What anime are you watching right now? Jan 2013

[Tankred]

Poor you.

It's alright after the first 20 eps, its Earth arc isn't even a slog like in some Gundam series.

[delispin25]

It's alright after the first 20 eps, its Earth arc isn't even a slog like in some Gundam series.

I could never stand ZZ. The cast really annoys me. It's definitely the worst UC Gundam series, the best being either 0083 or Zeta.

[Tankred]

0083

Now you're just trolling.

[Fireball]

That's right, I'm watching STRIKE WITCHI now

I thought GuP's premise was already pantsu on head crazy but this a complete different ballgame.

Why don't they wear pants? (this one is rhetorical)
Why is French such a bitch?
Why is American always the sluttiest?
Why does she laugh like me?
What is up with those aliens?
Why am I watching this again?

Fuck.

SPOILER: Show

I could never stand ZZ. The cast really annoys me. It's definitely the worst UC Gundam series, the best being either 0083 or Zeta.

SPOILER: Show

[caragnafog dog]

I've only seen the OP so far but it's already the best Gundam I've ever seen.

[delispin25]

Now you're just trolling

Ah! I meant 08th Ms team. 0083 was good, but Kou was by far the worst character, and there are so many plot holes. 08th Ms team was awesome though, except for the last episode, which was completely unnecessary.

[Xard]

I'm behind, I haven't seen that scene yet. And good lord it's hypnotizing.

Funnily enough if I remember correctly that's from episode that was borderline-eva tier mindfuck fest.

(i never realised that Kodai actually checks that out)

Ditto untill I saw gif on /a/. A good chuckle was had

That's a fairly normal reaction, in fact, I was very underwhelmed by Zeta too at first, but the more I thought about it the more liked it and that reaction isn't so uncommon either.

Zeta is one of those series that bothered me in many ways while I watched it but afterwards and more time passes the stronger the positive feelings about series remain. This seems to be common reaction towards Tomino shows from me. Even ZZ, which I don't rate highly and which was pain to slog through, now feels remarkably unoffensive in my memory.

In contrast weak non-tomino Gundam like 0083 and Wing just feels all the more awful more time from viewing passes. I don't know why it works out like this but

Macross 7 is similar. The series rustled my jimmies almost non-stop when I watched it while now what remains with me are BOMBAAA and ORE NO UTA KIKEE...to point I wouldn't mind seeing sequel to Dynamite 7.

Sorry Budd, I was trying to go for a Vajira pun :(

uhh, I wasn't actually mad or anything.

One thing I do find interesting about Zeta is how absurdly dysfunctional the relationships between men and women are. Is Tomino really this cynical?

I'd say it's oddly realistic from Tomino's part. If women really were as batshit insane as average Tomino female character having a relationship that's *not* utterly dysfunctional smells like fairy tale

In other words, welcome to world of loltomino

I like kamille because he's psychotic.

Kamille is moe.

Only thing I loved more than loving to hate him in early series was loving to love him towards the end. Poor, poor sperg. Poor Fa too.

Poor me on top of it all since I then had to suffer through ZZ to get muh Kamille conclusion. Though ZZ had Puru, at least.

I could never stand ZZ. The cast really annoys me. It's definitely the worst UC Gundam series, the best being either 0083 or Zeta.

Nina, get off computer before something really bad happens.

Now ZZ Gundam was pretty bad show in my eyes and I'll never love Jewdough (though it has its charm points and incredibly enough by far the best Desert arc of all UC Gundems) but if it wasn't for time considerations I'd much rather rewatch it than the unfortunate clusterfuck that was 0083.

[caragnafog dog]

The relationships are certainly not entirely out of the realm of reason, but he takes the lies and manipulation that may be found in real life and turns them up to a new peak of dysfunction. It's an odd coupling with the senseless, cyclical war of the series. The men are as two-faced as the women are histrionic.

I don't know if I like Gundam yet, I'll reserve judgement until I get through ZZ, Char's Counterrattack and Unicorn.

[Mr. Tines]

That's right, I'm watching STRIKE WITCHI now
Why am I watching this again?

For the fan-service, I would guess.

