Dagger

Whoa, there. It took me several minutes to figure out what you were talking about, and that's not exactly a positive sign. o_O First things first. This is the Anime Lounge, not the Suggestions & Feedback forum. Every reply you make here should, therefore, be directly related to anime. The idea outlined in your post has very little to do with the title of your topic. TheOtaku's music selection only encompasses MIDIs because it would be both illegal and impractical to offer MP3s. MIDIs are fan-made and cannot include vocal tracks; if you want to hear an show or movie's actual songs, you should try investing in its OST. Many anime soundtracks (other than imports, of course) are sold for the same price as regular CDs. Lastly, your message about ADHD is just totally off-topic. That kind of thing should go in your signature, which can be accessed from OB's convenient left-hand navigation bar. Thank you for your time. Please read our rules and then PM me or one of the other moderators if you happen to have any questions. ^_^ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

Although this series has received mixed reviews, I'm really excited about its upcoming release. If I recall correctly, the LE box and first DVD will come out on July 6. Wasn't Gungrave based on a Devil May Cry-esque video game (or perhaps it's the other way around)? I like Trigun well enough, but I suspect that I may take more readily to Gungrave's characters and story. It sounds darker, more dramatic and more serious. Anyway, since you've seen the entire show I have a couple of questions for you. 1. How does its animation compare to that of other recent anime? On a similar note, do you like the artwork? 2. Is Gungrave's plot consistently strong, or are there occasional loopholes? 3. Does the series do a good job of making you care about the characters? Thanks in advance for your reply. ^_^ ~Dagger~

I'd like to talk about series which venture off the beaten path, in terms of everything from plot to music to animation. It's kind of rewarding to see a show that does something differently than other anime--granted, of course, that its gambit actually succeeds. The following is only a small example, but one that made a highly favorable impression on me. Lately I've been watching a show called [b]Yugo[/b]; the main character is a negotiator, and each of his cases is given its own self-contained episode arc. His first case takes place in Pakistan. During those six episodes, the character designs are very drab, dark and realistic, with rounded edges and a limited color palette. Many scenes seem washed out, as though overwhelmed by heat or sunlight. All of this changes in the second arc, during which the negotiator goes to Siberia. Suddenly the animation and shading become much more colorful, sharp and detailed; the characters are still recognizable, but it's clear that the show's artwork was altered to enhance the mood of its new storyline. Even if such a thing has been done before, it struck me as being rather cool. Yugo's creators did a great job of making the stylistic changes look deliberate, yet not in such a way that it distracts the viewer from the plot. ~Dagger~

I recently bought the first DVD of this forty-five episode fantasy epic. Those beginning episodes convinced me to continue following the show, although it definitely has its flaws. Based on a popular series of novels, Juuni Kokki centers around three high schoolers (Yuka, Youko and Asano) who are taken to an alternate-universe version of ancient China. It's actually pretty similar to Inuyasha's portrayal of feudal Japan, but fans often compare Juuni Kokki to Fushigi Yuugi. The main character, Youko is a shy, hard-working girl whose naturally red hair sometimes gets her in trouble. She strives to be likeable and friendly, yet shuns Yuka--a social outcast--when her classmates are around. To her dismay, Asano, her childhood friend and current crush, indicates an interest in Yuka. But these worries fly out the window when a mysterious, strangely dressed foreigner (Keiki) appears in school and demands that Youko come with him. By the end of episode 1, Keiki is forced to transport the three teenagers to the other world. Despite its seemingly cliched beginning, part of Juuni Kokki's premise is deviously original (Yuka's and Youko's personalities are quite different from what one would expect). The series is a little slow to get started, and focuses heavily on character development rather than action. However, its brief fight scenes are consistently marvelous. In my opinion, the sedate pace pays off; by the end of episode 5, Youko has begun to transform from a spineless crybaby to a strong and resourceful young woman. I'm quite happy with Juuni Kokki's artwork and animation. My main complaint is that the main characters are initially unlikeable, but as that seems to be changing, I doubt it'll bother me in the future. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Mamma Vash][FONT=Comic Sans MS']Maybe my ears are not too good-- but Kiba sounded like Michael on Witch Hunter.[/FONT][/quote] That's a decent guess, Mamma Vash, but you're slightly off the mark. ^_~ The role of Kiba belongs to Johnny Yong Bosch, the highly talented voice actor who also played Vash in Trigun, Claus Valca in Last Exile and Haruto Sakaki in Witch Hunter Robin. I absolutely love his work. Michael's VA, Dave Wittenberg, is not featured in Wolf's Rain. However, you may know him from .hack//SIGN (Sora) or Onegai Teacher (Kei Kusanagi). It's good to know that people aren't going overboard in comparing this show to Cowboy Bebop. Despite the fact that they're quite different both thematically and stylistically, I was afraid fans would immediately expect something with Bebop's inimitable jazzy coolness. Variety is the spice of life, and Wolf's Rain provides plenty of it. ^_^ ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Zeroflame. ^_^ Your politeness and clear, easily understandable writing are both to be commended. However, when starting a series thread you should usually attempt to provide us with a brief summary of the show. Since you'd like to know whether other people enjoy Chobits, why not tell us how you feel about it first? For future reference, our official Chobits discussion is located [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=30479][u]here[/u][/URL]. Feel free to post in that if you still wish to share your thoughts on various aspects of the anime. Also, try not to get off-topic; any conversation about Angelic Layer should be saved for the pre-existing AL topic. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[quote name='AzureWolf][font=Georgia][color=blue]I'm wondering... Why is there [i]any[/i] restriction placed on myO? Shouldn't every person be free to put whatever they want on their personal page?[/color'][/font][/quote] I completely agree. If people want to clutter up their pages with row after row of garish quiz results and animated GIFs, so be it. Other members may not wish to visit such sites, but whose fault is that? ~Dagger~

