Dagger

Well, I'm about to watch episode 39 (in which [spoiler]Mitsuki is supposed to travel to America[/spoiler] for the first time). I can sense that everything is gradually coming to a head. I must admit, though it's arguably somewhat formulaic, Full Moon wo Sagashite has me completely stumped. I've simply got no idea what will happen from here on in; this anime's plot contains several very difficult dilemmas (such as [spoiler]Mitsuki's desire to sing versus her upcoming death, Takuto's feelings for Mitsuki versus Mitsuki's feelings for Eichi, Meroko's relationship with Takuto and Izumi,[/spoiler] and so forth). I'm not even totally sure how I [i]want[/i] these various situations to be resolved--however, I sincerely hope the ending won't be a cop-out. After all the drama and build-up, Mitsuki [spoiler]really does need to die,[/spoiler] awful though that may sound. Let's see... I've got how many episodes left? Thirteen? I'm going to try and marathon the rest of Full Moon wo Sagashite over Thanksgiving weekend. It's a great feel-good anime for the holidays. ^_^ You couldn't be more right about the doctor and Ooshige-san! I think they would make a very natural couple, and there are quite a few episodes which seem to imply that the scriptwriters were deliberately trying to pair them off. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=Sauce-head]Now, some sociopath-rapist-mysogynist-pedophile-schizophrenic approaches a chick, tells her about his stamp collection, and scares her the hell away. "Oh damn. Girls must only like guys who are handsome, rich, and have nice cars. Hello mr. right hand." The solution for the latter if he wants to be successful with chicks?[/QUOTE] Do we, as a species, [i]want[/i] sociopaths, rapists, misogynists and pedophiles to be successful with chicks!? :eek: It's the first time I've ever been bewildered enough to use that particular smiley-face, heh. I felt that the above statement weakened your argument considerably, much more so than anything else you've said. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Dan Rugh][spoiler]Hmmmmmm.... And what's up with the [spoiler']Shinigami in Soul Society acting like they are bad guys?[/spoiler][/quote] Well, I sort of figured that the folks over at [spoiler]Soul Society[/spoiler] would end up being the primary villains in one arc or another, since [spoiler]to me it looks as though Ichigo is fighting a group of shinigami (as opposed to a bunch of Hollows)[/spoiler] in the show's OP animation. I didn't consider the possible significance of that until recently, but I also wasn't terribly surprised by the teaser scene you're talking about. Anyway, while I liked episode 7 a lot, I feel really bad for Kon. [spoiler]I mean, [i]I[/i] wouldn't want to be stuck in a stuffed animal's body.[/spoiler] Maybe I'm overthinking this, but to me it seems as if he definitely got the short end of the stick. It would have been neat if Ichigo had decided to let Kon [spoiler]borrow his body once in a while, haha. I loved watching them simultaneously drop-kick that Hollow.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=Sol-Blade][SIZE=-3]Well to clarify, im talking about mostly when a show's soundtrack is either 1. Not of very good quality, or 2. Doesn't really quite fit with the theme of the show. Take [B]Gunslinger Girl[/B] as a pretty good example. The show is very dramatic, and at some points action packed. Well the OST has a little bit (A perfect combination, might I add) of both. More upbeat tunes like [U]The Light before we land -b-y- The Delgados[/U] are way more happy-go-lucky with its acoustic guitar and drums. While [u]Wake from Dreaming[/u] is way more dreary and depressing with it's slow strings and pianos.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] Just a weekend or two ago, The Delgados played at a club very close to where I live. I was actually pretty interested in seeing them live (it's not everyday that one is introduced to a Scottish rock band via anime), but never got around to buying tickets. In any case, I thought I'd mention that I completely agree--Gunslinger Girl does in fact have great music. The OP and ED contrast with each other perfectly. Assuming musical variety is important, what do you rather have: stylistic variety or a variety of different moods? For example, the former would refer to a series with a soundtrack that showcases everything from opera to jazz; the latter would refer to a series whose music is dominated by (for example) rock, but contains both somber slow-paced ballads and hyperkinetic faux-punk. Personally I love it when a show's music is built around a single genre--i.e. jazz in Cowbop Bebop and hip-hop in Samurai Champloo. ~Dagger~