[Fireball]

Zeta is one of those series that bothered me in many ways while I watched it but afterwards and more time passes the stronger the positive feelings about series remain. This seems to be common reaction towards Tomino shows from me. Even ZZ, which I don't rate highly and which was pain to slog through, now feels remarkably unoffensive in my memory.

In contrast weak non-tomino Gundam like 0083 and Wing just feels all the more awful more time from viewing passes. I don't know why it works out like this but

Macross 7 is similar. The series rustled my jimmies almost non-stop when I watched it while now what remains with me are BOMBAAA and ORE NO UTA KIKEE...to point I wouldn't mind seeing sequel to Dynamite 7.

In other words, welcome to world of loltomino

Ah, I remember that was one of the first articles I read of his blog.

I think a lot of people don't like to give Tomino the credit here but quite frankly, there is no one who does that better than the man himself. Often I catched myself watching and coming to the conclusion, "well, that was stupid but fuck me if it wasn't entertaining in it's own craziness".

Case in point, I watched a few Zeta episodes with Tank and Final last night and we had a good laugh again. The show is basically one sexual innuendo after another

Only thing I loved more than loving to hate him in early series was loving to love him towards the end. Poor, poor sperg. Poor Fa too.

Poor me on top of it all since I then had to suffer through ZZ to get muh Kamille conclusion. Though ZZ had Puru, at least.

And Haman, don't forget the Ham in her glorious Sailor Senshi outfit!



(yes, this is a cue =P)

For the fan-service, I would guess.

Riiiiiiiiiight, that's exactly why!

[Merridian]

@Fireball you'll have to get back to us when you've decided on your favorite witch.

although, it's not like the correct answers could be anyone other than either Lynette or Minna

[Dr. Nick]

Macross Frontier films:

In all honesty, after that god-awful Eureka Seven film I've approached all theatrical re-imaginings of existing properties with the greatest of suspicion. Furthermore, I'm not even a particularly big fan of Macross DYRL; while undoubtedly a technical marvel, it felt to me that the grand scale of the story was constrained by the film's 115 minute running time. (Not rushed, mind you, only constrained. The distinction is important. Clip-show compilation films, on the other hand, oftentimes feel both rushed and constrained.)

Having said that, I was really positively surprised by the Frontier films. The running time was just right while avoiding trilogy-itis, and the whole thing felt like a genuine labor of love, with every scene radiating effort and big ambitions. The story was condensed and altered admirably, although there were a small handful of "cheap" shortcuts (a narrator explaining the function of the fold quartz) and some tiny unexplained things that might confuse new viewers (Klan's size-changing ability and the significance of the name Quarter for example). One omitted thing I wish they could've kept in was the fast, Borg-like adaptability of the Vajra, as it really helped to sell them as a scary threat in the original show. In this version the Vajra are just naturally tough critters. But for me, the new twists and surprises more than made up for all those things.

SPOILER: Show

And yes, the second movie gets major props from me for actually resolving the bloody triangle. No, not like that, although I wouldn't have put it past Kawamori (I mean, he did paint a big triangle on the floor, so why not scan the floors for some more more non-subtext?). Then again. I also felt the second movie did hit some snags in the writing department, with the world's easiest prison escape being a minor shark-jumping moment. And the whole thing with the final battle being a struggle to forcefully reach understanding with a seemingly monstrous non-human faction, it's worth pointing out that the Gundam 00 film, Fafner: Heaven and Earth and The Wings of Goodbye were all released within six months of each another, and they all pulled an ending like that, so it's no wonder if people are starting get a little tired of UNDERSTANDING and constant ruining of perfectly good flowery meadows. All and all (and surfing aside), Frontier's film ending also seemed more derivative as a Macross ending, with its Plus-style atmospheric dogfight against a crazed rival and its Zero-style blast-off to the ends of space. And while I surprisingly enjoyed seeing a good guy Grace, a bunch of wrinkled pod people didn't really have the same big villain presence as she did in the TV series.

