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Post by Darthtabby on Jul 4, 2014 17:00:08 GMT -7
Some of the new shows have already started airing, so while I'm going to link to Random Curiosity's previews I'm also going to jump right in with some thoughts on the three new shows I've watched. Glasslip was one of my most anticipated shows of the season since its a drama from PA Works, the studio that did Tari Tari. Unfortunately while I liked the gender balanced and (mostly) tightly knit main cast, I felt the first episode was a bit lacking in terms of narrative thrust (though then again it's not like Tari Tari had the greatest first few episodes either). Also I found the bit with some of the characters trying to keep chickens in their bedrooms strained credibility. That seems like a good way to ruin your carpet. Silver Will Argevellon's first episode was pretty solid. Granted it uses the typical "hero randomly comes into possession of a next generation mecha prototype" cliche but at least this prototype's advantages seem to be agility, ease of use, and situational awareness -not super powers. And the bit with the technician girl deciding the hero should pilot the mech because he's a trained pilot was a nice little twist on the usual cliche. Though the technician girl's character seems a bit at odds with the setting (probably my only major complaint about the series). Rail Wars is pretty ridiculous and contrived. Okay I get that it's aimed somewhat at train otaku, but couldn't they have at least avoided some of the more typical anime cliches? As for the stuff that hasn't started airing yet, Sword Art Online season two is probably the most anticipated one for me. Phantom Bullet was a way better arc than Fairy Dance, so hopefully the anime adaptation will do it justice. Aldnoah Zero sounds interesting but Gen Urobuchi (writer of Madoka Magica and PsychoPass) is involved and while some people may conider that a huge plus, I tend to find his works kind of eye rolling.
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Post by Darthtabby on Jul 21, 2014 12:23:26 GMT -7
We're a few weeks into the new season now, so here's some more impressions. Alnoah Zero (Episode 3): Third episode was actually quite good and helped make up for the not so good second episode. The series might have benefited from hinting at the main character's tactical genius earlier on though, as it seemed a bit out of the blue. Also the villains thus far have not exactly been very subtly written. Argevellon (Episode 3): I like the series very tactical approach to mech warfare which seems to have survived the introduction of the main character's super prototype. Speaking of that, there's a theory on Animesuki that as a matter of fact Argevellon can accept other pilots and Jamie is just saying only the main character can use it because she doesn't know how to do a master system reboot. Given that the show already had the main character got asked to pilot the super prototype because he's a trained pilot I wouldn't be surprised if it had a twist like that. Blade Dance (Episode 1): I'm starting to think "Zero no Tsukaima wannabe" needs to be its own genre. Glasslip (Episode 3): I had high hopes for this one since I liked Tari Tari (a previous drama from the same studio) so much, but its kind of hard to judge at this point. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Episode 2): It's decently entertaining, and for a comedy being entertaining is generally the most important thing. Momo Kyun Sword (Episode 1): In my opinion, overdoing the fan service aspects of a character design can actually make a character less sexy. Rail Wars (Episode 3): For a show that's generally pretty ridiculous this one can be surprisingly smart on occasion. Sailor Moon Crystal (Episode 2): In some ways this show is very old school. On the other hand, the main character's terrified screaming functioning as a sonic weapon is the sort of twist I'd expect from a more modern and self aware magical girl show rather than an old genre-defining title. Also, its a good thing none of these girls watched Madoka Magica before they met Luna, and if they made Tuxedo Mask the main character this could be a harem series. (Runs to avoid being murderized.) Survival Game Club (Episode 3): This is as least moderately entertaining. I like how petty and vengeful the main character is, and I have to give it credit for being the only anime I know of to feature one of these. Sword Art Online 2 (Episode 3): Sinon's backstory was fairly powerful in the source material and it works well enough here, even if this simplified version seems a bit heavy handed. Plus next episode should see the introduction of Trap Kirito. Tokyo ESP (Episode 2): Not the most original thing ever, but I actually found it pretty enjoyable despite its issues.
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Post by Misha on Aug 6, 2014 19:44:00 GMT -7
On Sailor Moon Crystal: The screaming was actually in the original and the manga, but in both it got phased out pretty early (though it hung around the manga a little longer). SMC is following the manga a lot more closely (Mamoru being a high school student instead of a college student, THE AGE GAP BETWEEN HIM AND USAGI ISN'T GROSS IN THIS ANIME THANK GOD) and it's doing an AMAZING job of it!!