I'm so happy! This series is right up my alley, and I can't wait to see episode 2. ^_^ (By the way, dposse, next time you should either put the summary into your own words or comment on it more extensively.) As Panda already mentioned, the animation is really fluid, natural-looking and realistic. I was especially amazed by the part when [spoiler]an injured Kiba attacks Tsume's men and then goes on to challenge Tsume himself.[/spoiler] Even if CN's censors have edited Wolf's Rain, I'm pleased to see that we're still given a good idea of just how savage and ruthless the wolves can be. Episode 1 contains a surprising amount of blood (surprising if you consider the fact that Inuyasha did not always run uncut). The background music sounds rich and layered. It adds a lot to the show's bleak atmosphere; I only wish that Adult Swim played the OP theme as well as the ED. I'm also quite pleased with the English dub, which must have been done by either Bang Zoom or Animaze. As Tsume, Crispin Freeman plays yet another stoic, brooding badass--Tsume's voice sounds no different from Alex Rowe's (Last Exile) or Amon's (Witch Hunter Robin). However, I enjoy his acting too much to complain about potential typecasting. I thought Kiba's opening lines were incredibly well done. Mysterious, cryptic and hauntingly spoken, they immediately hooked me. I enjoy comedies, but serious shows like this one are what continually renew my love for anime. BONES' character designs are consistently appealing and attractive. Out of the BONES series I've seen thus far (including RahXephon, Kenran Butousai and a tiny bit of Scrapped Princess), I think I like the art in Wolf's Rain the most. It's realistic without looking drab or uninteresting. The next few episodes should help me decide whether or not to pre-order volume 1. ~Dagger~

The first episode of Wolf's Rain is going to air on AS tonight, and I am [i]very[/i] psyched. I don't know much about this series other than the fact that it has to do with wolves who are capable of assuming human form. However, its premise seems original, and I've been quite taken by Adult Swim's latest offerings (including Witch Hunter Robin and The Animatrix). Hopefully Wolf's Rain will be equally impressive, despite the fact that it has four recap episodes. I think it'd be a wise move for AS to avoid airing those altogether; since Wolf's Rain is only set to be shown on Saturdays, that would mean seeing a month's worth of recycled material... something which viewers might find a little tedious. I'll post my thoughts here after watching episode 1. ^_^ ~Dagger~

Sensei no Ojikan's humor and animation may be cheap, but it's not particularly dirty (aside from some strong innuendo in episode 1). I'm just grateful that the series doesn't go out of its way to show naked women; if nothing else, it's sparked my interest in the original manga. Of course when a fantastically catchy OP and one or two hilarious gags per episode are all an anime has to offer, we can probably assume that its appeal will be somewhat limited. I guess I'll continue watching this. It's just amusing enough to keep me from being bored, and none of the characters are totally detestable... some even have the potential to become fan favorites. I love the entire male cast--their personalities are so colorful that they make the girls seem rather dull. ~Dagger~

