1148 replies to this topic

[The Archon]

Evangelion 2.0
Unnecessary 1920x1080, for which I spent a good hour to find an appropriate player/codec.

Wow.  Great music, great visuals, Kaji's absolutely ridiculous accent when speaking English.  Replaced the second half of the original series with the middle of End of Evangelion, mangling canon narrative wherever it pleased.

About two-thirds through, I thought to myself "there's been so much character development for Rei, it'll be even more of a shame when she inevitably blows herself up."  I guess that's been addressed too... yay.

The third impact is happening, Rei and Unit 01 are getting jiggy with it, the geofront or whatever has been all but destroyed... on the flip side, Touji seems to have survived this incarnation, Ritsuko hasn't yet been, uhh, sacrificed, Kaji is still behaving himself, and Seele don't want Gendo's head quite yet.  It's a strange state for everything to be in; basically it's halfway through the story, but the ending is already happening.

The preview suggests that 3.0 will feature Kaworu's revenge (presumably because Shinji decided he was hetero), as well as some more intrigue with Seele etc. (which is kind of unnecessary now that the end of the world is already happening).  Two more movies... it'll be interesting to see where they go with this.  I'd heard that these movies are what the original series should have been, now that technical and financial restrictions have been lifted.  From what I've seen, this could definitely be the case, though I still maintain that anyone starting with these movies would probably be beyond confused.


On a related note, I finished volume 11 of the manga today.  As far as I can tell, volume 12 hasn't been published in English yet.

[Valdez]

I still recall when I watched it and actually suffered a headache from one too many AT fields.

[The Archon]

Tomorrow I have an ultra-important OS exam.  As such, instead of studying, I did some epic procrastinating tonight.  It's a compilation of my data from MAL.  Color = rating, each segment is a different series/movie.

Edited by The Archon, 20 June 2010 - 02:45 PM.

[Mizu]

Viewing two episodes of either Angel Beats or Durarara! makes anybody's night all the better. Having them air at the same time is also a win-win situation as the torrents are at full strength.

For Angel Beats:
I'm loving the character development for every episodes, the OP, the comical sequences, the "game" like world (saying what kind is spoilers), Yuri with her battle plans reminds me of Haruhi (or that shes her sister), the comical sequences during "missions", and the Tenshi conflicts. The Guild is probably the weirdest thing you might see....
Theres nothing that really feels out of place or wrong. Great Anime with one more episode to go through ^^. Oh wait, one character but hes a spoiler...hes an annoyance.

For Durarara!:
Who hasn't watched this yet? I'm near the end and I think its also a great anime.


Shizuo (the character wearing the bartender suit, or white in above image) literally reminds me of Stargazer. Everything Shizou did in the Anime always spawned thoughts of Stargazer....and I'm not trolling or baiting. Bump into Shizou and you accidentaly set off a fireworks of a personality heh. Nearby objects literally go flying everywhere......

This Anime loves making references to other Anime. "Spice and Wolf", "Jigoku Shoujo", and Baccanno! are three references you'll see. KFC is also poked fun at .



The Dollars being a free for all and invisible online gang, also win. This show wins with its crazy antics, Shizou, Dollars gang, and Izaya being a prick. I'd love to go into detail and make a more specific post but eh, goes into spoilers...

Hmm, 1 more episode to go for Angel Beats and 2 more for durarara. Damn....Those where fun anime to watch and why must they all end .

[Kelathin]

Anyone watch last week's Naruto Shippedun? Some of the most epicly funny fight scenes. Sadly it was mostly filler in comparison to the manga...

Some clips I found of it
Wack a Pain!


Who needs the normal running impossibly no justu when you have rock surfing no jutsu!


The new Falcon Punch!

Edited by Kelathin, 06 July 2010 - 08:05 PM.

[The Archon]

ef: a tale of memories (rewatched)
Better and more cohesive than I remember.  I suppose having seen this and Melodies in the past means it all actually makes sense this time around.  Good music.


Bakemonogatari (rewatched 1-14)
As good as last time.  Good music, very funny when it tries to be.

Bakemonogatari (episode 15)
Excellent show, but meh ending.

Nyoro~n Churuya-chan (rewatched)
Awesome; considerably funnier than I remembered.



The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya (novel)
A more blatant short-story format than the others, but better written.  Mysterique Sign ended with a little "Yuki has feelings" spiel, which was a bit more vague in the anime.  Remote Island Syndrome didn't include the additional ending of the shadowy murderer that Haruhi conjured to protect the others from suspicion; quite an interesting addition in the anime.  Also, strangely, Haruhi seems to have developed a lesser Koyzumi-esque ability to read Kyon's mind.  I've preordered the fourth novel, but I don't think it's going to be published until November.