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 8, 2014 23:36:49 GMT -7
From what I've read in discussions, wasn't Mamoru being a college student more of a dub thing? Remember, this is the same dub where they made a pair of characters cousins to address concerns about their relationship's lesbian subtext. (Speaking of "subtext" Usagi seemed to have it pretty hard for Rei. She was practically stalking her after just seeing her on the bus!) My favorite magical girl series (and one of my favorite anime series of all time) is Mai-HiME. I kind of want to compare Mai and Usagi's first battles (well in Mai's case its actually her second battle -the first one she was mostly trying to avoid becoming collateral damage to other girls' powers) since they kind of remind me of each other. But I don't seem to have a whole lot to say on that subject other than noting that both girls jump in to protect someone important and both have a guide of sorts walking them through things. Well, I guess I can note that Mai's first battle ends a lot more destructively than Usagi's though that's not really Mai's fault... Okay I guess that's a bit of a plug on my part.
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Post by Misha on Aug 9, 2014 20:48:27 GMT -7
Nah, it was in the anime in general. Mamoru drives in the old anime, driving age in Japan is 18. Most students seem to wait until they graduate to bother with getting their license. At least, those that live in cities do.
Mamoru's original manga age is 16, which is what they have him in the new anime as well. A 2 year difference with the younger being 14 is so much easier to stomach than a 4+ year difference. If I remember right, there are even times that Mamoru drinks, or at least BUYS alcohol, in the anime, which would put him at 20+
Soooo yeah. That was one of few things that wasn't something the dub thing. Mamoru really was made a LOT older in the original anime. XD
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 22, 2014 0:22:05 GMT -7
So aside from SAO II I'm recommending Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun for comedy and Argevellon for those seeking a good "real robot" fix. Argevellon has been clumsy at times and the heroine seemed really stupid in the early episodes but the show seems to have come into its own with some of its more recent episodes.
BTW, anyone think some of the mechs in Argevellon look a heck of a lot like M6 Bushnells?
Aldnoah Zero has pretty questionable writing but it can be pretty good at times and has strong production values.
I was rather enamored with Tokyo ESP for a while but my enthusiasm for the show seems to have waned a bit.
Survival Game Club may be worth a shot for people who like their comedy protagonists to be both petty and ruthless. Momoka is definitely not a goody two shoes heroine.
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Post by Misha on Aug 24, 2014 19:03:47 GMT -7
I just started and caught up on Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun this week and loved it. It's amazing~! It's a shoujo anime making fun of shoujo anime? (Or, well, shoujo manga making fun of shoujo manga...) It's great! So much fun, so many laughs ^^
Aldnoah.zero honestly just feels like Gundam SEED to me. I only watched 3 episodes and I just couldn't find it in me to carry on. It feels like a remake of one of the weakest (yet somehow one of the most loved) Gundam series out there, and it has bored me to tears... A lot of people seem to really enjoy and recommend it which I haven't found myself understanding yet, but then again, I feel the same way about Gundam SEED, soooo....
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 25, 2014 19:21:31 GMT -7
Glad to see you liked Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun. Definitely my top pick for comedy this season. To be honest I'm not a huge fan of Aldnoah Zero (I actually prefer Argevellon among this season's mecha offerings), but it is one of the most talked about shows of the season. And it does have some good points among all that questionable heavy handed writing. I haven't seen Gundam Seed, so I can't comment a lot about how it compares to Aldnoah Zero (other than to note that apparently the producer's aim is to "surpass Gundam"). Argevellon has been compared to 008th MS Team though it has a less mature male lead (which along with the use of some well established mecha cliches seems to be the primary cause of certain people's rage towards the show -personally I thought how dumb the heroine initially appeared to be was a bigger issue). Edit: Tokyo ESP is looking a bit stronger after the latest episode. And of course SAO II continues to be awesome.
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Post by Misha on Aug 29, 2014 11:29:17 GMT -7
Gundam Seed had the whole "Beautiful princess from oppressive group wants to promote peace but gets attacked by terrorists" and "Boy genius saves all and does so better than the trained military professionals" and "Let's just nuke 'em" view from the oppressive group, and the oppressive group being special/superpowered in some way... Even looks like it has the whole "Princess is loved by soldier boy but ends up falling for boy genius from the oppressed group." (Athrun wasn't reviled like whats-his-face is as an Earthling though, he was actually the son of a general or something and the marriage with the princess was arranged. Then she fell in love with Kira and he fell in love with... Cagalli? Was that her name? Kira's sister. Oh god I hope silver haired boy there doesn't fall for boy genius's sister XD)
But uh, yeah... It's... the same... It's the freaking same thing. They even have that whole 'special day' where they'd been attacked, Bloody Valentine in Gundam Seed.