Welcome to OtakuBoards, Robin. ^_^ I'd like you to keep a couple of things in mind the next time you start a thread. Our policy is to have one official topic for each series, movie or OVA. So rather than giving your thread a title like "Which [insert anime here] character would you want to be?", try coming up with something that will invite people to talk about every aspect of the anime in question. Similarly, your opening post should be a bit longer and more informative. To avoid any confusion or potentially nasty debates, discussions revolving around Totally Spies (along with Teen Titans, etc.) should take place in the Music, Movies & TV forum. Please read OB's rules--which many new members appear to overlook--before posting again. If you have difficulty understanding any of our regulations, you're welcome to private message me or one of the other moderators. Thank you very much. ^_^ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[quote name='densuke']and I for one say it's about time someone did a proper rehash of Noir, even if it has to be Bee Train.[/quote] Bee Train has yet to blow me away (and those recycled character designs can get astonishingly annoying), but perhaps I'll take another look at Madlax. [quote]Midori no Hibi episode 3 was dreadful and really hard to watch.[/quote] Dear god, yes. I feel as though the director is trying to display bare breasts in [i]every single episode.[/i] That's unfortunate, because I really like certain aspects of this show... despite the fact that Midori has zero backbone and the uppity girl (Ayase?) is much better suited for Seiji. Rin comes across as some kind of freakish, perverted, poorly drawn version of Gokusen's Yankumi. I enjoyed the flashback scene, but not much else. [quote]I keep putting off watching Monster for some reason...[/quote] Monster has a lot going for it, and thus far it's done an admirable job of living up to all the hype. Granted, I haven't read the manga.... so take that assessment as you will. -_- Despite the fact that it'll probably make many people uncomfortable, [b]Koi Kaze[/b] appears to be an interesting and well-executed show. Its first episode has the kind of graceful, poignant eloquence previously seen in anime like Shingetsutan Tsukihime and Hoshi no Koe. Even seemingly insignificant gestures carry a great deal of emotion and significance, as do the show's blandly spoken lines. For me, the pivotal moment took place when Koshiro rested his head against a bathroom mirror and then slowly, blindly trudged away, only later realizing that he'd forgotten his briefcase. It's rare for me to be so impressed with a series this early in, but that scene perfectly embodies Koi Kaze's bittersweet, almost despairing atmosphere. I'm interested in learning what other people think about the anime, especially considering its incestuous undertones and the unusual sensitivity with which the script treats its main characters. EDIT: Clearly watching Panda Z is just an exercise in masochism. I'm never going near that show again. >_< ~Dagger~

[quote name='Wingman']i know i shouldn't make a thread on this....[/quote] Then you should understand why I chose to close it. I don't believe my decision requires any further explanation, but all the same I would be grateful if you took a moment or two to glance over OtakuBoards' rules. Since most of your posts have been adequate in terms of length, you should focus on making them more readable. Using proper grammar, spelling and punctuation will greatly improve the fluidity and coherency of your writing. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']I guess you can say I have no problem with it even if I don't watch it on a regular basis. and I don't think it's just a 'chick' thing. Tell teh truth, how many guys have gotten excited about the thought of two girls kissing?[/color][/quote] That's true to a certain extent. However, I usually prefer shoujo-ai series aimed primarily at women (Marimite and Revolutionary Girl Utena would both fall into this category). Many shounen romantic comedies incorporate some suggestion of shoujo-ai--for precisely the reason you mentioned earlier--but I find that these anime are more concerned with fanservice and objectifying women than portraying any kind of actual relationship. Similarly, certain shounen-ai productions come across as being rather exploitative.... yet on the whole, these are less popular than genuine romances like Gravitation. That's something to think about, I guess. ~Dagger~

[quote name='ScirosDarkblade']I already have a thread about this, actually. It's just tucked away somewhere.[/quote] I merged the two topics. Next time, please PM one of the mods if you'd like us to do something about duplicate threads. [quote name='gendou ikari']That's pretty interesting...but why did you tell me this...DEBATE![/quote] Total spam, and you know it. I'll say it again: save these types of comments for private messages, as they contribute absolutely nothing to the discussion at hand. Thanks. ^_^ On a side note... unless something has changed drastically since the last time I read an article about this film, [i]Peter Jackson is in no way whatsoever affiliated with the live-action Evangelion[/i]. Let's try to avoid spreading rumors, shall we? ~Dagger~

