General Anime Discussion: Area 11

[Terraoblivion]

Lots of people also absolutely love Tiger and Bunny, Mawaru Penguindrum and Fate/Zero, as much as I hate to say that last one. There has also been season 2 of K-On which is probably the best slice of life comedy about high school girls out there and it was extremely well made in most regards, even if you don't like the genre. At least among feminists, yuri fans and old school sci-fi fans Bodacious Space Pirates is considered a modern classic, even if the general anime viewing audience doesn't agree. If we look to movies Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya had quite a good reception to put it mildly, to the point where I've only seen one person who doesn't hate the entire franchise say he didn't like it and several people who didn't care much for the show claim to love it.

And I have to say, that if Madoka doesn't count as something truly great then either you're losing interest in anime, your nostalgia goggles for the great shows of the past are way too strong or you can't see past personal preference to look at quality in production. I mean, I think that Revolutionary Girl Utena is hugely overrated but I can certainly see why it is one of the best shows at being what it tries to be, I just personally don't like what it tries to be all that much.

As for Shin Sekai Yori, the flatness of the characters really bugs me and the several episodes dedicated to bakenezumi fighting each other seemed kinda like nothing important was happening. I'm still following it, but the last three episodes have had much less of the wonder, mystery and creeping dread of the first four. So I've come to see Robotics;Notes as my favorite show of the season and my number two of the year.

[Rising Phoenix]

Saw up to about episode 5.

Seems to be changing genre every episode, but that was mainly made obvious by the last one.

Characters are still pretty much just there.

The start of the mini adventure arc? Yeah by episode 8 it changes again.

I agree that the characters aren't that great, but I find the setting quite interesting. I don't know what to think of the series currently as of episode 8... it has the potential to be great or... go down the drain.

Define an anime more than 3 years old that you consider great and they'll probably be equivalents.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
Usagi Drop
Steins;Gate
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Kokoro Connect
Hanasaku Iroha

Are considered quite good.

Oops I just listed slice of life and stuff other people rave about.

By definition its hard to know what's classic until its old.

Of course. My 'problem' can probably boil down to there not being any good animes of the genres I enjoy...So here are some of my favorites from the last 10 or so years. (Obviously these are my personal opinion)

Spoiler

Show

Ghost in the Shell-Has there ever been another show that surpasses it in its genre? The only one I've come across is Psycho Pass and so far it doesn't come near.

Honey and Clover- The only slice of life I truly enjoyed probably because I could relate to the characters due to experiencing a similar situation at the time. Other similar shows such as Nodame Contabile I simply cannot get to like.

Wolf's Rain- Perhaps a bit of a cult hit this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it due to the setting (humanity has screwed up the planet) and great OST, don't remember the characters much, but I do remember crying in the last two episodes so they must have been at least ok . I am not aware of any other anime that is similar to this one.

FMA Brotherhood- One of the better if not the best Action Adventure anime out there. It boasts great character development, a good storyline, mostly good characters and a well fleshed out setting. Bleach was goodish (not as good as FMA) for the first 80 or so episodes and Soul Eater showed promised, but failed to full-fill it imo

12 Kingdoms- A fantastic Fantasy Adventure show. Great setting, great music and good character development, visuals were far from great, but suit the series. A shame it was axed early :(. Magi so far cannot compare to it.

Mushishi- In the paranormal category this one is quite unique in its approach I think. One of my all time favorites. There's Holic and a few others that deal with paranormal activity that are goodish, but I do not find them quite as good.

Kino no Tabi- One of the few anime that has actually stimulated me to think. I haven't seen that many fantasy/dystropian anime so there may be better ones out there.

Durrarara/ Baccano- a bit philosphical, some paranormal elements, like-able characters, there are many anime that have these, but I just like these two more than the rest.

So are any of the new 'cream of the crop' series comparable/are of similar genre to the above? IMO no though they are still good. Just not memorable for me.

Edit: To accommodate the above response.

I generally do not watch girl school/magic girl type stuff so I cannot comment on those. Fate/Zero is also overrated in my books as well and Mawaru Penguindrum I watched the first six episodes only to completely forget about it. Haruhi I found, not great. The movie I really liked, however. Finally I do not like Neon Genesis Evangellion-at-all. And before someone says it: "you do not understand it/the protagonist"- I do understand it I just don't like it.

