What anime are you watching?

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?

What a fantastic experience. I honestly can't picture an anime fan seeing this film and disliking it.

The production values are through the roof. This film probably has the most gorgeous animation, at least in terms of detail, that I have ever seen. Current stuff may be able to match DYRL's animation in fluidity, but I haven't seen anything done with today's technology that can match the hand drawn sequences of DYRL for detail.

The music is wonderful Japanese pop of the era, same as any Macross series. Stellar.

While the film had the tall order of cramming the first 26 episodes of the TV series into a two hour movie, it succeeds by and large. For anyone who has seen this and hasn't seen the TV series, I wouldn't think of DYRL as a compilation/summary movie so much as an alternate version of the story. Roughly, the high points of the plot are similar, but everything in between is quite different. The road Ishiguro and Kawimori take to get to the same destination is a quite different one this time around.

Minmay isn't nearly as annoying in this either. Now, she's still Minmay, but her bad qualities seem significantly toned down, save for the scene just before the climax of the film.

Great watch. Everyone should see it who is remotely interested in sci fi anime. If you are curious about Macross or just love the love triangle, then you gotta check it out.

[MightiMidget]

@ Doc, so is that something one can watch without any prior knowledge of Macross? At all?

[Yamamaya]

Watching Tales of the Abyss.

[blkmage]

@ Doc, so is that something one can watch without any prior knowledge of Macross? At all?

Yes .

[MightiMidget]

Alrighty then, I shall look into this.... thanks blkmage! =)

[Nanao]

Started C last night. So far there are only 3 episodes up, but it seems interesting enough so far.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Monster episode 15 - YAY TURKISH PART!!!!!

FMA: Brotherhood episode 14 - Still kinda iffy; I can't wait for the part where the quality actually steps up. Wait, I think that's the next episode XD

[Sapphire225]

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?

What a fantastic experience. I honestly can't picture an anime fan seeing this film and disliking it.

The production values are through the roof. This film probably has the most gorgeous animation, at least in terms of detail, that I have ever seen. Current stuff may be able to match DYRL's animation in fluidity, but I haven't seen anything done with today's technology that can match the hand drawn sequences of DYRL for detail.

The music is wonderful Japanese pop of the era, same as any Macross series. Stellar.

While the film had the tall order of cramming the first 26 episodes of the TV series into a two hour movie, it succeeds by and large. For anyone who has seen this and hasn't seen the TV series, I wouldn't think of DYRL as a compilation/summary movie so much as an alternate version of the story. Roughly, the high points of the plot are similar, but everything in between is quite different. The road Ishiguro and Kawimori take to get to the same destination is a quite different one this time around.

Minmay isn't nearly as annoying in this either. Now, she's still Minmay, but her bad qualities seem significantly toned down, save for the scene just before the climax of the film.

Great watch. Everyone should see it who is remotely interested in sci fi anime. If you are curious about Macross or just love the love triangle, then you gotta check it out.

It has been ages since I've watched Robotech now that you've brought this up. Glad to know i'm not the only Macross junkie. Anyway, watched the last episode of Overman King Gainer. I can't believe the main cast is alive. Is...is this really from Tomino!? He must have been really happy.

I need a King Gainer!

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Glad to know i'm not the only Macross junkie.

There are a few of them on this site, if I'm not mistaken. I say "them" instead of "us" not because I dont' adore Macross (SDF is one of my favorite things) but because I've haven't seen anything produced after Macross Plus, but I hope to rectify that soon.

[Agloval]

I'm still trying to figure out what I think about Space Runaway Ideon and Be Invoked. I don't think Ideon is great, but it is interesting, and by the end I was very entertained and involved. (And Be Invoked's bluray release looks abso-bleedin-lutely stunning.)

I love their vehicles. reminds me of some Indy 500 racecars.