I'm completely with EVA on this one. Each to his own, I guess, but I don't see how [i]anyone[/i] could prefer Tohru's insanely high-pitched Japanese voice. As for FMA, I liked the first few episodes much more when I saw them on Adult Swim (after watching them multiple times in Japanese), and the excellent dub was a huge factor in that. Ed's original voice actress just didn't click with me. The second and third seasons of Revolutionary Girl Utena (along with the movie) boast an amazing English track--assuming you can get past the so-so first season, which has great content but a highly variable dub. However, I definitely felt that I was rewarded for sitting through some initially iffy performances; I can't imagine Utena being played by anyone other than Rachael Lillis, and I'm one of the few people who loved Sharon Becker's take on Anthy. Fruits Basket, Big O and Cowboy Bebop simply don't sound right in Japanese. Wolf's Rain, R.O.D the TV and RahXephon aren't perfect, but their dubs rarely falter and were very well cast. Were it not for some annoying script changes (damn you, Steven Foster!), I could point to Voices of a Distant Star as an example of an anime with an emotionally moving and virtually flawless dub. One of my personal favorites is the new English version of Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. Something about that dub just makes me happy. :) ~Dagger~

Azure and Sciros, that was really interesting. :) Azure, you seem to be placing a heavy emphasis on art[i]work[/i]--as in, the actual character designs, shading, color palette, etc. of the anime in question. I interpreted the original poster's statement a little differently. While many different forms of art rely heavily on the strength of their visuals, and anime is clearly one of these, there are also other elements I use to judge a show/movie/OVA as a work of art: plot, music, dialogue and so forth. For me, an episode with horribly off-model characters or choppy animation, though distracting and deeply annoying, isn't as bad as an episode in which the entire cast acts out of character or huge plot holes are exposed. I'd like to know your take on this. What you appear to be getting at is that blatant filler (the downfall of more than a few cash cow anime), often added to prolong long-running series, will damage any show--no matter how beloved. In this case, I would have to agree. I'm not reneging on what I said earlier, but at the same time I feel that one can only carry it so far. When someone is in the business solely to get rich, chances are not all of his or her endeavors will end up having much artistic value. It just concerns me when fans seem to think a person can't try to eke out a living and at the same time produce something special and artistically noteworthy. It's an attitude I've seen here and there (not from you, however). There are issues in a straightforward manga --> anime conversion that don't always extend to original anime movies or series. So that might complicate things a bit in continuing to use Naruto as an example, although I definitely understand your point. Do you mind PMing me about the spoiler? I'm just curious about which part I was off on, heh. :p EDIT: I forgot to say this earlier--awesome banner! ~Dagger~

[quote name='MaineOtakuNo2']I disagree. Art forced upon the artist is not as good as art made because the Artist wanted to draw color or paint. Although, yes, the art may still be good, artwork with soul will be better. Back on topic, The first season, and the first games, and the first set of cards, and the first fans, were the best.[/quote] I don't think Sciros was implying that the artist would be shackled to a canvas and whipped until he started painting or whatever. Assuming I've interpreted his point correctly, I absolutely agree--an anime (or live-action film, or novel) doesn't need to be created out of some selfless desire to enrich the world by sharing the products of one's talent and imagination. "Good" art doesn't have to be born out of a total disregard for making money. For example, pretty much every single Gundam series ever made was produced to serve as a vehicle for toy model sales. Big O, a brilliant show that combines elements of Batman, retro giant robots and The Matrix, was originally conceived as a way to market mecha action figures. Gainax has milked the Evangelion franchise to death, repeatedly releasing and re-releasing it both in Japan and abroad. Particularly in Japan, anime lives and dies by merchandising. It's when a concept or storyline is [i]dumbed down[/i] for the sake of reaching a younger or wider audience that this becomes problematic. As is the case in every other medium of entertainment--from movies to music, from video games to books--the majority of anime is complete crap. However, it's perfectly possible for something to be both financially and artistically successful. For example, I don't personally like Naruto all that much, but I respect the series' manga-ka for [spoiler]making Sasuke start to become genuinely evil. Most manga/shows of the type wouldn't dare to let a main character undergo such an irreversible transformation.[/spoiler] Pokemon just isn't a very good example of a quality children's anime, but it has thrived nonetheless. There are many wonderful, popular and heart-warming series aimed at the younger set whose plot actually progresses and whose characters are not static. After a certain point, they start to transcend their target demographic and find fans of all ages. So no, I don't think Pokemon has much artistic importance... but that's the case for most anime, and the desire to generate cash isn't mutually exclusive with the desire to produce a great show. ~Dagger~

Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions. :) Jeez, I didn't remember episode 3 being this good... now I'm starting to wonder if I just imagined watching it way back when, haha. Thank goodness that the writers temporarily dropped those annoying chibi jokes. I wasn't planning on buying the FMA DVDs as they came out, but I seem to be on the verge of changing my mind. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I must say that this show's dub continues to utterly blow me away. Borrowing some of ADV's vocal talent was one of the smartest things Funi ever did (not that their dubs are bad or anything, but it's great to have some diversity in the cast, and Vic Mignogna is a god). Does anyone know who's playing Roy Mustang? I very much like his voice--it's too bad that the ending credits scroll by so fast. Maybe because this episode didn't take place in a desert, I noticed how beautiful the anime's backgrounds, artwork and general color scheme are. It's nice to know I can rely on BONES to create a visually consistent and appealing product--a lot of their series have set new standards in terms of sheer visual quality, and from what little I can tell FMA is no exception. Lastly, the black-and-white card inserted directly before FMA was hilarious. I'm glad AS has finally managed to put Saturdays back on the map. :p ~Dagger~

Alright, folks... some of the posts in this thread have been good, and some have been sort of iffy. Be certain to use complete sentences--it's the least you can do, really--and make a cursory attempt to explain your choices. A straightforward list isn't going to cut it. Please refer to ChibiHorsewoman's and xYakux's posts for a few great examples of the sort of input that makes topics like this work. If you have any questions, you're quite welcome to PM me or one of the other moderators. Thanks in advance! ~Dagger~

Media Blasters has solicited volume 1 of Otogizoushi (or Otogi Zoshi, however it's being spelled nowadays) for March 29, 2005. That's fairly fast, even for a pre-licensed series. I hope they do a good job of dubbing, packaging and otherwise releasing this show. I guess it was smart of them to avoid letting it compete with their other recent samurai-ish anime (Shura no Toki), which is supposed to wrap up in March. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the twist! For me, the part when [spoiler]his mask came off[/spoiler] was very dramatic, surprising and well-done. I sort of have a love-hate relationship with Otogizoushi--to the extent that I may just wait for a complete collection instead of buying the R1 DVDs as they come out--but when it's good, it's [i]really[/i] good. Speaking of which, I finally managed to sit down and watch episode 15. Despite my initial enthusiasm about episode 14 and the new arc, I have to say that when I compare the two, episode 15 comes across a lot better. It's much more gracefully directed and animated. So if you don't immediately enjoy the [spoiler]modern[/spoiler] storyline, I wouldn't worry about it until you're at least a couple of episodes in. In episode 15, it becomes apparent that Mansairaku [spoiler]has gotten significantly more powerful, not to mention more creepy. In the park scene it appeared as though he was stalking Hikaru, heh. At this point I'm not even sure that he's actually a human being anymore... he's so darn enigmatic! Presumably he was the only one to remember his past life, but I wonder if he still has feelings for Hikaru? The stone Hikaru wears looks (at least to me) like a piece of the magatama of fire. Maybe Mansairaku has a piece of the magatama of water? That might explain his extraordinary mastery of water, but it wouldn't explain why he can give people illusions (or maybe it's only Hikaru?) and create stone walls from thin air.[/spoiler] In response to your question, I honestly have no idea. Admittedly, I wasn't paying all that much attention to the [spoiler]magatama animals.[/spoiler] ^_^;; In any case, hopefully I'll get a chance to see episode 16 tomorrow. ~Dagger~