Anime storylines thus far, and their novels:
Original series
- Adventures of Mikuru Asahina
- Melancholy (Melancholy)
- Baseball (Boredom)
- Mysterique Sign (Boredom)
- Remote Island Syndrome (Boredom)
- Live Alive
- The Day of Sagittarius
- Someday in the Rain
2009 series
- Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody (Boredom) (still my favorite storyline so far)
- Endless Eight
- Sigh (Sigh)

I imagine Adventures was just added as a cherry on top in the anime.  Live Alive was likely thrown in as a means of exploiting Aya Hirano's singing.  Day of Sagittarius will probably come up in a later novel, as will Endless Eight.  ChessRules already said that Someday in the Rain didn't appear in any novel, which makes sense, as there isn't really any story there.  I feel it does end on a good note to lead into the Disappearance movie, as did the other storylines that hinted at Yuki not simply being a mindless robot.  (Note: I wrote this before seeing/writing the below)


The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Wow.  Simply excellent.  Camrip, but it was watchable.  I guess I'll be buying the DVD once it's released... but I'll probably end up watching it again before then.  ******, I'd watch it again now, if I didn't have uni tomorrow.

Miscellanious musings, in no particular order (spoilers)

Spoiler

0. Unfortunately, the video quality meant that I could hardly see Yuki's smile
1. Towards the beginning, as soon as I saw that long black hair enter the classroom and realized it was Asakura, I found myself shaking my head and yelling "holy s***!" repeatedly at the screen.  Not a feeling I get very often when watching stuff.
2. I suppose it was necessary that they deliver Tsuruya for her fans.  Not really a side of her we generally see.
3. It was nice to see such a heavy revisiting of Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody.  I initially considered it strange that a single real-world event had transpired between Kyon and Haruhi in that alternate world, but then it turned into a huge focal point.
4. Yuki's memory of the library; obviously something she truly treasured and wanted to retain.
5. There are quite a few references to small events/conversations from the novels (mostly Boredom which didn't occur in either of the anime series, but which are relevant.
6. Up until the halfway point it was a 9/10. Then John pressed Enter and it unravelled into a 10.
7. The Yuki in alternate-1985 was adorable, and my long-time suspicions about her as a character have been confirmed.  It was awesome having a whole, 160-minute movie about my favorite anime character

Edited by The Archon, 19 July 2010 - 07:41 PM.

[Crimsonum]

It's been two weeks since I watched the last episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Now waiting for the movie.

TBH the last episodes lacked epicness. I think I partly watched it for the sake of watching it.

[Dei]

Crimsonum, on 20 July 2010 - 05:47 AM, said:

It's been two weeks since I watched the last episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Now waiting for the movie.

TBH the last episodes lacked epicness. I think I partly watched it for the sake of watching it.

...You suuuure it were just the last episodes that lacked epicness?

[Crimsonum]

Quote

You suuuure it were just the last episodes that lacked epicness?

Well, there waaaaaaas epicness (especially the soundtrack!) in the show if that's what you're getting at.

Must say I liked the first anime better, though. A lot better.

Edited by Crimsonum, 20 July 2010 - 02:55 PM.

[The Archon]

Rewatched:
-Haruhi-chan
-Nyoro~n Churuya-san
-Haruhi Season 1
-Haruhi Season 2 (all of it)
-Disappearance

I had copious notes from everything (a ridiculous amount), and hundreds of screenshots (mostly from Endless Eight I think), but that probably isn't very interesting for you guys (the two people who still look at this thread).  Suffice to say that every time I watch any of the above (okay, maybe not Nyoro~n), I pick up more and more subtle hints and clues about future storylines, characters' true motives, possible hidden powers, specifics about Yuki's code of rules, etc.

I'm still pining for high-res Disappearance.  I feel like there's a lot I'm missing.

Content:                         manga > novels > anime
Entertainment:                anime > manga > novels
Character development: novels > manga > anime
Cutest Yuki:                    manga > anime > novels

Edited by The Archon, 28 July 2010 - 11:23 PM.

[Valdez]

Even pokemanz is in HD these days. Good way to kill time while waiting for ME2 to install.

Come to think of it, in the time I had my previous laptop (acer aspire 4937G) I never tried watching anime on it before. Then again it probably would have sucked as the 4937G has a mere 14" screen.

[The Archon]

Finally finished the Neon Genesis Evangelion English dub.  The last couple of discs came with two versions of each episode, and so I watched the director's cut versions that I hadn't seen before.

The ending still sucked.

[Mizu]

well Archie, since you asked here you go!

--------

Anime to check out:

- Zipang - WW2 with a sprinkle of going back in time. Don't worry, it's all serious! Its serious from the beginning to the end. It's a Kongo class Destroyer sent back into the WW2 era. I actually think this is a great Anime and is an awesome WW2 themed Anime. The OST is also kick ass and has been stuck in my mind ever since I marathoned it. If anything, I'd recommend watching this over anything else I shall mention in this post.


(It's actually a Destroyer, not an Aircraft carrier - Fail dubs!)