...So... yeah... that's why I can't bring myself to watch it ^^;;;
I'll check out Argevellon. There were a couple other shows this season I keep meaning to check out, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. SAOII, SMC, and Nozaki-kun are pretty much all I'm watching right now.
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 29, 2014 20:02:14 GMT -7
Did you ever notice similarities between Gundam Seed and Macross Frontier? The main writer for Frontier was an episode writer for Seed and its sequel early in his career, and I've occasionally seen comparisons made between the two shows and their characters. Then again with one of the characters in Seed apparently being inspired by a character from earlier Macross works perhaps the connection works both ways.
I should note that Argevellon is very much a traditional mecha series in some regards. Given that you don't seem to be a big mecha fan that's something I should probably warn you about. On the other hand while it has some issues of its own it doesn't fall into some of the big pitfalls that Aldnoah did. The enemy is not made up solely of one dimensional racist douchebags -some of them are likeable and even admirable- and the male lead is not the only competent person on his side. Heck, the latest episode actually saw artillery and foot soldiers play a major role in an important battle -how often do you see that happen in a mecha series?
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Post by Misha on Aug 29, 2014 22:09:12 GMT -7
Mm, I can't say that I really did notice them. At the very least, not in the way I have with this. If it's underlying things, I tend not to notice those as much. It's the fact that Aldnoah feels almost like it's trying to be a remake that's got me ; I don't get super into the technical side of mecha, but I usually enjoy mecha anime in general. I do like the political aspect that many of them have, I get interested in seeing the world fleshed out in those ways. I do like the idea of more well-rounded, human enemies. And showing other military, really!? Alright, yeah, I'll definitely have to check it out ^^ Totally unrelated to this season of anime, but I can't remember if I've ever heard you mention it... Have you seen Galilei Donna? Based on some other things you've liked, you might enjoy that one. ...Though it does put a very bizarre emphasis on being descendents of Galileo that was almost too weird for me to handle XD
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 31, 2014 15:53:27 GMT -7
Did Gundam Seed ever flirt with erotic asphyxiation? The ending to this week's episode of Aldnoah Zero was... interesting.
Aside from some character comparison, the scene from Frontier with Sheryl singing to the refugees in that evacuation shelter was apparently reminiscent of a scene from Seed.
I watched Galilei Donna but I found it rather ridiculous. I'm actually kind of curious which shows I like gave you the impression I'd really like that one. (I'm not taking offense here, but I may want to clear up some misconceptions.)
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Post by Misha on Aug 31, 2014 21:49:57 GMT -7
Ahahah, no, no it didn't. Now I'm, uh, curious XD
Ahhh, okay, yeah, I can see that. The princess like girl in SEED is a singer.
Fair enough! Actually, it's really more the way some anime look on the surface, it's ones I hadn't actually watched but looked at images/descriptions of that made me wonder. Galilei Donna was definitely quite ridiculous, I had a hard time finishing it, but it was so short, I figured I may as well. The last couple of episodes really pushed it for me, and it all seemed so abrupt.
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Post by Darthtabby on Aug 31, 2014 23:34:44 GMT -7
Do you remember the daughter of that martian assassin who was offed to cover loose ends? Due to isolation (she feels she has to hide who she is), psychological trauma, and her hatred for martian society as a whole she ends up going a bit psycho. Yeah, I was kind of wondering if there was a connection between Lacus and Sheryl given that the main writer for Frontier was an episode writer on Seed early in his career and things people have said comparing the two (plus they both have pink hair). On the other hand though I seem to remember reading that Lacus was inspired by Minmay (or at least Macross heroines in general) and so is Sheryl, so... Out of curiosity, which specific shows I've mentioned that you haven't actually watched have struck you as similar to Galilei Donna? (At the risk of being a bit mean, I'm hoping to be highly amused by your answers.)
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Post by Misha on Sept 11, 2014 13:30:26 GMT -7
Ahahah, well then~ It does seem like Aldnoah.zero is a little more willing to go there than Gundam SEED was, but I still don't know if I can get into. It at least so far doesn't have some of the weirder and more out-there things that SEED had (clones... clones EVERYWHERE!) so that's a bonus in its favor. Hopefully it doesn't go on for too long like SEED did, too. That only made it all the worse.
Ahhh, I can't even remember their names now XD Basically it was the whole teenage-girl cast + robots/sci-fi stuff, lol. You've seemed to get into quite a few of those, so yeah, it really was just a surface thing XD
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