Mmm, I can see that. I think there's a kind of interwar aircraft look to the vanships, which I love too. They even look okay to me in the CG bits, which is impressive for 2003.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Castle in the Sky was quite a bit better than I expected it to be, and I'd probably say it's my second favorite Miyazaki film after Spirited Away. As opposed to Nausicaa I really liked the oldness of it, and it didn't have nearly as many of Miyazaki's problems. I was expecting to dislike it and ended up enjoying it more than I would have though. The aerial sequences were fantastic and I felt for the characters, so all in all it was a pretty good movie.

[Mouse2010]

I'm still watching Escaflowne; just finished episode 9. Still pretty good, so I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

Earlier this week, I watched the pilot of Blue Exorcist, and immediately thought "I bet my husband would like this." I was right, so we're watching that one together. I was sad that [spoiler]they killed off the cool priest, because I really liked him. I guess they needed to give Rin a reason to want to be an exorcist, but still . . . it's a shame that it's so rare to see strong parental figures who don't get killed off.[/spoiler]

[That Dude]

Castle in the Sky was quite a bit better than I expected it to be, and I'd probably say it's my second favorite Miyazaki film after Spirited Away. As opposed to Nausicaa I really liked the oldness of it, and it didn't have nearly as many of Miyazaki's problems. I was expecting to dislike it and ended up enjoying it more than I would have though. The aerial sequences were fantastic and I felt for the characters, so all in all it was a pretty good movie.

Castle In The Sky is also my second favorite, right behind Princess Mononoke.

[Maokun]

Castle in the Sky was quite a bit better than I expected it to be, and I'd probably say it's my second favorite Miyazaki film after Spirited Away. As opposed to Nausicaa I really liked the oldness of it, and it didn't have nearly as many of Miyazaki's problems. I was expecting to dislike it and ended up enjoying it more than I would have though. The aerial sequences were fantastic and I felt for the characters, so all in all it was a pretty good movie.

Oh? May I inquire about your qualms with Nausicaa? It is my fav Miyazaki movie along with Spirited Away.

[GeneD]

Watched the first 2 episodes of the following at a con:

Infinite Stratos -The animation was okay and their fighting suit things are cool but I don't like harem anime.
Fractale -It starts interestingly but I've heard it disappoints.
Deadman Wonderland -ditto
Sket Dance -I might look into this further since it made me laugh.
Steins Gate -Pretty confusing but it seems interesting and also had a few funny moments.
Toriko and One Piece cross-over special -what is this I don't even

Also watching some Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, currently on episode 6.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Oh? May I inquire about your qualms with Nausicaa? It is my fav Miyazaki movie along with Spirited Away.

I really disliked how it beat me over the head with its environmental message while implying that the people not from the land of Harmony With Nature were all evil, especially after having seen Princess Mononoke, which I felt gave the same message but with more subtlety and less people who hurt the environment being evil. I also didn't really like any of the characters, which is a pretty important part of any story.

[ich1990]

I really disliked how it beat me over the head with its environmental message while implying that the people not from the land of Harmony With Nature were all evil... I also didn't really like any of the characters, which is a pretty important part of any story.

The manga fixes this.

[TheMewster]

Recently watched episode 1 of Angelic Layer.

[Maokun]

I really disliked how it beat me over the head with its environmental message while implying that the people not from the land of Harmony With Nature were all evil, especially after having seen Princess Mononoke, which I felt gave the same message but with more subtlety and less people who hurt the environment being evil. I also didn't really like any of the characters, which is a pretty important part of any story.

As far as I remember (watched it long time ago,) it's not so much that the bad guys were evil automatically for being foreigners, but rather, that being foreigners to that ecological-friendly land and coming from barren, dying lands, they were oblivious to the issues that were obvious to the heroine and as such, cast in an antagonist role. Their biggest crime was ignorance coupled with the arrogance born of being unaware of said ignorance. By the end of the movie, they were already changing their minds and showing human sides to their previous greed-driven unidimensionality.

The plot might be unashamedly Eco-preachy, which I understand is not everyone's cup of tea, but I have to say that I really liked the character of Nausicaa: a strong young woman, unbridled by some of the stereotypical trappings of that role and very authentic; capable of feeling doubt, of being a bit thickheaded and despite not having great dreams or ambitions being able to push herself to do the right thing until the ultimate sacrifice.

