Dagger

You drew that yourself? Very well done. Hmm.... I can't really give you any decent advice until you clarify a few details. How large would you like the final tattoo to be? Does the image you've attached represent anything, or is it simply a fanciful design? Since it's horizontal, and you mentioned that you wanted it to be on your back, I think that it would probably look best if it were centered (between your shoulderblades, for example, rather than located on one or the other). But that's just me. *shrugs* You really seem to have an eye for this sort of thing. I'd love to see what other arrangements you've come up with. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Solo Tremaine [/i] [B][COLOR=#503F86]A great deal of these voices are in RahXephon as well. I saw BGCT2040 before RahXephon, and as you said the associations I had with the voices ruined the new experience- as it wasn't a truely 'original' character as such, they tend to seem rather lackluster and boring. But RahXephon has a good story, so it's forgiven and I'm still going to watch it ^_^[/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE] RahXephon and Full Metal Panic (both ADV series) also share many of the same VAs. For example, Ayato and Sousuke are both played by Chris Patton. He's a decent actor with impressive dramatic range, but I was underwhelmed by his performances in those particular series. His Ayato was far too young and volatile (whereas that character's Japanese seiyuu came across as being calmer and more mature); Sousuke sounded like a goofball, not an accomplished military professional. Other than that, though, I thought that RahXephon's dub was exceptional. Certain voices did get a little annoying after a while, but nearly all of the supporting characters were well cast--especially Haruka, Itsuki, Makoto, and Megumi. ~Dagger~

I rented "Navi" last summer, so I've seen the first four episodes. I'll admit that I found the slow pace a little frustrating at first, but some of the show's imagery really stuck with me ([spoiler]especially in the scene where Chisa--at least I think that's her name--jumps off her apartment building, just about everything that takes place in Cyberia, and Lain's wire/computer-cluttered room[/spoiler]). Although I was too lazy to track down or buy the remaining three DVDs, it was my interest in Lain that inspired me to buy the Boogiepop box set, since I'd read reviews which said that they were comparable, and also because it was much cheaper than Lain's. I would have put the Lain box set on my Christmas list, but I doubt that my parents would have felt inclined to spend $107 on a thirteen-episode show. ^__^;; I honestly don't recall too many details about Serial Experiments Lain (for some weird reason, I do remember Lain's bear pajamas....). I should probably get off my lazy *** and find some way to see the rest of the show; I really like anime that makes me think, and since I was far from repelled by the first few episodes, I don't see why I wouldn't end up liking it. ~Dagger~

I really enjoyed Big O's holiday episode ("Day of the Advent"). It wasn't exactly Christmas-themed, but I thought that the buying of presents, giant evergreen tree, and white-bearded, red-garbed old man certainly seemed to point in that direction. I appreciated this episode mainly because it served to reveal [spoiler]Dorothy's hidden affection for Roger, and because I'm a sucker for happy endings--of which Big O has relatively few.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

OOC: Yay, it's starting! I attached an image of my character. ***** "Well, well," Nuada said softly. "Did you see that, Ariela?" The wind toyed with her sable hair, dark as the night sky that stretched above them. "I saw three fools." "One human, two not." His lips curved in a slow, dangerous smile. "It seems that we've found them at last." He tilted his face towards the moon. His crimson eyes glinted in its silvery light, and for a moment, Ariela allowed herself to savor the vampire's cold, lethal beauty. He could clearly tell that she was watching him, but didn't seem inclined to do anything about it--at least until she felt his arm slip slyly about her waist, pulling her close. "Would you like to do me a favor, darling?" Ariela caressed the smooth, cold hilt of one of her katanas, waiting for his command. "And what do you desire?" "Many things," Nuada murmured. "Oh, many things. But for the moment, why don't you have a look inside that mansion?" She nodded. "And as for yourself?" "I plan to go a-hunting in the city. Shall we rendezvous at my flat?" Ariela, eager to follow the prey that they had been tracking for weeks, agreed. "Naturally." She vanished into the darkness, silver nails gleaming as she prepared to cut the throat of whatever unlucky soul stumbled across her path.