[quote name='EVA Unit 100']That data was from the first episode.Every Sunday they have to give Top 3 ratings for the last Sunday and the Saturday before that. I might try to post the Saturday ratings here every week.[/quote] Oh, I see. Well, I say go for it--I have a lot of trouble finding reliable ratings data, and it would certainly be interesting to see how things turn out for AS's new anime. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Wasabi][size=1][color=darkslateblue]So far, I just ended from the episode when Shuichi (whatever how you spell his name), Hiro, and the other guy (yeah, not paying attention -_-), went on that game show. They bleeped out a word, what's Japanese for cat or something. I still don't get it. XD And plus, I wanna get farther in the series, because mentioning of "Yuki's Past", and you know the dramatic stuff will come in then, lots of drama. I love drama. ^_^[/color'][/size][/quote] I don't get it either, haha. I'm sure there's probably an explanation for that (not to mention Ryuichi's bad puns) online; the DVDs come with extmremely helpful translators' notes, but if I remember correctly they never mentioned that particular scene. I actually think the game show episode is one of the funniest--after that things gradually start getting more somber. No, that's not the right way to put it... Let me try again. Although the anime never goes without its share of silly humor, the serious parts steadily become more and more serious (while the comedic parts arguably become more wacky; just wait til you get to the [spoiler]sumo wrestlers pile-up[/spoiler] gag!). I can virtually guarantee that you'll enjoy the upcoming drama, especially if you are--like myself--a big Yuki fan. I nearly cried the first time I watched the final episode of this show. [quote name='Wasabi][size=1][color=darkslateblue]I remember, like coming across some reviews for Vol. 4 of Gravitation, and people said it was the best volume that was ever released. (Manga) I am trying not to read you guys' spoilers, hard to resist.[/color'][/size][/quote] Solely because you said that, I went back and re-read volume 4. Whoever told you that was right--it's definitely one of the most important installments of the series. A lot of stuff happens and a lot is revealed about why Yuki acts the way he does. It's also, of course, very amusing... the only thing it's lacking in is K. Be sure to tell me whether or not you like the plot twists. ^_~ ~Dagger~

I remember seeing something about this show when it first came out, but sort of assumed it would be another series with an overabundance of forced "kawaii" and no real plot. For one reason or another, I got the first DVD (all six are out now, along with the Summer Special on a cheaper separate disc), and I love it. Sugar is light, funny, fluffy and stunningly, genuinely sweet. What surprised me even more were its exceptional animation, background artwork and overall production values. It just looks really smooth and great, which allowed me to immerse myself in the world of the series without questioning all of the cuteness. The dub seems to be pretty acceptable as well, aside from one or two awkward lines on Saga's part (who otherwise sounds fine). I think I may end up watching it in English because Sugar's English actress uses a lower, less squeaky, more adorable--in my opinion, at least--kind of voice. I like Sugar a lot and look forward to seeing the rest; I mentioned not having a reason to buy it, but actually my main motivation was that I needed something cheerful to watch before diving into the fourth volume of Saikano. Sugar did a wonderful job of brightening my mood. ~Dagger~

Please don't double-post, QuincyArcher. I'm going to combine your two replies. In the future, if you'd like to bump a thread and/or say something new please just delete your last post (you can always copy its contents into your new reply so nothing will be lost) and make a new one. Also, bear in mind that this topic is intended to be a place where people can talk about the [i]content[/i] of Bleach--if you want information about when a specific episode will be released on fansub or whatnot, you'd be better off PMing a member who you have good reason to think is generally on top of these sorts of things (i.e. Dan Rugh). ~Dagger~

Haha, thanks for the cameo. Now I have no choice but to reply. :p In all seriousness, I very much like this piece. Your comedic writing seems to have improved by leaps and bounds, becoming [i]much[/i] tighter and more controlled than in the stories you used to post. I absolutely love the style you're using here--I don't know if it's something new or just something I personally hadn't previously seen from you. The random bits are amusing because there aren't enough of them to totally overwhelm the reader. My favorite part is definitely the "utmost appropriate intellect" paragraph. Great stuff. ~Dagger~