Questions like these can be asked in the official .hack//SIGN thread (which is admittedly rather messy at the moment, but hopefully it'll start to clean up soon). That having been said, I would appreciate it if you worked on your post quality. Even assuming that English is your second language (as your custom title seems to indicate), you can still try to use proper punctuation and capitalization. Feel free to PM me or one of the other moderators if you have any questions about grammar, spelling or OtakuBoards' rules. ^_^ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

My, my. This is pretty interesting. [quote name='Anime News Network']Guillermo del Torro, director of Hellboy, has stated that on the official Hellboy website, "We are in talks with Gonzo Anime for the Hellboy anime series." Along with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, del Torro will be involved in the plotting of the anime project, along with other follow-up projects, to make sure the plot flows with the entire Hellboy mythology.[/quote] Although I'm not familiar with the Hellboy comics, I enjoyed the live-action movie very much. It's fun, smart and generally well-done--one of the best "superhero" films I've ever seen. GONZO would probably be the obvious choice for a flashy high-budget anime--especially one expected to make heavy use of CGI--but I have to say that Madhouse series usually possess more finesse (particularly in terms of characterization). In my experience, GONZO shows are often hit-and-miss. Last Exile is nicely paced and visually stunning; Hellsing, despite its myriad faults, has an admirable sense of style; Peace Maker Kurogane, for whatever reason, failed to attract a large Japanese audience; Chrono Crusade continues to piss off fans of the corresponding manga; Bakuretsu Tenshi is irredeemably terrible, and so forth. Do you think that Hellboy could work as an anime? Presumably the Hellboy series would receive a simultaneous (R1 as well as R2) release, and, like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, might be tailored specifically for an English dub. ~Dagger~

I'm pretty confident that [b]Shingetsutan Tsukihime[/b] (also known as Lunar Legend Tsukihime) will be licensed sometime in the near future. The following mini-article has only served to intensify my suspicions. [quote name='AnimeonDVD.com][b]Tsukihime closer to being licensed:[/b] This one goes firmly in the rumor and unconfirmed bin, but there's a "very good possibility" for it. According to some resourceful readers, they've found that Geneon Entertainment USA has registered the [url]www.tsukihimedvd.com[/url'] site (as well as the known license, stellviadvd.com). As mentioned in the past, this does not in any way guarantee Geneon's acquisition of Tsukihime, but with them already having announced a CD release and now with this, the odds of an already fairly certain title is even more so.[/quote] If Geneon does own the rights to Tsukihime, they'll probably make an announcement sometime during Sakura Con, which takes place this weekend. Hopefully, they'll give it the same treatment as Someday's Dreamers, by dividing the show into a total of 3 DVDs with four episodes per disc and a gorgeous little artbox to tempt people who are currently collecting the anime on R2. In any event, I've already pre-ordered the Tsukihime OST. ^_^ ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=master max.]does any body know how to get a dark master on the field realy easy? :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :( :o :o :o :o :o :o :o[/QUOTE] This post's brevity and incredible number of smilies automatically make it qualify as spam. Please review OtakuBoards' rules before writing another reply, and PM me or one of the other moderators if you have any questions or concerns. OB places a strong emphasis on quality and coherency, so you should make sure that each and every one of your posts is well put-together and substantial enough to meet our expectations. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=wind goddess]has anyone seen this anime? I think its a good anime though. I really like Fuuko there although I also like Kaoru... please help me... im new here[/QUOTE] Welcome! ^_^ When starting a new series topic, try to summarize the show in question and provide us with some general information about its storyline and characters. I don't have sufficient time to explain OtakuBoards' rules right now, but feel free to PM me or one of the other moderators if you have any questions about their content (I'll be online later in the afternoon). Thank you for your patience. ^_^ Thread closed. ~Dagger~

I'm really grateful that this thread has gotten so many high-quality replies, but it's starting to become a bit redundant. Although I can't recall when it was resurrected, I do remember that its revival was somewhat questionable (in other words, very close to the thirty-day cutoff). Since we now have a topic that deals specifically with new releases, there's no good reason to keep this one alive. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