[Yamamaya]

Pani Poni Dash, on paper, is the kind of show that I should really, really like. It's a Shaft animated and Shinbo directed comedy of the SZS type and has a stellar cast (although they were all probably a lot more green back in 2005). Unfortunately, there's nothing coherent about it and it's so overflowing with Shinboism that it reminded me why so many people have such a distaste for his style. It really shows that he's managed to rein it in over the last few years, because even as someone who loves his direction, PPD was a chore to go through.

I own the first DVD and I enjoyed it. It wasn't the greatest thing I've ever watched, but it wasn't the worst.

I enjoy the occassional slice of life comedy.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Ponyo

The missus and I gave this one a spin last night, since it is available to stream on Netflix. We both enjoyed it quite a bit and aren't sure why the film is derided by anime fans and a certain other anime director. Perhaps they conflate a lack of drama and/or epic scope and/or deep character conflict with a lack of ambition? If so, they should watch the much-beloved Totoro again because this movie was much more that than Nausicaa. I think if you are aware of this and expect Ponyo to be a children's movie, then you will get enjoyment out of it.

Miyazaki really knows how to shake loose feelings and memories from my chuildhood that I hadn't thought about in years before seeing his films. In a couple of very palpable ways, Ponyo reminded me what it was like to be five.

Also: if I can watch an anime with my wife, then it gets bonus points.

[Maokun]

Watched Code Geass R2 episodes 1-12. As I had heard, it is indeed, inferior to the first season so far, though I'd dare say it's a necessary evil of widening the scope of events. The greatest strength of season 1 and the reason why it is now one of my favorite series ever was the interpersonal relations and the character growth. However, as the ambitions of Lelouch graduate to the next level and he goes international (which was unavoidable seeing how he's trying to overtake the biggest empire of the earth,) the focus in the relationships, not to mention the time spent between the various characters as the cast naturally grows, becomes more tenuous.

Also I dislike the increased amount of plot devices, lucky strikes and flat-out illogical turn of events to advance the story. Then again, we're talking of a high school student trying to take over a powerful empire spanning several continents, so I guess that they need to pull some tricks. Perhaps the one thing that bothers me the most, though, is that the character growth of Susaku, one of the two most important characters has stunt.

Anyhow, I figured why I loved the first season so much: it's very similar in tone and premise to what's perhaps my single most cherished story ever: The Zodiac Brave Story, better known as Final Fantasy Tactics.

Ponyo

The missus and I gave this one a spin last night, since it is available to stream on Netflix. We both enjoyed it quite a bit and aren't sure why the film is derided by anime fans and a certain other anime director.

I'm curious. Which anime director dissed Ponyo? I liked it, but I can't say it's among my top Miyazaki films. It lacks the tension and thrills of films like Mononoke Hime or Spirited Away but also the calm simplicity of Totoro, which it is often compared to. It's technically a masterpiece, but a less than brilliant piece of narrative it.

[Atria35]

Ponyo

The missus and I gave this one a spin last night, since it is available to stream on Netflix. We both enjoyed it quite a bit and aren't sure why the film is derided by anime fans and a certain other anime director.

It lacks the tension and thrills of films like Mononoke Hime or Spirited Away but also the calm simplicity of Totoro, which it is often compared to. It's technically a masterpiece, but a less than brilliant piece of narrative it.

What Mao-kun said. I also felt that the climax was rushed and unsatisfying. Some of the backsotry/characters went underdeveloped (why did her dad leave for the sea in the first place?). And the big threat to the world? It's never explained or clarified like it was in other films. You knew exactly what was going to destroy the world, and why, in M's other films. It gave the characters a palpable enemy to fight against. This one, it was merely said that something was going to destroy the world. It couldn't make me care.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

I'm curious. Which anime director dissed Ponyo? I liked it, but I can't say it's among my top Miyazaki films. It lacks the tension and thrills of films like Mononoke Hime or Spirited Away but also the calm simplicity of Totoro, which it is often compared to. It's technically a masterpiece, but a less than brilliant piece of narrative it.