Also I should say I haven't watched Madoka yet, it's on my 'to watch list' though :). It is also possible that I may be getting too old for anime these days.

[Kato]

I'll agree, there was great stuff in the last years. One might argue on what you consider great but for most genre there was something that has the chance to be considered a classic in ten or twenty years...


So, since someone revived the thread anyway, I was wondering... if anyone is following Girls und Panzer, how much are you troubled by the subbers in-jokes with the German words in the subs? Obviously I really don't have any problem with it but I was just curious.

[Terraoblivion]

Sounds like your big problem is that anime has mostly moved from centering on big concepts to being very character driven. I don't mind, I tend to end up rolling my eyes at the big concepts or get bored out of my mind by constant exposition or the author trying to show off how clever. Which is why I can't watch Ghost in the Shell anymore, the sheer unreality of how people talk is driving me crazy. However, if you want big, thought provoking concepts and depth then you are kinda out of luck, but that isn't really an issue of quality as much as taste.

I do, however, agree that Fate/Zero was hugely overrated and not just because of how offensive it was, though that was part of it too.

[Rising Phoenix]

Sounds like your big problem is that anime has mostly moved from centering on big concepts to being very character driven. I don't mind, I tend to end up rolling my eyes at the big concepts or get bored out of my mind by constant exposition or the author trying to show off how clever. Which is why I can't watch Ghost in the Shell anymore, the sheer unreality of how people talk is driving me crazy. However, if you want big, thought provoking concepts and depth then you are kinda out of luck, but that isn't really an issue of quality as much as taste.

I do, however, agree that Fate/Zero was hugely overrated and not just because of how offensive it was, though that was part of it too.

I just finished watching Madoka... gods it was one of the most beautiful twisted tales I've ever seen and certainly restores faith in anime. Definitely the best show of 2012 for so far. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was of magical genre, but that's really nit picking.

[Somewhere]

2011, rather. Unless you watched the movies which are from this year.

Have you tried C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control?

On the film side, how about Hoshi o Ou Kodomo (Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below)? It's Makoto Shinkai's latest film. I consider it to be very good, though a common complaint is that it's Shinkai trying too hard to be like Miyazaki.

[Rising Phoenix]

2011, rather. Unless you watched the movies which are from this year.

Have you tried C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control?

On the film side, how about Hoshi o Ou Kodomo (Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below)? It's Makoto Shinkai's latest film. I consider it to be very good, though a common complaint is that it's Shinkai trying too hard to be like Miyazaki.

Seen C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control. It had an interesting premise, but imo failed at execution.

I'll add the film to my watch list :)

[Terraoblivion]

Madoka is indeed amazing. Just thinking about Homura's little prayer from near the end sends little shivers down my spine. In the end, I don't really think it is that twisted, though.

[Rising Phoenix]

Madoka is indeed amazing. Just thinking about Homura's little prayer from near the end sends little shivers down my spine. In the end, I don't really think it is that twisted, though.

I think it is quite twisted

Spoiler

Show

Primarily because despite wishing for witches to cease to exist they just get replaced by something else... aka people still suffer.

Also Kyubei... though I don't think his twisted. Rather he is completely alien

Edit: On Hoshi o Ou Kodomo I did some research on it and I think that I will like it considering that Princess Mononoke is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Closet_Skeleton]

they just get replaced by something else... aka people still suffer.

I kind of just assumed that was more a nod to the genre where new enemies always pop up once the first lot are gone.

I don't think people's suffering in this series was really due to the presence of enemies.

[Rising Phoenix]

I kind of just assumed that was more a nod to the genre where new enemies always pop up once the first lot are gone.

I don't think people's suffering in this series was really due to the presence of enemies.

Spoiler

Show

I more meant that despite the ultimate sacrifices there's no escape from the desperate cycle.

And I just saw Hoshi o Ou Kodomo. It certainly has certainly been inspired by Ghibli movies. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't a Ghibli either.

[tensai_oni]

Spoiler tags are your friend Rising Phoenix.

Also I'm pretty sure you misunderstood the ending if you think it ultimately changes nothing.

Spoiler

Show

Regardless of presence of Witches or Demons, people will still suffer because it's part of humanity. The worst tragedies aren't caused by either of them anyway but rather by humans themselves.