- Main Theme: IJ6nyDAZkMs <-- copy into youtube as tags are glitching.
- Battle Mirai: 3uulNyuV0DM

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- Otome Youkai Zakuro - A goup of half humans and half foxes set in an alternate world of Imperial Japan where spirits and humans attempt to co-exist with one another. This is actually my favorite since it has a mixed atmosphere - romance and semi-serious combat.

Opening:


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- Saikano - A love story mixed in with a war-torn world. What would you do if your girlfriend was a weapon of mass-destruction? I won't spoil anything, except that it gets very depressing and dark.

2GG8POs3hkA  <-- Youtube tags glitching on PF.

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- Iron Man - Self explanatory, and actually pretty good. It actually ties itself to the movies.

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- Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail - Black Lagoon is back! Roberta decided to stir up some trouble with the American military forces for some vengeance, or to simply stir *beep* up.

sGEPfLOKB7Q

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- Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls - Weird to explain, but you basically got groups of supernatural samurai girls protecting a "Beautiful Japan" from invaders. The main character somehow forms a "contract" and all hell breaks loose on all sides. The Animation and art style is a plus on this, as with the intro scene in first ep. Music is also a plus on this one.

-z5XhsAJ79E

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- Shinrei Tantei Yakumo - Interested in the occult or the dead? This should be good to watch for Halloween. A guy sees the dead and solves problems, just like "Ghost Hunt"!

cf4r59_DOqw

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- Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works - If you want to blame anything for bringing me into Anime, blame the Fate/Stay Night Anime! It got a movie version with an alternate route. It's basically the same thing, but told in a different manner (i.e What if scenerio type things). I found the movie to be epic in animation, story, music, and action.

1rimw1jctbI

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- Amagami SS - One of those Animes based off visual novels and told in arcs. Each heroine gets 4 episodes to herself with the main male protagonist and let themselves go. Its just one of those Animes to get jealous on or to provoke nostalgia from your good/bad Highschool days. Oh, and it's not your average/normal romance Anime. What? I can't like it for it's story and funny moments?

UhlyK0RnZGk

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- Toaru Majutsu no Index - [i]A mix between an action and comedy Anime. The atmosphere tends to be mostly serious, with a comical side. Deals with a guy who can dispel any magic and has 100% negative luck. He also involuntarily partnered up with "Index" who holds 103,000 books by memory. Naturally, different groups want her knowledge and a cat and mouse game ensues.

To add to this, the Anime pulls heavily from religion and latin so have fun trying to see what part is real and what part is Animetized. Try sharpening up your latin skills by translating the latin in this Anime! Season 2 contains combat nuns.

qvQolh_F6kY

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Highschool of the Dead:

Basically deals with teens, highschool, ecchi oppai, and zombies. For those that played Left 4 Dead or similar may want to check this out. It also tries to tie in politics and world situation in a brief simplistic manner.

Saeko is kick ass in it, if you watch you'll see why

Kl6cNSBg3Wg

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Alrighty, I think that should be enough of the "catch-up" game for Archie and anybody else thats interested . For those that aren't, well....I lost interest in games and can't seem to keep up with them. My PS3 also died and not interested in my PSP. There are more interesting things going on. I don't even play my favorite ones anymore.

Peace!

[The Archon]

Black Rock Shooter OVA.  I had high expectations, given that Yutaka Yamamoto was involved, that Nagaru Tanigawa wrote it, and that it was based on a Supercell song/music video.

The animation had quite a low framerate, which was especially obvious in the action scenes.  The story itself was quite good, and well-told, though its ending begged for a sequel or series, and the alternate world wasn't explained at all.  Still kind of on the fence about this one... given the author, an expanded story might pleasantly surprise.

I think I'd better see that music video, though.

Edited by The Archon, 01 November 2010 - 10:51 PM.

[Haasth]

[Valdez]

I still think Girlchan in paradise (Ep1, not the subsequent crappy Eps) is the best anime parody.

[Mizu]

Haasth, on 13 November 2010 - 12:56 PM, said:

I did find that funny, but it only parodies kiddy animes. Neat parody though .

Leave the parodies to the Japanese because they know how to do it better, and it's actually funnier.

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Anybody watch Iron Man yet? It's an Americanized Anime so I'd be assuming some Americans be watching it to stay patriotic . Ah well.

Highschool of the Dead? Zombies? No? Your loss.

[Dei]

Mizu, on 13 November 2010 - 02:09 PM, said:

I did find that funny, but it only parodies kiddy animes. Neat parody though .

Leave the parodies to the Japanese because they know how to do it better, and it's actually funnier.

Mizu, on 13 November 2010 - 02:09 PM, said:

Highschool of the Dead? Zombies? No? Your loss.

Manga had less 'zombies are fillers, boobs are the main thing'. Therefore superior.

[Dei]

Well people, it was a nice time. Say goodbye to the fun anime.

[The Archon]

Maybe certain shows will be a little better if they choose to make it 18+.  Of course, in those cases money is likely to be an issue.

It's hard to imagine the kind of stuff they'd restrict, considering the different morals and standards of decency they have over there.