Mamoru Oshii was very critical of the film. Then, he made The Sky Crawlers (note, I actually really want to see this film, as it's something I think I'd like, but many people dislike it).

I dunno. I just plain old disagree that it lacks what you claim Totoro has. Am I saying it is as good as or better than Totoro? Not necessarily. Ponyo isn't my favorite Miyazaki film by any means, but I felt the need to defend it against, what I feel, is harsh criticism.

What Mao-kun said. I also felt that the climax was rushed and unsatisfying. Some of the backsotry/characters went underdeveloped (why did her dad leave for the sea in the first place?). And the big threat to the world? It's never explained or clarified like it was in other films. You knew exactly what was going to destroy the world, and why, in M's other films. It gave the characters a palpable enemy to fight against. This one, it was merely said that something was going to destroy the world. It couldn't make me care.

I think backstory of the side characters has always been left a bit open in Miyazaki films. They tend to be well-rooted in the current situation but he leaves their pasts a bit of a mystery. Since the characters in question are indeed secondary characters, I think this is forgiveable due to the typical 90 minute runtime of his films.

The threat to the world was [spoiler]the imbalance that Ponyo causes by being both human and a magic user. The fact that such a being existed is the reason all the craziness with the moon and the ocean was happening. Hence, her eventual need to make a life-defining choice.[/spoiler] I thought this was made quite clear, but perhaps it is an issue with dub/sub. I watched the dub, but maybe the subtitle translation isn't as up-front about things?

[MightiMidget]

Watched the first episode of Slayers with a friend last night. Rofl. That was rather awesome.

[ABlipinTime]

Finished watching Last Exile.
Alittle weird that latter third, but totally awesome story overall.

[Narnian]

Currently I'm watching Tales of the Abyss, Lucky Star, K-On!!, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Bubblegum Crisis, and Pokemon Heroes. I have a bunch of other anime on hold that I need to finish watching as well.

[Edit]I just finished Tales of the Abyss which is pretty good if you like game centered animes. The plot and action are both intriguing as well. So strike one from the list.

[MangaRocks!]

Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica (complete): Wow. That... was amazing. The art, the music, the story, all of it. Easily a 10/10 and fave.

And oh man... while obviously there's tons of stuff about it I could comment on that's actually quite serious, the one thing I just have to mention is: SPOILER: Highlight text to read: "If you feel like dying for this universe, just call us. We'll be waiting!"

...Best. Line. Ever. Anyway, this series was excellent, and I'd definitely recommend it!

[blkmage]

A tale of two weird anime.

Kemonozume is the first TV anime directed by Yuasa Masaaki, who did Kaiba and The Tatami Galaxy. The style is very strange, as expected. The story is also really weird. It's about monsters who are disguised as humans and a secretive ancient order dedicated to destroying them. The likely heir of the order is talented, but seizes up at inopportune times. He also falls in love with and runs away with a monster girl, and that's what the show is about.

It's surprisingly sexually explicit, so most people here probably won't want to watch it. What I didn't like about it was that it's super hard to follow. Stuff happens randomly and it's hard to keep track of what's going on. Also, the character designs are not exactly great for distinguishing people apart. It's a very opaque and obtuse anime and it's pretty disappointing coming back to it after Kaiba and The Tatami Galaxy.

Kuuchu Buranko is a TV anime directed by Sakamoto Kenji, who did (not Princess) Mononoke. It's about an eccentric psychiatrist. The style of the show is a lot like Mononoke and Ayakashi and it's pretty vibrant and colourful. Each episode is about a patient that sees the psychiatrist and each of them have pretty interesting stories and disorders. What's even better is that all of the stories end up tying into each other, which was something I hadn't expected at all. It took me a while before I figured it out. It's a fantastic show that I wish I hadn't missed out on back when it was airing and I wish that C was more like it.

[Xeno]

I've started watching Dragon Ball Z Kai and The Slayers in addition to a re-watch of a DNDL series.