Oh, yes. To say that the English voice actress Wendee Lee (Faye from Cowboy Bebop, Charlotte from Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) has a part in just about every anime ever released in North America would only be a slight exaggeration. David Lucas (Spike from Cowboy Bebop, Gene from Outlaw Star, Roger from Big O) also plays a ridiculous number of starring roles. The more popular VAs simply tend to attract numerous parts. Also, voice actors and actresses are usually attached to a specific company (such as Bandai, ADV, or FUNimation). They'll often be featured in many of their company's works. For example, Yu Yu Hakusho and Dragonball Z have both been licensed by FUNimation; these two series share many English VAs. ~Dagger~

I would definitely avoid dating Nanami, from Revolutionary Girl Utena. She's annoying, mind-numbingly stupid, and becomes furious over the most trivial of perceived offenses. Not only that, but both her English and Japanese voices are painfully high-pitched. And let's not forget that she has a .... bizarre fixation on her (admittedly attractive) older brother. I doubt that any girl or boy could successfully compete with her affection for him--and really, why would they bother? ~Dagger~

Boogiepop's basic plot is fairly straightforward--it's the way that it's presented which can create some difficulty. The show isn't actually terribly vague; all of the characters' stories intersect quite nicely, but understanding [i]how[/i] they're related is where things get a little complicated, partially because of the large cast of characters, but also because many important points are implied rather than stated outright (for example, the fact that [spoiler]Manticore is a copy of Echos, who later re-animated Manaka[/spoiler]). I also enjoy watching Boogiepop because of its unique visual style--but you should probably go with Semjaza's advice, since he's seen all of Lain, and I haven't yet had the chance to do so. ~Dagger~

Boogiepop Phantom is a really violent and depressing 12-episode show. In spite of (or perhaps because of) those qualities, it's definitely among the best anime I've ever seen. Each episode features a different main character and tells a different part of the overarching story. Not only are there flashbacks galore, but certain episodes take place completely out of order, and you really, really have think before everything starts to make sense. Once you begin to figure it out, BP can be a very enjoyable show. However, it's one of those "love it or hate it" series, so it might be something of a risky buy. Serial Experiments Lain is compared to Boogiepop because they're both confusing, creepy, complicated, and dark, and can take several viewings to understand. Lain and BP are also in that they make very good use of background music and sound effects. ~Dagger~

Yes, that is [i]quite[/i] hilarious. I love the serious look on the dark-haired guy's face.... the contrast between that and his, erm, interesting request is what makes the image so funny. By the way, Kyo, nice avatar. ~Dagger~

I haven't seen the entirety of Lain, but I own the box set of a series (Boogiepop Phantom) which is often compared to it, so I suppose I'm more or less qualified to offer my two cents. Serial Experiments Lain is a very slow-paced and incredibly complex show. From what I've watched, its animation appears to be fairly competent. Lain's character designs are interesting by way of their realism and simplicity. As with Boogiepop Phantom, its music is also a strong draw. Basically, if you don't like anime that forces you to think, Lain is [i]not[/i] the show for you. It's surreal, twisted, and, as I mentioned, extremely thought-provoking. If you prefer slick action and angsty bishounen, X-TV (not the godawful movie) may be a better bet. However, I do recommend both Lain and Boogiepop--they're excellent shows, but they're just not for everyone. ~Dagger~

One summer day, my mom was baking a spinach pie. For some reason, it decided to spontaneously combust shortly after she'd opened the oven door to remove it. Although there was little smoke, it was a bit unsettling to see flames exploding from the carcass of what had formerly been a fairly innocuous piece of food. If I recall correctly, we ended up eating Cheerios for dinner instead. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TeRRaFLaMe [/i] [B]You dislike Final Fantasy now because they changed a song to English? It's not really a big deal... it's not changing the game. I mean, seriously, the only reason they did it is because we Americans are a bunch of stubborn fools who think we're better than everyone else... I agree that they shouldn't have changed it, but it's not THAT big of a deal. o_o; [/B][/QUOTE] Er... what? I just don't see why it's necessary to drag what you perceive as exaggerated notions of American superiority into a discussion of [i]lyrics[/i], for heaven's sake. In your own words, it's not THAT big of a deal. I personally think we're privileged for even being able to hear an English version of the song in question; it's not as though they produced it solely to spite subtitle purists. Like James and Semjaza said, it just makes sense to change the song to English. "We Americans" didn't exactly beat down Squaresoft's door demanding that they alter the lyrics, so I really have no idea why you made that particular comment. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by maladjusted [/i] [B][size=1] I was just wondering...is this contest going to take place? I've seen about two other ones fall apart and get pushed back about three pages, so I just posted...to remind. *coughs* Yeah.[/size] [/B][/QUOTE] Hmm... yeah, I'm one of the judges, but I have no clue when it's supposed to begin; eldai hasn't been on OB in a while. We could start without her, although that wouldn't exactly be fair, seeing how as the contest was her idea. So I guess we'll just have to sit tight a little while longer. Thanks for your concern, though--I was starting to worry that it would fall apart, much like the other contests you mentioned. ~Dagger~