Oooh.... I couldn't work up the courage to read those tags, but now I'm really anticipating continuing Noir. :) Has no one here mentioned any of the (numerous) deaths in Saikano? Though it's well-known for its excessive tragedy, the show didn't make me cry until I saw the episode in which [spoiler]Akemi is killed. Before that she had seemed like a pretty repressed (not to mention depressed) character--more outgoing and vivacious than Chise, but still unable to get the boy she liked. It was deeply painful, and almost cathartic, to watch her finally confess her feelings. Akemi's death scene also made me appreciate Shuji more; he's a lot less wishy-washy than most comparable male characters, and I loved how he spoke to her with such kindness, passion and strength.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

People who enjoyed the well-developed and sympathetic characters of Fruits Basket would almost certainly also love [B]Full Moon wo Sagashite[/B]. Like Fruits Basket, it paints the members of its rather large cast in broad, simple strokes, without pulling any punches. It's easy to say "Mitsuki is optimistic and brave," just as it's easy to say "Tohru always puts the needs of others above her own." However, behind the characters' seemingly straightforward personalities and motivations lies real depth. They are not needlessly complicated--just conflicted enough to seem very much like actual people. When Meroko (for example) does the right thing, you want to cheer for her because you know how fallible she is and how thoughtless she can sometimes be. Full Moon wo Sagashite is the perfect example of an anime with characters the viewer can identify with and embrace [i]because[/i] of their uncertainties and flaws. ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Teela. ^_^ While linking to these reviews would have been perfectly appropriate if you planned on opening up the thread to discussion of all things Stellvia-related, simply referencing them without offering any context isn't terribly helpful. I've seen you do this at other forums, and though I want to think that you're trying to provide a community service, to me it's starting to look like simple advertising. In the future, please explain a little bit about the anime in question when you start a series-specific thread. This way other members will know what you're talking about, and the topic will have a better chance of attracting a good discussion or debate. Also, please private message me or one of the other moderators if you have any questions. Thanks! Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[quote name='EVA Unit 100']It actually turns out FMA got better ratings that GitS. GitS seemed to win over 12-17, FMA got 18-24, and the series tied 25-49. Since 18-24 is AS's highest rated demographic, FMA is overall a bit more successful[/quote] That data is from the second episode, right? I remember seeing something along those lines a little while after it aired, and became really confused because I wasn't sure which week they were referring to. ^_^;; Either way, it seems like both of these shows (especially FMA, I guess) are coming pretty close to AS's comedy series in terms of audience size. ~Dagger~

I hope you enjoy it. ^_^ Well, I finally got my hands on volume 3--which is great, as not only does it have one more episode than the other three discs, but also contains some of my favorite scenes in the entire anime. For those of you who have seen the show, which parts or episodes did you find most memorable? I absolutely love episodes 8 and 9. In episode 8, Shuichi stands backstage and watches Ryuichi [spoiler]perform on stage for the first time since they sang together. As Nittle Grasper's single comes to a finish, Shuichi collapses to his knees, almost in tears.[/spoiler] I love Nittle Grasper's music, and obviously that adds a lot to my enjoyment of it, but what I found really interesting was the rapid, effects-filled, music-video-like editing used to give the sequence a sense of drama and motion. This aspect of it is especially impressive given the show's limited budget. The moment when Ryuichi snaps out of his usual silly mode and stares coldly at the camera is simply mesmerizing. It's possible for the viewer to really understand why Shuichi feels so distant and unworthy. When Ryuichi's performance is recapped in episode 9, the same footage is used but with far fewer filters and minutely slower movement, which lends it an entirely different mood. I believe that episode 8 also includes the one and only time Yuki actually [spoiler]breaks down and cries[/spoiler] in the entire show. This is another scene that comes across so much better in the anime than in the manga. Although I was initially let down by what I heard of Gravi's dub in the beginning of volume 3, it once again improved tremendously in a very short period of time. I'm starting to love Rome Elliot... his Yuki is less sadistic and self-assured than Kazuhiko Inoue's, and so far he's completely owned all the really important emotional parts. I pretty much stopped breathing when I heard him [spoiler]choke back his grief[/spoiler] in the aforementioned scene. And now, on to volume 4! ~Dagger~

