What anime are you watching?

[Crossfire]

Last weekend I was extremely bored, so I decided to try out working!!. I never expected to like it as much as I did.

[eightluvver888]

Just finished Darker than Black. Sigh, so confusing. I had to watch the Gaiden episodes to make sense of anything. Great anime, though!

[the_wolfs_howl]

Princess Kairi (post: 1523800)]I'm watching D. Gray-Man (subbed)[/QUOTE]

Have you tried out the dub? It's really good, and in my opinion Todd Haberkorn is a much better fit for Allen.

I watched Durarara!! episodes 11-25. What a crazy, weird show I did finally come to understand the tone most of the time, and some of the things they said just got me laughing uproariously. My favorite characters remain Izaya and Kida, though I've also become fond of Mikado, Simon, and Kadota. For the most part, I thought it was very well done and resolved, except for a couple things:

[spoiler]Celty's head and...just something more about Izaya's motives and/or past, plzkthnxbai.[/spoiler]

My brother and I became squealing fangirls when Isaac and Miria made their appearance Awesome. And I thought some of the episodes were epic, with confrontations between various factions. The last episode, while funny, was completely unnecessary, and a brief yuri moment almost ruined the whole thing for me. Also, all the romances in this thing are weird and borderline creepy. And I mean weird.

But I'm still glad I got to watch it

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

The last episode, while funny, was completely unnecessary, and a brief yuri moment almost ruined the whole thing for me. Also, all the romances in this thing are weird and borderline creepy. And I mean weird.

The last episode is a special, same as 12.5, so it's basically just fanservice of the nonsexual kind.

[Agloval]

I watched Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 before Christmas, which I do every year (it's a Christmas story!). It was still good.

I'm watching Giant Robo again, which I do less frequently. It is still great.

[Maokun]

I finally watched the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. I have to say that I wouldn't mind seeing the rest of the novels adapted as movies if TV series won't be produced anymore, as it seems to be the case.

Even in spite of the minor debacle in the second season, Disappearance was an unarguable success. I have to wonder why KyoAni doesn't keep running that little yen-printing machine of a franchise.

[blkmage]

The same reason why there was a similar three year delay between books 9 and 10: because of shenanigans with the author.

Also, not all of the novels are suited to movie adaptation, like the volumes that are short story compilations.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Finished Hourou Musuko.

Middle school sucks. Or, at least, all the drama in it does. The show was excellent though!!!! It handled the subject matter of gender identity really, really well. I really liked it and felt the characters were all believable middle schoolers.

And the animation style was very, very pretty. <3

[TheShadowFog]

Starting to watch Fate Zero. The music is amazing.

[Atria35]

Finisherd Fate/Zero. I thought this was gong to be an entire season- obviously, I was wrong, but... wow.

[Atria35]

Rewatching Princess Tutu- up to episode 9. I forget how lovely this show is sometimes.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Some old stuff

Escaflowne the Movie: A Girl in Gaia

Shoji Kawamori and co (been watching a lot of his stuff lately) reimagine the world, characters and events of the Escaflowne TV series in this 2000 film. If you are repulsed by the thought of new character designs as well as fundamental differences in attitudes and motivations for these characters, then you should avoid this movie. Otherwise, prepare for an epic adventure into a more Asian-inspired Gaia, an adventure with a slightly heavier tone than the original (there be blood and angst). Anyone totally unfamiliar with Escaflowne: it is a fantasy meets mecha adventure story with some romance and a broad appeal in general. A young girl gets swept into a fantastical world and has to help save it from annihilation. The movie executes this hackneyed premise very well.

Though the Escaflowne movie is a Sunrise production, it is also animated by BONES. This is studio BONES' first feature film to work on, and they did an absolutely superb job animating it. For a 11 and a half year old movie, AGiG is visually stunning, an animation showcase. There is one scene near the end of the film in which Van and Dilandau, piloting their "robots" (these bio-mechanical hybrids that were all the rage in the wake of a certain mid-90s Gainax show) are engaged in a duel. One of them in attempting to strike an overhead blow while the other in lifting his sword to block it. And the way the robots' capes flutter and wave with the violent motions...it is just beautiful. I could watch it over and over.

Dilandau is one of my all-time favorite characters, and I very much prefer his incarnation in the film to the one in the TV series. Not because of character differences because he's the same in both: a violent nut-job. But what happened to him in the TV series never really sat well with me, and I am glad they just didn't go that route in the movie.