Pros: 1. Beautiful cropping on the image of Legolas. The edges of his clothing and armor are impeccably smooth; this is rather impressive, since real people are much more difficult to crop than anime or video game characters. 2. The Elvish lettering is also a nice touch. Cons: 1. The text seems completely out of place, and that particular shade of yellow clashes with the dark greens and more subdued golds found in the rest of the banner. 2. I have nooo idea what the pale green blob-type thing is supposed to be. Overall, a good effort. ~Dagger~

Maia leaned over the edge of the ship, craning her neck as she watched the harbor slowly disappear from view. She had taken the precaution of purchasing several very strong herbal mixtures which would hopefully prevent her from becoming too seasick to function. But for now, the ocean breeze felt almost soothing, and there didn't seem to be even a hint of poor weather on the horizon. "Try not to fall off," Luthian muttered, eyeing her precarious position with no small amount of trepidation. She turned to offer him a rather devious grin. "Oh, there's no need to worry." He shrugged resignedly, and glanced over toward the captain. Serrac stood a short distance away from them, speaking quietly with his first mate, a middle-aged man named Thom. Gray-haired and slightly grizzled, Thom squinted at the horizon with a strange sort of intensity. He said nothing, but every so often responded to Serrac's words with a terse yet respectful nod. When Luthian looked back at Maia, he saw her walking casually along the top of the ship's rail, her arms held out for balance, and whistling as though she didn't have a care in the world. He froze, cringing inwardly at the way her body dipped from side to side with the steady rocking of the Lyth' Leurnna. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, tail swishing in agitation. Maia shot him yet another mischievous look. "Worrying already?" She leapt lightly down to the deck. "It's a shame--I've got better sea legs than half of these sailors, but in less than a day I'll be holed up in my cabin, trying not to puke my guts out." "That's a pleasant image." "Very much so," Shrai'i told them. Neither Maia nor Luthian had heard her approach. She eyed them with what might have been polite amusement, and then gazed contemplatively at the shoreline, which by now had nearly vanished from view. "I expect that the three of us will become rather well acquainted during this voyage." Serrac patted Thom on the shoulder before making his way towards Luthian and the two women. Maia watched him skeptically as she wrung the sea-spray from her clothing; Shrai'i fingered the ends of her elegant scarf. Luthian simply sighed. He wasn't completely sure that Shrai'i's prediction would pan out; these two had enough secrets to keep him busy for weeks.

Well, my peers sometimes mistake my anime-style artwork for something from Yu-Gi-Oh or Digimon, but I don't take their comments very seriously. You can't expect the majority of people to know what anime really is, much less understand why it's so interesting. If their comments aren't obviously intended to be cruel, then they're probably just speaking out of boredom or simple curiousity. Try not to let it bother you; life is too complicated to spend time worrying about the little things. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Drix D'Zanth [/i] [B]Ex: I want to now marry a donkey. I have a right to marry this donkey, and I believe this donkey loves me and I love it. You are prejudice against me if you say I can?t because our love is true. No, we can?t have children. No, this isn?t natural. I don?t care. My donkey and I demand that we are recognized, and our proud of our bestiality! How can you argue against bestiality if you argue for homosexuality? Having sex with a donkey and having sex with the same gender isn?t any less "unnatural". They both aren?t supposed to happen. It?s natural or unnatural , no gray area in this instance.[/B][/QUOTE] A major difference between homosexuality and bestiality is that one cannot have consensual sex with an animal; they're incapable of indicating any kind of consent. Animals are also incapable of expressing (much less feeling) romantic affection for a human being--whereas two men or women can demonstrate through both voice and action that their love is mutual. Call it unnatural if you will, but it's clearly possible for homosexual people to love each other, regardless of whether or not their love is considered to be morally correct. While I suppose that a person could hypothetically fall in love with an animal, it would be rather difficult to prove that the animal loved him/her in return. You're perfectly entitled to your opinions about the immorality of homosexuality (although I personally disagree), but I don't think that a strict comparison of homosexuality and bestiality holds up under close inspection. ~Dagger~