Actually, regarding that... [quote][b]ANN says:[/b] Anime Unleashed has confirmed their earlier statement that episodes 14-26 [of Last Exile] will air on the G4TechTV programming block. Episodes 1-13 will air Monday through Sunday beginning November 29, followed by the premiere of episodes 14-26 weekdays beginning December 6. There will also be marathon broadcast of the entire Last Exile series, episodes 1-26, on Christmas Day.[/quote] I agree with hitokiri shi; I think it's a matter of TechTV not being permitted to outstrip the amount of content that has been released on DVD. Now that the final disc of Last Exile is scheduled to come out in less than a month, it makes sense that Geneon would let them complete the series. I expect the same thing will probably happen with TechTV's newest Geneon shows (most notably Gungrave and R.O.D the TV), although I can't speak for older TechTV anime. So, yeah. If you get this channel, do whatever it takes to [b]watch Last Exile.[/b] Tape or TiVo the marathon if you don't care for TechTV's schedule; Last Exile is a superbly crafted show and should not be missed. :) ~Dagger~

Well, it's out now. On a side note, your post length is acceptable, but I suggest that next time you elaborate on why you like the series but don't think it's the best anime ever or whatnot. This makes the discussion more open and interesting for everyone involved. I very much enjoyed volume 2, which brought a lot of new material into the mix while playing up the show's strengths. It's darker and less episodic than the first disc, and the comedy feels significantly less grating. The dub continues to improve; by this point, it's good enough to keep me from wanting to re-watch everything in Japanese. I've gotten accustomed to Hilary Haag's voice and am very satisfied with how she tackles Rosette's emotional outbursts. Azmaria is annoying no matter what language you're watching, but she sort of compensates for that by having one of Chrono Crusade's best character designs. I'm excited about the flashback episode that should appear on the next volume, because I want to learn more about [spoiler]Joshua. For some reason, his relationship with Rosette, his portrayal and his apparent role in the show all remind me of Pacifica's twin brother in Scrapped Princess.[/spoiler] Maybe it's just because they're both blond. ^_^;; ~Dagger~

My hair is about waist-length. It's very low-maintenance... I get a family member to trim off an inch or so every four or five months, and it ends up perfectly straight regardless of whether or not I use a blow-dryer. I dyed it dark red about a year ago, and now it's grown out pretty far--the line between my darker natural color and the faded dye isn't that noticeable, but it can be sort of annoying. I don't think I've significantly changed my hairstyle since I got rid of my bangs, which grew out years ago and are now pretty much a distant memory. I've never had any truly awful haircuts, but I don't trust stylists that much anyway. ~Dagger~

Heh, I remember seeing something like this last year. Nice use of Christmas colors. :p The first part of my post contains some very minor spoilers. I didn't think they were worth tagging, but be warned if you're determined not to learn anything about the characters of Elfen Lied. [I][b]Elfen Lied[/b][/I] [B]Nana: [/B] A year's worth of cooking lessons, and prosthetic limbs that [i]don't[/i] constantly fall off. "Constantly" might be too strong an adverb, but her arms and legs seem to pop out whenever she gets so much as a bump on the head. Of course, a bump on the head is usually the least of what my poor Nana gets. [B]Mariko:[/B] A happy childhood, and some Prozac. [I][b]Hunter x Hunter[/b][/I] [B]Kuroro: [/B] I would give him back his [spoiler]Nen powers,[/spoiler] because I'm just that evil and because I'd like to see his show-down with [spoiler]Hisoka[/spoiler] sometime before either I die or Hunter x Hunter's manga-ka kicks the bucket. I'd also buy him a new jacket--the fur-and-leather pimp look is all very well, but I think he'd look more classy in something like the trenchcoats worn by most of the male characters in Yami no Matsuei. [b]Leorio: [/B] A set of stress balls so he can study for and pass his [spoiler]medical[/spoiler] exams without spontaneously combusting. ~Dagger~

Please discuss Inuyasha-related topics [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=39612&page=46&pp=15][u]here[/u][/url]. Also, bear in mind that "favorites" threads, while not explicitly forbidden, are required to meet pretty high standards and often end up being closed. Unless you provide at least two or three concrete reasons explaining why a certain character is your favorite/least favorite whatever, your post will be deleted as spam. sango18, you're welcome to PM me or one of the other moderators if you have any questions about OtakuBoards' policies. Thank you very much. ^_^ Thead closed. ~Dagger~