Thematically, the movie really resonated with me. Two of the main things it wants to say are (1.) when two people make a connection and truly communicate and understand one another, it can alter the destiny of not only the communicants but the rest of the world via ripple effects and (2.) life is really difficult and full of suffering; however, life is still preferable to nothingness.

I originally thought that this was a film only for fans of the show, but my wife couldn't remember anything about the show and loved it. Check it out.

Detonator Orgun

This is a three-part OAV series from 1991 directed by Masami Obari. He's directed a bunch of obscure stuff, but he's probably somewhat known to old-timers as the guy who made the Fatal Fury stuff. Orgun is a cross between mecha and tokusatsu that feels like neither. It has more of the flavor of 90s sci-fi about it than either of the aforementioned genres. It features really fantastic mechanical designs as well as some kinda cool science fiction-y ideas, though I'm not sure that they quite come together to form a coherent whole. Some of the action scenes are good, and the thing just has a late 80s/early 90s feel about it. These sort of things don't get made anymore.

I really liked it, but I think it's something that fans of 90s sci-fi mecha can dig, while everyone else likely wouldn't care for it.

Black Lion

Speaking of stuff I like, oh man, Black Lion. This is the kind of thing I didn't appreciate when I was a younger anime fan, and by that I mean its freaking insane. This show is just crazy. It's a 42 minute one-shot Go Nagai created OAV. It feels like a Manga Video thing, but it's actually an ADV joint from 92.

Black Lion is set in 1580, the oft-drawn-upon (and often in an exaggerated style) Sengoku (Warring States) period of Japanese history. A principle figure in the early part of this era is one Oda Nobunaga, famous warlord who nearly unified Japan and who we also regularly encounter in anime. Well, it turns out that the reason he was so powerful is that he's actually an alien possessing a human's body. Yup. Said alien has access to lots of advanced technology. Dude conquered because he has space ships, guns, cyborgs, tanks and such in the 16th century. Of course. Unfortunately, this OAV doesn't deal too much with him, but focuses on one of his subordinates, Ginnai Doma, (immortal and a ninja-killer by trade). We basically follow a group of ninjas whose clans have been decimated by the guy as they seek revenge against Doma.

Black Lion is super bloody and also pretty gory, though not with amazing detail. So, anyone who can dig the ridiculous premise and stand the violence should have some fun with this one.
---
I've also watched a couple of newer things, rebuilds to be specific; however, I can't talk about them in detail on CAA. It should be known, though, that they are fantastic.

[Neane]

[quote="TheSubtleDoctor (post: 1525223)"]

Black Lion

Speaking of stuff I like, oh man, Black Lion. This is the kind of thing I didn't appreciate when I was a younger anime fan, and by that I mean its freaking insane. This show is just crazy. It's a 42 minute one-shot Go Nagai created OAV. It feels like a Manga Video thing, but it's actually an ADV joint from 92.

Black Lion is set in 1580, the oft-drawn-upon (and often in an exaggerated style) Sengoku (Warring States) period of Japanese history. A principle figure in the early part of this era is one Oda Nobunaga, famous warlord who nearly unified Japan and who we also regularly encounter in anime. Well, it turns out that the reason he was so powerful is that he's actually an alien possessing a human's body. Yup. Said alien has access to lots of advanced technology. Dude conquered because he has space ships, guns, cyborgs, tanks and such in the 16th century. Of course. Unfortunately, this OAV doesn't deal too much with him, but focuses on one of his subordinates, Ginnai Doma, (immortal and a ninja-killer by trade). We basically follow a group of ninjas whose clans have been decimated by the guy as they seek revenge against Doma.

Black Lion is super bloody and also pretty gory, though not with amazing detail. So, anyone who can dig the ridiculous premise and stand the violence should have some fun with this one.
---
I've also watched a couple of newer things, rebuilds to be specific]

A Good Go Nagai OAV? I must watch this.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

A Good Go Nagai OAV? I must watch this.

Hey, I loved Getter Robo: Armageddon and Shin Getter Robo vs Neo Getter Robo!

[Juliannesan]

Watching Shugo Chara! Seirei no Moribito, ef- tale of memories, Aria the Animation & Toradora! simultaneously. I'm trying to get my shojo fill-up after watching LOTR trilogy extended editions. Haha, I need some non-violent shows in me! Haha.
(I know, Moribito isn't really shojo, but there isn't nearly as much violence in it as some shows that are in the historical fantasy/supernatural genre)

[mysngoeshere56]

So, I watched the last episodes of Mermaid Forest today. The premise was interesting, and the overall story wasn't so bad. Some of the plot elements really freaked me out, though (and I'm a huge fan of Poe, so I don't get freaked out easily). Overall, I'd say my feelings were mixed. I doubt I'd watch the whole thing more than once. If I ever re-watch, I think I'll just stop watching after episode 7 or 8, because that's when it got over-the-top for me.