"Don't ask, don't tell" is an American military policy. It states that if a homosexual servicemember reveals his or her orientation, he or she will immediately be discharged. But up until that point, no one is supposed to question that person's (or anyone else's) sexual preferences, so as to prevent him/her from telling the truth and subsequently being discharged. I frankly think that "don't ask, don't tell" is a rather stupid and counterproductive policy. Just the other day, I read an article (in the Washington Post, I believe) about a number of gay linguists who had to find other work after coming out. At this point in time, our army is sorely in need of experts in Arabic, and it amazes me that the American military is willing to lose valuable specialists simply because of their orientation. ~Dagger~

Yes, I saw [i]many[/i] parallels between The Last Samurai and [spoiler]Rurouni Kenshin. The love story is very similar to that found in the Trust & Betrayal OAVs, and even the final battle, in which the samurai are shot down by an array of newfangled Gatling guns, closely resembles a scene in Kenshin's eleventh episode ("Farewell, the Strongest Men").[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

For future reference, this type of thread belongs in the .hack//SIGN forum. Just so ya know. Now, I haven't seen the entirety of .hack//SIGN, but I was under the impression that its 26 episodes were intended to encompass a complete story. Do you think that the additional episodes were created solely for profit, or is there really more to tell? ~Dagger~

I'd have to vote in favor of wind, mainly because the ability to control that element often comes in handy during matches in the Battle Arena. There's also the fact that I do enjoy being able to breath, and wind is, after all, little more than moving air. Nearly all of the elements listed are capable of causing a ton of damage, but I personally would rather watch a hurricane than an earthquake. Oxygen is pretty cool too. ^_~ ~Dagger~

Oooh... I've got a pretty girl on my side. I think we'll have fun wreaking havoc together, Arika. ^_~ vicky, could you clarify something for me? You stated that the good team "[lives] in a mansion far away." Does this mean that none of the evil characters can begin the RPG in a location near the good guys' headquarters? ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sara [/i] [B][SIZE=1]I'm looking forward to it, in a mild sort of way. I absolutely [i]adored[/i] the books when I was younger (haven't had time to read them all through since sixth grade...), but I'm rather distressed that so many other people are suddenly excited about Tolkien. Call it professional detachment, self-control, or bitterness, but I'm not nearly as excited about the movies as most people I know. I enjoy them, though.[/SIZE] [/B][/QUOTE] I know what you mean. I've been a Tolkien fan since I was in first grade, when my uncle bought me a copy of [u]The Hobbit[/u]. It feels a little strange to discuss the movies with people who haven't actually read the original trilogy--but I'm still happy that LotR is so popular. It may not necessarily be a good thing, but at least there won't be a shortage of fellow enthusiasts for many years to come. ~Dagger~

Oh man. I just came back from seeing The Last Samurai, and my current mood can only be described as giddy. It is [i]amazing.[/i] No, scratch that--it's easily the most beautiful movie that I have ever seen. Though several shaky scenes do take place, particularly towards the beginning, TLS's final battle sequence is absolutely perfect--elegant, powerful, heartrending, and impeccably choreographed. This film contains some incredible action, but its characters--and the relationships between them--are what truly make it great. At least in my opinion. The cinematography simply blew me away. It's so lush and gorgeous... between that and the battle scenes, it's a wonder that my eyes didn't fall out of my head. Tom Cruise performs his role admirably, but Ken Watanabe really steals the show. The woman who plays Taka is both breathtakingly beautiful and a skilled actress. Though she has relatively few lines, her expressive eyes alone more than make up for that. I've been excited about The Last Samurai for weeks, and it definitely exceeded even the highest of my expectations. ~Dagger~