The thing that really changes is that people who form contracts with Kyubei aren't being cheated and turned into Witches anymore. The deal is finally fair.
Also since it's no longer despair-driven there is no need for Kyubei to limit himself to adolescent girls as contract takers, and therefore more people can hunt Demons and retrieve energy needed for World Not To End (I Fail Physics).

By the way I was slightly irritated at the explanation of magical girls being chosen because "adolescent girls are most emotionally vulnerable!" Wouldn't be the first time Kyubei's race fails science though - see above.

[Rising Phoenix]

Spoiler tags are your friend Rising Phoenix.

Also I'm pretty sure you misunderstood the ending if you think it ultimately changes nothing.

Spoiler

Show

Regardless of presence of Witches or Demons, people will still suffer because it's part of humanity. The worst tragedies aren't caused by either of them anyway but rather by humans themselves.

The thing that really changes is that people who form contracts with Kyubei aren't being cheated and turned into Witches anymore. The deal is finally fair.
Also since it's no longer despair-driven there is no need for Kyubei to limit himself to adolescent girls as contract takers, and therefore more people can hunt Demons and retrieve energy needed for World Not To End (I Fail Physics).

By the way I was slightly irritated at the explanation of magical girls being chosen because "adolescent girls are most emotionally vulnerable!" Wouldn't be the first time Kyubei's race fails science though - see above.

Spoiler

Show

Fair points, but still the need to replenish energy, because Kyubei's creators fail to understand thermodynamics, is still there. Hence the need for people to turn into magical girls/boys.

What I would consider the optimum solution to be would be that there is no longer a need to replenish the energy, hence no need for magical people, hence no need for these individuals to suffer. Perhaps Madoka should have wished for Kyubei's creators to understand how thermodynamics work...

[Somewhere]

For what it's worth, I'm surprised enough already that Urobuchi Gen decided to use the heat death of the universe at all, even if it's wrong.
Besides, most Madoka viewers don't care much for that aspect. For example, at his Q&A session at Otakon this year, I don't recall anybody asking anything related to that or thermodynamics.

[Sith_Happens]

For what it's worth, I'm surprised enough already that Urobuchi Gen decided to use the heat death of the universe at all, even if it's wrong.
Besides, most Madoka viewers don't care much for that aspect. For example, at his Q&A session at Otakon this year, I don't recall anybody asking anything related to that or thermodynamics.

Meh, heat death is such a boring way to end the universe. Everyone knows that

Spoiler

Show

(Gurren Lagann spoilers)

Spoiler

Show

turning the universe into a giant black hole because your pure AWESOMENESS spontaneously creates a bunch of galaxies

is where it's at.

[Morph Bark]

So I am currently on episode 3 of the anime Another and I'm wondering... does it ever get less creepy? Some bits of the show intruigue me, but the overall vibe and the main female character's monotonity so far kind of disturb me.

[Terraoblivion]

No idea. I'm not a fan of horror so I never watched the show, sticking with the stuff Tatsuo Sato worked on for winter anime. Worked well enough for me.

[Closet_Skeleton]

So I am currently on episode 3 of the anime Another and I'm wondering... does it ever get less creepy? Some bits of the show intruigue me, but the overall vibe and the main female character's monotonity so far kind of disturb me.

It gets more violent. Does that count?

[Morph Bark]

Decided not to go further with Another and get on to other anime, some new, some I had put on hold before. I'm liking Psycho-Pass and Zetsuen no Tempest so far. I thought of also starting on K, but the first few minutes full of Engrish grated me severely, so by the time Japanese popped up, I decided to stop there for the moment. I might continue it later, but does it contain a lot of Engrish?

I also went back to The Legend of the Legendary Heroes and watched further (I had seen up to episode 18 or 19 like a year ago). Episode 22 and 23 were such a change from 21 I got thoroughly confused. Then suddenly

Spoiler

Show

Sion tries to kill Ryner after all, after he's been going back and forth about it the whole time and everything seemed pretty good. I honestly don't get why he'd do that, since Ryner's track record is pretty good all things considered and got better and better as the series progressed.

I've yet to watch the final episode, but right now it's just one big WHAT. Also, isn't there a follow-up anime, OVA or movie coming out? I thought I'd seen that a while back in a list of upcoming stuff for this winter.