Anyone who likes comedic shounen-ai should get a huge kick out of [b]Kyou Kara Maou[/b], which is being fansubbed by LivE-EviL and Shoujo-Ai (oddly enough) as well as AnimeOne. Although it's still relatively new, I am confident that this series will continue to be heartwarming and hilarious. Unless something goes drastically wrong in future episodes, it's definitely a must-see. As of now, Kyou Kara Maou's shounen-ai content is at approximately the same level as Yami No Matsuei's. I personally find KKM more satisfying even though it features less physical contact, mainly because its characters' affections are made quite clear and the script doesn't dance around the subject of homosexual relationships. For example, in episode 2 (the following isn't a big spoiler), [spoiler]the male lead accidentally becomes engaged to another boy, and learns that this is not considered unusual in the country where he has come to live.[/spoiler] I've noticed that a surprisingly large number of guys also seem to like KKM, which just goes to demonstrate how funny it really is. If you want to learn more about the anime, PM me, ask here, or read the official Kyou Kara Maou thread. I'd post a couple screenshots, but my computer is behaving rather strangely at the moment. Suffice it to say that this is probably the best-animated shounen-ai series I've seen thus far. [quote name='Cahoots34']Er, have you ever read X/1999?[/quote] [i]Well[/i] said. ^_~ ~Dagger~

[quote name='zackiechan']Is the gundam x series in english or do yall watch in japanese?[/quote] Gundam X is currently unlicensed. In other words, there's no dub track, and you can only see it by downloading digisubs or purchasing R2 DVDs. The latter method may be inconvenient and incredibly expensive, but it's also considerably more ethical. Episodes 1 through 21 have been fansubbed by Suteki-Yume; I don't know whether they plan to continue working with the series. With Gundam SEED airing in America, X's chances of coming over here are greatly diminished--it's not flashy enough to compete with a more recent anime, and heaven knows it doesn't have much of an edge in terms of sheer originality. Besides, if we assume that Domon represents a good portion of foreign mecha lovers, Gundam X's overseas fanbase must be somewhat lacking. That's not exactly a fantastic incentive for companies to spend their money dubbing and releasing it. ~Dagger~

Nearly the entirety of episode 2 had me in stitches. [spoiler]Conrad's mother[/spoiler] is so gorgeous, shounen-ai friendly, funny and clearly rather clever that I like her as much any of Kyou Kara Maou's bishounen. I can't even begin to name all of the hilarious bits in this episode. Naturally, the part when Gunther gives Yuuri that [spoiler]teensy black thong[/spoiler] proved to be quite memorable. I'm happy to see that the shounen-ai innuendo has become significantly more pointed while still remaining light-hearted and amusing. The [spoiler]proposal[/spoiler] scene nearly made me cry with laughter; it was so unexpected and deliciously absurd. Note that Yuuri never asked for their [spoiler]engagement[/spoiler] to be nullified... ^_~ ~Dagger~

[quote name='Hittokiri Zero']If I recall correctly there was actually a glass bubble around Gram at that point ^_^![/quote] Whew, that's a relief. ^_^; [quote]I also agree with you about Yagami's reaction, I did find it a little surprising at how harsh he was to Jr. and how willing he was to accept Gram, is there something he knows about Gram that he doesn't want others to know o_O?[/quote] Gram's [spoiler]mecha-summoning necklace[/spoiler] is one big plot point just waiting for its time to shine. It's possible that Yagami feels very confident in his ability to read people's personalities, or maybe being a pilot allows him to recognize similar talents in others. *shrugs* [quote]The plot advancing quickly o_-? ...[Spoiler]Also in the flashback clip where Vess was with Gram were they running from the army or something ._o? I think I might have to rewatch that part...[/spoiler][/QUOTE] Heh, I meant that it's decently well-paced (at least in comparison to PMK :p). The episode 4 preview appears to hint at some interesting developments, so I guess we'll soon learn whether things are able to pick up steam. I feel mildly relieved that other characters have discussed how difficult it is to get along with Vess. For whatever reason, this makes her seem more sympathetic. Her outsider status and tendency to strike out on her own receive more of an emphasis in episode 3, but we also see that she has a huge soft spot for Gram--even after Jr. rejects her overtures, she keeps on [strike]preaching[/strike] offering him advice. It looked to me as though [spoiler]they were evacuating some kind of base.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~