Dagger

What do you mean by a "real" second series? I've heard that the second season (which is supposed to be even more comedically oriented than the first) is currently showing in Japan. I really, really wanted to like FMP, and I definitely plan on attempting to finish its first 26 episodes. Is the conclusion (or lack thereof) something of a letdown? I'm mainly curious because I don't want to waste my money on a show that will only end up disappointing me. ~Dagger~

I haven't heard anything about Kenshin returning to Toonami (or weekdays in general). And CN's online schedule states that it's still set to air at 11:00 tonight. Sorry, but I'd advise disregarding any rumors that may have come to your attention, Ellester. ~Dagger~

Maia drained her glass, then plunked it on the countertop with an emphatic [i]thump[/i]. "There," she muttered, staring hazily at nothing in particular. "...What was I talking about?" "Drawing," Luthian prompted. His tail swayed lazily from side to side as he spoke. He'd had about the same number of drinks as Maia, but was only just starting to feel pleasantly fuzzy. "Drawing," she repeated slowly. A second later, her face brightened. "I'll draw [i]you[/i]!" The tall Tal'Iiren suppressed a chuckle. Maia certainly made an eccentric drunk. She tossed her braid over her shoulder with a haughty, dramatic flourish, whipped out her sketchbook, and proceeded to doodle the most hideous caricature he'd ever seen. "Looks just like me," Luthian informed the redhead, perfectly straight-faced. [i]I[/i] hope [i]my ears aren't that big...[/i] Maia rested her chin on her hands as she studied him, grinning mischievously. "The resemblance is uncanny." He suddenly suspected that she wasn't quite so far gone as she'd led him to believe. "So, do you--" "Shh." She put a finger to her lips and tilted her head to the side, apparently listening to something. Luthien watched her curiously. The bar was less busy than what was usual for this time of night, but it was still far from quiet. "I thought I heard Shirai'i's voice," Maia explained. All traces of inebriation had abruptly vanished from her face and movement; her rather vacant smile shifted to an expression that was calm, attentive, and very much alert. "Well, we'd better go find her. Just... er... don't pay too much attention to anything we talk about, alright?" ****************** [i]A little while later.[/i] ****************** Luthian felt a little silly, standing in the corner of Shirai'i's room as she and Maia spoke in dark, urgent whispers. Only the occasional phrase reached his ears, and despite his best intentions to ignore those overheard words, he couldn't help but try to string them together. ".....[i]about the syndicate[/i]....." ".....[i]call our assignment off[/i]....." "Luthian!" Maia was calling him. He shook himself out of his reverie before crossing his arms. "May I join you [i]now[/i]?" he asked, giving her a rather reproachful look. Shrai'i adjusted her scarf, her fingers smoothing stray creases from its silky fabric. "As you wish," she said coolly. Her voice had a certain silvery quality that made it instantly recognizable--and so beguiling to listen to. "We might need you," the redhead said softly, avoiding his eyes. "It's important that we be able to leave the city as quickly and quietly as possible. Could you help us?" **************** OOC: So.... late..... *falls over, snoring*

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ChibiHorsewoman [/i]Doesn't anyone seem to think of the fact that Kikyo would start to stink after [spoiler]dying and being reborn over and over again?[/spoiler][/QUOTE] No. I recognize that you didn't really mean that seriously, but I'm in a rather nit-picky mood tonight. My apologies. ^_^;; Her corpse had originally been cremated--Episode 14 is called Kikyo's Stolen Ashes. Kikyo's current body was magically formed from grave soil (among other things), and thus, unlike normal human flesh, does not deteriorate. However, if she ran out of borrowed souls, her enchanted body would weaken and cease functioning. Presumably, if Kikyo were to die and be resurrected again, she would probably be provided with another false body. Urusoae didn't seem to have a very difficult time making one in the first place. ~Dagger~

Well.... you wouldn't be able to use the banner on this particular forum, as it doesn't meet OB's size requirements. Anyway, like you said, it's a little dark. Try either making the font lighter, or adding a glowing effect to the edges of the letters (so that they stand out more). The logo image is nicely placed, but it seems to have been squashed out of proportion. If you're using Photoshop, I'd recommend resizing it by reducing the original picture's resolution, rather then squishing it so that it fits on the banner. Add a border--perhaps a white or lightly colored one, to balance out all the darkness, and you'll be good to go. Overall rating: (I don't like doing these, but since you asked for it....) 5/10 ~Dagger~