EDIT: Okay, seen episode 24 now, which clears things up a bit.

Spoiler

Show

Mainly that Sion loses his mind to the Black Hero and thus becomes an evil bastard who tries to take over the world with an army of... experimental undead construct soldiers of some sort. Though why the people under him would go along with that is beyond me, but I guess they just think "King's orders" and stop questioning.

[Kato]

Hasn't Legend of the Legendary heroes aired years ago? It obviously needed another season but I thought it just didn't sell well enough and we were just left with half a story.

[Morph Bark]

I dunno when exactly it aired. I think I started watching around the time it came out. Either way, I distinctly remember something about a follow-up series and telling one of my friends about it. After I couldn't find proof of it again, I asked him about it and he told me that I did tell him that. Now I guess it's just waiting until January to see if it comes true (I think it was January 5th or 8th).

[Somewhere]

It aired in 2010.
Anidb does not mention any followup series, and in the calendar for next January, I see nothing related to Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu.

[Yora]

There's now an early cut of AMV Hell 6 for download. It still is 82 minutes long and speaking from the first 20 minutes, it's as good as the previous ones. Intro is a bit too long.

[Goldfly]

So. I happened across Evangelion 1.01 and 2.22 at my local Best Buy. Just finished watching 2.22.

Spoiler

Show

Did... Did Shinji just start Third Impact? I knew things were going wrong when Mari showed up, and then Asuka with Unit 03, but I didn't expect things to go this badly. I mean, he properly just wiped out a good portion of the Earth's population, didn't he?

Also, the moon has the blood from End of Evangelion. Between that, the oceans, and Kaworu's words at the very end of 2.22... I don't know. I'M JUST SO CONFUSED.

[AlterForm]

So. I happened across Evangelion 1.01 and 2.22 at my local Best Buy. Just finished watching 2.22.

Spoiler

Show

Did... Did Shinji just start Third Impact? I knew things were going wrong when Mari showed up, and then Asuka with Unit 03, but I didn't expect things to go this badly. I mean, he properly just wiped out a good portion of the Earth's population, didn't he?

Also, the moon has the blood from End of Evangelion. Between that, the oceans, and Kaworu's words at the very end of 2.22... I don't know. I'M JUST SO CONFUSED.

Eva 2.22

Spoiler

Show

Welcome to the club.

[Goldfly]

Eva 2.22

Spoiler

Show

Welcome to the club.

Eva 2.22

Spoiler

Show

I thought it was supposed to be a less depressing retelling of the original series... ;_;

[0Megabyte]

So. I happened across Evangelion 1.01 and 2.22 at my local Best Buy. Just finished watching 2.22.

Spoiler

Show

Did... Did Shinji just start Third Impact? I knew things were going wrong when Mari showed up, and then Asuka with Unit 03, but I didn't expect things to go this badly. I mean, he properly just wiped out a good portion of the Earth's population, didn't he?

Also, the moon has the blood from End of Evangelion. Between that, the oceans, and Kaworu's words at the very end of 2.22... I don't know. I'M JUST SO CONFUSED.

Spoiler

Show

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Oh, man! Let me ask you. Would answering your question with a one-word yes or no be a spoiler?

Oh, well, I'm putting it into a spoiler anyway: Did Shinji really start Third Impact, and properly wipe out a good portion of the Earth's population?

Spoiler

Show

Yes.

[AtlanteanTroll]

Black Lagoon's manga is going to be returning from hiatus, so the anime should be as well. Thought people'd be interested.

[Goldfly]

Spoiler

Show

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Oh, man! Let me ask you. Would answering your question with a one-word yes or no be a spoiler?

Oh, well, I'm putting it into a spoiler anyway: Did Shinji really start Third Impact, and properly wipe out a good portion of the Earth's population?

Spoiler

Show

Yes.

Spoiler

Show

I'd assumed that. I mean, Kaworu probably wouldn't have been able to stop it. Maybe with the Lance of Longinus, I guess? Probably not.

[0Megabyte]

Spoiler

Show

I'd assumed that. I mean, Kaworu probably wouldn't have been able to stop it. Maybe with the Lance of Longinus, I guess? Probably not.

You did watch after the credits, right?