe in the heart of the cards, but I just lost, oh my God, how'd you beat me, the heart of the cards has let me down, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Granted, people do all of those during a game of M:TG, but it has nothing to do with the cards being played.

If anyone understood that, good for you.

Back on-topic: I'm on Bleach 24. I'm leaving it until I get a DVD of subs from a friend after my exam. Otherwise, I'll be watching until the latest episode. And would fail my exam.

I've also seen Excel Saga. Well, it's... weird. There are some nice references and parodies, and some bits are like Zim. Otherwise, it's just plain strange.

Xinos
9 Sep 2006, 14:42
How can a line from dragonball be embarrasing? Serves you right for watching the show though.

KamikazeBananze
9 Sep 2006, 16:09
What?

Never seen DBZ.

Xinos
9 Sep 2006, 16:13
What?

Never seen DBZ.

I had one of the most embarasing experences of my life watching Dragonball.

My mother decided to sit down and watch just as krillin and master Roshi started on the wank jokes.:p

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

KamikazeBananze
9 Sep 2006, 21:52
That Philby quote would have prevented that, y'know.

Xinos
10 Sep 2006, 14:59
That Philby quote would have prevented that, y'know.

If you are refering to minumum 10 charecters, than no.

MtlAngelus
11 Sep 2006, 03:55
I think he meant the confusion :p

KamikazeBananze
11 Sep 2006, 11:38
You are correct, sir!

Xinos
11 Sep 2006, 16:34
The confusion could have been avoided by not confusing me :p

Glenn
16 Sep 2006, 17:30
So... no one's mentioned Scryed yet? You know, the series that at it's end answered the question of what would happen if the unstoppable force met the immovable object?

Vader
16 Sep 2006, 20:28
I'm assuming displacement occurred and the unstoppable force went around the immovable object on contact.

philby4000
16 Sep 2006, 23:43
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Mother in room + thinly veiled references to masterbation = embarasment.

I've never realy seen why people hate Dragonball and Dragonball Z (GT never happened. Honest.) so much. I suspect they're taking it to seriously. Either that or I'm not taking it seriously enough.

SupSuper
17 Sep 2006, 03:07
It's impossible to take Dragonball seriously. Plus "it's funny because it's absolutely ridiculous" wears off quickly in Dragonball.

Plus the fact that every single kid actually takes it seriously and loves it, and it's the first anime that ever made it here, and thus it's horribly permanently dubbed (everything from character names to theme songs), etc.

philby4000
17 Sep 2006, 17:40
I'm not really hungup on dubbing.

I'd rather have a good dub than subtitles any day.

Why? because I speak english, not japenese. And as a medium anime is intended to be watched and heard rather than read.

Glenn
17 Sep 2006, 19:55
it's the first anime that ever made it here

I thought Sailor Moon was the first anime that made it here.

Of course, that opens a whole new can of worms... :-/

SupSuper
18 Sep 2006, 11:52
I'm not really hungup on dubbing.

I'd rather have a good dub than subtitles any day.

Why? because I speak english, not japenese. And as a medium anime is intended to be watched and heard rather than read.Well I still don't like dubbing, most of the times it's not synced and it loses the original voices' charm, plus I got the hang of reading subtitles since I'm not english, so anything is foreign to me. :p

In any case, portuguese dubbing is ANYTHING but good. Trust me. It's not without reason that only "kids shows" get dubbed around here.

I found these Youtubes if you're curious (or want it to make even less sense than usual):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjomGcqdL0c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LyNFxnv78w
At this rate there will be nothing you can't find on Youtube. :p

MtlAngelus
18 Sep 2006, 20:23
Youtuve ***s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ms1XvRlZmY
:p

Xinos
18 Sep 2006, 20:30
Mother in room + thinly veiled references to masterbation = embarasment.

I've never realy seen why people hate Dragonball and Dragonball Z (GT never happened. Honest.) so much. I suspect they're taking it to seriously. Either that or I'm not taking it seriously enough.

Just be glad it wasn't weeds you where watching :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkyLQIwTJXE

Vader
18 Sep 2006, 20:53
Soooo... you are comfortable watching a programme about marijuana which involves swearing and sexual references (and even scenes) but that clip embarasses you infront of your mother?

I find that deeply confusing.

Paul.Power
19 Sep 2006, 01:24
I'm not really hungup on dubbing.

I'd rather have a good dub than subtitles any day.

Why? because I speak english, not japenese. And as a medium anime is intended to be watched and heard rather than read.Princess Mononoke was nicely dubbed by Neil Gaiman (though I probably mentioned that already...)

Xinos
19 Sep 2006, 17:40
Soooo... you are comfortable watching a programme about marijuana which involves swearing and sexual references (and even scenes) but that clip embarasses you infront of your mother?

I find that deeply confusing.

I said I watch that show with my parents?

Vader
20 Sep 2006, 19:36
Heh, no I guess not. What I meant was that if you were watching that show with your parents, I'm not sure that scene would be a highlight especially.

It was just an observation, really.

KamikazeBananze
26 Sep 2006, 00:08
Princess Mononoke was nicely dubbed by Neil Gaiman (though I probably mentioned that already...)

I think you did as well.

And yes, Gaiman did a very good job.

I'd just re-re-reread Good Omens after I watched Mononoke the first time.

Just after that, I read the Sandman series.

Yes, all of it.

Just recently, I read Neverwhere. It's good.

To remain on-topic:

I've just seen the first 40 mins of Advent Children. Not sure if it counts as animé, though...

I liked the end of the fight between Tifa and the silver-haired guy.

"Dah-dah-dah-dah, dah dah dah-da-dah!"

Pigbuster
1 Oct 2006, 03:26
Ugh.
Advent Children.

A movie filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Yet FF fans are still going to drool over it.

If you can find the goofy subtitles, though, then it becomes a great film.

MtlAngelus
1 Oct 2006, 07:36
Ugh.
Advent Children.

A movie filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Yet FF fans are still going to drool over it.

If you can find the goofy subtitles, though, then it becomes a great film.

I actually loved it, even tough I had never played FFVII, or any FF game for that matter :p
The first time I watched it tough, I must admit I had no clue what was going on. I managed to understand some bits, but it all became so much understandable once I got around to reading what the game was about.:p

Xinos
1 Oct 2006, 13:06
The plot is lame. But the CG was great so it was an enjoyable watch.

FutureWorm
2 Oct 2006, 01:08
A movie filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Props for the Shakespeare reference.

Pigbuster
2 Oct 2006, 02:38
Probably the greatest Shakespeare line, in my opinion.

Xinos
3 Oct 2006, 16:25
Probably the greatest Shakespeare line, in my opinion.

Shakespeare is but a conspiracy.