Overall, my score for the first film is a smashing 9/10, and for the second film a still solid 8/10. Together, the Frontier films are probably my second most favorite theatrical retelling, right after the original Gundam movie trilogy. Finally, some notes I scribbled up during my viewing:

- They sure ramped up the porn levels in Sheryl's concerts.
- Is Black Jack supposed to be an anime or a live-action series in Macrossverse?
- Oh hey, there is a Nanase cameo!
- Fold bacteria are kinda like midichlorians, aren't they?
- Is there anything Canaria can't do? She's a true renaissance lady.
- What on earth is wrong with that railing? With hospitals like that, you're going to be needing Black Jack.
- Oh god, that "Surf's up!" scene! Forget about Chekov's gun, Chekov's sufboard trumps it easily.

Just finished Zeta.

It's funny because it's accurate. (Spoilers)

[caragnafog dog]

SPOILER: Show

Everyone dies for no reason: the anime.

Texhnolyze did it better.

[Xard]

Well, I should have specified it to Macross Frontier but Xard can probably elaborate on this more.

Well, I think I covered what's relevant in my bug wars ramble...?

I don't know if I like Gundam yet, I'll reserve judgement until I get through ZZ, Char's Counterrattack and Unicorn.

Ehh, it' a franchise of anime titles. You should be able to say whether or not you've liked (largerly self contained) anime you've seen so far.

Speaking of which your pace is terrifying. You watched 50 episodes of Zetas in few days. I can't imagine gulping down Gundam at that rate while staying relatively sane

Case in point, I watched a few Zeta episodes with Tank and Final last night and we had a good laugh again. The show is basically one sexual innuendo after another

why no invite for me :(

and some tiny unexplained things that might confuse new viewers (Klan's size-changing ability and the significance of the name Quarter for example).

Forgetting to explain Zentraedi size-change was bit of a slip, yeah, but I'm not sure what significance there was to naming of Quarter. It just reflects it's 1/4th size of average Macross but I'm not sure if that actually demands any elaboration, especially since the size difference is clear when it shares a scene with Battle Frontier.

One omitted thing I wish they could've kept in was the fast, Borg-like adaptability of the Vajra, as it really helped to sell them as a scary threat in the original show. In this version the Vajra are just naturally tough critters. But for me, the new twists and surprises more than made up for all those things.

I think this is followed from difference in focus and mood of story between tv series and films

SPOILER: Show

the tv series drums up the conflict between species and won't answer whether Alto or Ranka had the right attitude to Vajra as living beings before finale. In film version of the story it's made clear from the outset Vajra aren't really bad guys and their position is more that of a victim of human greed and ambition. The real, main conflict is between humans and followingly the amount of political intrigue, maneuver etc. leaps up from what's present in tv series. Actually I'd go as far as say that in many ways Frontier's film story is the most unforgiving and harshest on humans in all Macross titles, despite its relatively happy end and candy colours. It's Zero in bigger scale in this sense.

I think the change is explained by two things. First there's a thematic shift to even more explicitly Zeroesque message, secondly since large sector of film audience had already seen television series they couldn't play up the ambiguity game re: Vajra second time around without it getting completely stale.

I also felt the second movie did hit some snags in the writing department, with the world's easiest prison escape being a minor shark-jumping moment.

Actually this doesn't really count as a cheap shortcut (or jumping of shark) because it was part of Mishima's keikaku all along and as such its ease was something that everyone wanted to happen. The film cuts to Mishima and Prez hanging 'round in that shady command deck of theirs couple of times during the sequence showcasing they're clearly aware of what's happening but don't react to it in any way they'd react if they didn't want it to happen. Furthermore what Mishima is doing at that point crucially hinges on the Alcatraz operation (heh) going on, further implicating he was in the known and counting on the success of endeavour.

So while it's not directly stated in film I think it was implied strongly enough by the film to be quite inferrable.

The extra material is explicit about this. In the second Sheryl Nome Visual Collection there's actually a short story detailing the events leading up to the prison break and what went on at the time of concert mainly from povs of prison chief and Zentraedi prisoner whose name I forget.

Given that Kawamori's first screenplay for Sayonara no Tsubasa was 6 hours long I think it's safe to say the novella reused material that was deemed not crucial for film as a whole (indeed, while the background for and lingering racial issues with Zentraedi prisoners as well as background of Alcatraz are both interesting on their own right they would've derailed film's focus entirely if included).