[Maokun]

I originally thought that this was a film only for fans of the show, but my wife couldn't remember anything about the show and loved it. Check it out.

I'm going to dare and say that this movie is actually made for non-fans of the series. I watched it right after the series and disliked almost every single narrative choice. The animation, as you point is excellent, but this new, fatalistic and pessimistic Hitomi rubs off the good aftertaste that the series left and her character growth feels jerky and forced. It doesn't help that I didn't dig the character design and it's not even like I was a big fan of the long-nosed original design!

However, after reading your review and looking back, I can tell it would be indeed a much better experience for the unbiased.

[airichan623]

I'm currently watching trigun for the first time- it's amazing! LOVE AND PEACE!

[Atria35]

Finished rewatching Princess Tutu. I forget how amazing this anime is, but it really is some of the best stuff you can watch- period.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

I'm going to dare and say that this movie is actually made for non-fans of the series. I watched it right after the series and disliked almost every single narrative choice. The animation, as you point is excellent, but this new, fatalistic and pessimistic Hitomi rubs off the good aftertaste that the series left and her character growth feels jerky and forced. It doesn't help that I didn't dig the character design and it's not even like I was a big fan of the long-nosed original design!

However, after reading your review and looking back, I can tell it would be indeed a much better experience for the unbiased.

This is interesting because I had the exact same experience when I watched it the first time when the fansub first came out a decade ago. Based on my recent experience, I would totally recommend going back and checking it out again, knowing what you're getting into.

[Mouse2010]

Finished rewatching Princess Tutu. I forget how amazing this anime is, but it really is some of the best stuff you can watch- period.

That's good, because that's what I'm watching now! I haven't had time to watch anime the last few weeks, and I finally have a little time off from working/traveling/finishing up grading, so I can watch some stuff I've been wanting to watch for a while.

I watched episodes 2 and 3 of Princess Tutu today, and I'm full of wild guesses about character identities, how the story will end, etc. I have to remind myself that three episodes in is NOT enough time to formulate complicated theories, though.

One question: the box set I bought has 26 episodes, but MAL claims there are 38 episodes. Does anyone know what's up with that? Was there a second season?

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

When it originally aired, half of the 26 episodes you have were 15 minutes, so they were compiled as a single episode for the North America release.

[AnimeGirl]

Watched some episodes of FMA Brotherhood! Funimation FINALLY put up the English episodes for Part 5 *squee*

[AngelicTotoro]

I've returned after my unanounced hiatus, which I spent reading quite a bit of manga.

Elemental Gelade - watched/finished.
I watched this one because my brother suggested it to me, while I agree with him on the soundtrack being awesome, I found the rest of the show to be pretty blah.
(I much prefered the supporting cast over the two main characters.)
Plus the uber predictable plot, (which isn't always a bad thing.) and annoying villians gave me a headache at times. x_x
Overall I give it a 6.5
Because the final fighting scenes were awesome, and for some odd reason I found myself shipping Wolx/Rasati by the end of it all. (I'm crazy, I know. =3 It should have happened though! xD)

And on to something I enjoyed much more...
Spice and Wolf - Season 1 - Finished.
The slower paced, refreshing plot was indeed a joy to behold. The witty dialogue and tension between Holo and Lawrence kept me at the edge of my seat, (literally. I sat too close to the screen, I couldn't help it though. My poor eyes. ) and I found myself so caught up in each episode that I was always surprised that it ended so quickly. The soundtrack was beautiful. I keep humming the opening theme.
I also watched the ova following the finale,
[spoiler]I find it incredibly cute the way Holo is acting toward Lawrence now that she's finally begining to realize her feelings for him. [/spoiler]
I can't wait to get started on season 2!

10/10.

[Atria35]

Heroman 1-5- It's interesting and amusing, but really lackluster in a few aspects (voice acting is iffy, a noticeable amount fairly wooden), and since this is a superhero story, where is the explanation for Heroman? What they show is reasonable for Static Shock, but when it involves massive technology changes that's just not gonna cut it.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

and since this is a superhero story, where is the explanation for Heroman?