Speaking of the monster screenplay I think they could've easily turned Frontier's film take into trilogy with the amount of material they had. I'm pretty sure some of this material also ended up in recently concluded (Kawamori supervised) Macross Fortissimo manga that takes place during the three month timeskip between two features.

- Oh god, that "Surf's up!" scene! Forget about Chekov's gun, Chekov's sufboard trumps it easily.

Captain Surf was one of the biggest highlights, yeah. Come to think of it he's easily the most badass, capable commander in the franchise. Global was always shitting his pants and being generally utterly useless while 7 shows that even a genius like Max will come tumbling down in terms of competence when shifted from Valkyrie cockpit to command bridge.

Anyway, nice to hear you digged the Frontier films (and interesting you liked Utahime more). It is my favourite theatrical retelling and with Sayonara no Tsubasa Kawamori finally delivered something with which to kick DYRL down from its well-deserved pedestal.

ps. No mention for

SPOILER: Show

Isamu cameo?

I probably had the stupidest Macross 7 ahegao on in theatre when that happened.

***********'








UH-HUH





oh god teh Rei

Ayanami = old and busted
Hino = still pure sex that ages like fine wine

[Final Messenger]

why no invite for me :(

I would have given you a invite but when we started it you got off skype :P

[caragnafog dog]

I usually say I'm reserving judgment on something until I finish it because I don't like it at that time and hope my opinion changes by the end. I'm hopelessly optimistic with anime because it's short enough to justify slogging through it (even though gendem is atypically long for animu). There are things I liked about MSG and Zeta, but neither was particularly engaging until the last arc, or in Zeta's case, the last few episodes. They both seemed like they could have been a lot shorter and still amounted to roughly the same thing. That's part of the reason why I went through Zeta so quickly, it dragged on in such a way that I would have forgotten a lot of it if I didn't finish it as quickly as possible.

The things I found interesting about MSG was the dichotomy between the new and oldtypes (although that got tired once I saw Zeta) and the rivalry between Amuro and Char. The things I found interesting about Zeta were Kamille, the way the two sexes interacted, and the ending. The rest of it wasn't that compelling to me. Regardless, I'll finish the UC timeline because I've heard good things about the movie, Unicorn and MS team. Also because they're important and I HAVE TO SEE EVERYTHING. My backlog underwent apotheosis a long time ago, it is infinite.

Also also, compared to Gundam, Macross seems much more approachable lengthwise. I was shaking in fear with the sheer amount of shit I had to watch just to get through one timeline of gendem, Macross is a little less expansive.

[Dr. Nick]

Actually this doesn't really count as a cheap shortcut (or jumping of shark) because it was part of Mishima's keikaku all along and as such its ease was something that everyone wanted to happen.

Mishima's plan was made very clear after the rescue operation started, but the SMS folks weren't privy to it, were they? For what I can tell, they expected to go against legit security with their clownish plan. And considering this, they applied for a prison concert permit during wartime, at a prison housing a dangerous spy/war criminal. That's not quite what Johnny Cash did.

ps. No mention for

SPOILER: Show

Isamu cameo?

SPOILER: Show

That was actually one of the few things spoiled to me, but really, it was such a freaking short cameo. They could have given him 15 seconds more to actually show him in person and let him fire some missiles. That wouldn't have hogged the spotlight.

[delispin25]

I'm watching Trigun.
Pros.
-Most of the characters are likable, especially Vash.
-The fight scenes are amazing.
-It's funny most of the time.
-Vash is really intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about his past.
-The setting is really great, they managed to blend Western and Sci-Fi together very well.

Cons.
-The animation is a mixed bag. Some episodes have such bad animation. (see episode 4)
-So far, there isn't much of a story, the episodes are pretty much stand alone. The most we get are tid bits about Vash's history.
-The dub is pretty horrible. Johnny Yong Bosh does a great job, but the rest of the cast is almost unbearable.
-No Blu-Ray transfer. They really need to remaster this in 1080p.

[C.A.P.]

Xard, knowing that you finally started on Sailor Moon fills me with glee.

I'm tempted to talk about things you should look out for, but for now, I'll say this: Good luck.

[caragnafog dog]

The Trigun dub is hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Zz5S90su0