Well yes, but it also fundamentally a Japanese super robot show, so it is not hard scifi, nor is it trying to be. Don't expect much in the realm of explanations, if you want to avoid frsutration. The best thing you can do is put those logical sorts of questions aside and try to enjoy what it does offer the viewer =).

[MangaRocks!]

Just watched The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya movie (sub) last night-- and holy crap, was it good! Not going to cover the story here (since I think I've already stated how awesome the Disappearance novel's story is ), but what I will say about the movie is the following:

Its animation is fantastically detailed-- not only in what is drawn, but also in how all of the objects interact!-- and, frankly, nothing short of stunningly gorgeous in every possible respect. In fact, I can honestly say that it's the best animation I've ever seen to date.

Its voice casting and acting is perfect (at least in the version I heard, which was the sub ), and the soundtrack is excellent, as well.

And to top it all off, its adaptation of the source material is just as awesomely faithful as I'd heard (...and faithfulness to the source material is usually a pretty big deal for me when it comes to anime adaptations, as I'm sure some of you know quite well ). Plus, amazingly, there are even several scenes that I liked slightly better in the movie than in the novel (!!!!! ), which is a very rare thing for me to say! SPOILER: Highlight text to read: Like when Kyon finally sees Haruhi for the first time after everything changed (whoa... somehow they really make you feel everything that Kyon is feeling at that moment!); when he makes his decision about the escape program (slight bit nicer in his tone to Yuki there, I think, though really it was just more clearly showing it); the symbolism when Kyon is working through his final decision and realization and understanding (great way of adapting that scene to the visual medium!); the incident with him and Asakura (even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I still got goosebumps *shiver*); just before Kyon wakes up Haruhi (oh man, that's even more beautifully sweet and affectionate than the original! ); and Kyon's talk with Yuki afterwards (THE SNOW!! And Yuki holding her hands up to catch it!!! ); etc. So, yeah, in all this was a pretty darn amazing movie! 10/10 and fave!

[AngelicTotoro]

Re-watched Princess Mononoke.
This is now the second time I have seen it, and I enjoyed just as much as the first time around. I wasn't sure which Studio Ghibli film was my favorite, Castle in the Sky or this; it's most definitely this. ;D
Ashitaka has got to be my all time favorite anime hero, ever. I love him. Seriously.
(I know he's just a 2D, fictional character, but I love him so much anyway. )
Also, I like San much better this time,
last time I was so caught up in the battle between the gods and humans/plus*cough*Ashitaka*cough*, that I didn't really get to know her character much, now I really adore her~ She's so spirited, pretty and just all around amazing!
[spoiler]My favorite part, where Ashitaka's cursed arm acts up as he stops San and Lady Eboshi from killing each other, is still just as thrilling. Also, the romantic parts with Ashitaka and San were even better then the first time since I payed more attention to what was said. For instance, the part where Ashitaka and Maro speak outside of the den, I hadn't realized that Ashitaka was actually requesting that Maro let him take San, I thought that he had been just trying to save her life, but in reality, he wanted to be with her. It was so touching! That part, where he watches over her as she sleeps, it gets me every time, his face has this pained, yet soft expression... Ashitaka really does love San. ;___;[/spoiler]
The music and artwork are my absolute favorites out of any Studio G film,
the ending theme is haunting and beautiful,
it always brings me to tears.
(It's also the easiest for me to sing other then My neighbor Totoro.)
The only fault is that it ends. I freaking love Princess Mononoke!

(It's still,) 10/10.

[seaglass27]

I'm watching Kurau: Phantom Memory by recommendation of the rocklobster.

(Woot! Post #300!)

[Mouse2010]

Still going through Princess Tutu, since I have some free time (at last!). I like almost everything about this show, although Duck in her human form sometimes gets on my nerves a little bit.

I also finally finished up High School of The Dead. This is one my husband picked out, and then he got so disgusted with it that I doubt we'd have finished it if I hadn't wanted to see how it ended. (For the record, I thought it ended rather well, given that it was necessarily an open ending.) You've heard that this show is incredibly over the top with fanservice? Yes, and that was annoying, but that isn't its only problem. To us, at least, the story dragged a lot in the second half, despite an action-packed beginning. Anytime the characters tried to get deep or personal in their interactions, the writing seemed to flounder, too.

While I'm sure opinions vary, to me High School of the Dead is a series of which I can honestly say "When it was good, it was very very good, and when it was bad it was horrid." It was good (sometimes excellent) at bloody-but-exciting zombie fighting action scenes, and it was bad at nearly everything else. I could only recommend it to someone who loved gory zombie films enough to tolerate the "everything else."