Fragility should be In the lines of bone that grace her face. Fluted, elfin features, Marked by uncanny strength; Perhaps another life Saw her as a creature of myth. Such fantastical notions-- But you, too, would stare At the hair that shines golden in the lamplight, Spilling down across dark eyes, Softening The proverbial blow. Her fists might be clenched. All the same, The speaker's eyes are focused on her lips. So pale. They speak of sleepless nights, Forming hollow words That hover, monosyllabic, In the otherwise silent air. No, she says. No. A simple sound: One's tongue brushes the back of upper teeth And it is formed. ~Dagger~

Have you ever stumbled across a relatively unknown series or OAV that turned out to be surprisingly good--perhaps good enough to be listed among the best anime you've seen to date? The most underrated show I've seen in recent memory is Shamanic Princess, a six-part series that was released in 1997. I honestly don't understand why this title isn't wildly popular. Its animation is equal to that of any well-known anime film, which is rather astounding when you consider its age, length, and obscurity. The character designs are simply gorgeous (just look at my banner ^__^)--and small wonder, as they were created by CLAMP. Visually, SP leaves nothing to be desired. But that's merely the least of it. The show's plot is well-paced and engaging; its script is tightly written and packed with symbolism. Its score alone was what hooked me--the lush, emotionally evocative music matches every scene perfectly. So why isn't Shamanic Princess a cult classic, at the very least? I mean, it's incredibly cheap (six episodes on one DVD, all for the rather nice price of $18.00). The few reviews that I managed to find online gave it very high ratings. Oh, well. I can only shake my head in incredulity and hope that you guys have a few finds of your own to tell the rest of us OBers about. ~Dagger~

Mmm. I love being able to have the best of both worlds. ^_~ My choices are as follows: 1. Sara (Shamanic Princess). She's extraordinarily strong and resilient, yet at the same time gentle and soft-spoken. Despite her relative youth, she radiates wisdom, and she possesses a mystical, ageless sort of beauty that you can't help being drawn to. Out of Shamanic Princess's three female leads, Sara is definitely the most compelling and complex, and her Japanese actress has a truly lovely voice. Every time she spoke, I was completely entranced. 2. Shinpei Kuroda (Boogiepop Phantom). He may seem easygoing and somewhat idealistic. However, those qualities only serve to conceal his fatal secrets and inescapable past. Though he dies early on, Shinpei's sheer selflessness redeems his inner darkness, and I really admired his willingness to betray his own life for the sake of protecting the young girl who fell in love with him. His personality is very well-developed, considering how little screen time he gets, and I was immediately struck by the poignancy of his story. Plus, he's [i]really[/i] good-looking, without being a typical prissy bishounen. 3. Larva (Vampire Princess Miyu). Simply gorgeous. This is the type of guy who creates countless fangirls every time he removes his mask. Not only that, but he's also incredibly loyal, devoted, and powerful. The perfect person to dispose of all your enemies, and then come home for a bit of lovin' later in the evening. 4. Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo). She has [i]everything[/i]--confidence, a devious sense of humor, supernatural abilities, and a weakness for revealing swimsuits. Ryoko plays to win; that Tenchi just doesn't know what he's missing. Although she's absolutely gorgeous, and sometimes comes on rather strong (not that I'd mind or anything...), she also possesses a softer, more romantic side. What's not to like? ~Dagger~

Ruby, your comment inspired me to try my hand at some more grayscale. ^__^ I've never seen Angel Sanctuary, and I still don't plan to watch it, but I love the show's artistic style. So I threw together a few images of some Sanctuary characters. The original pictures were very intricately drawn, so I tried not to make the banner too cluttered. I would have added some text--if not for the fact that I have no idea what kind of quote would suit the tone of the show. Ah well. Now, I have a question for all of you more experienced banner-makers out there. So far, I've been making my borders by using Photoshop's line tool. They end up looking rather Spartan, although they're perfectly adequate for the purposes of defining the shape of the banner. What might I do to make more interesting borders? ~Dagger~

Shaking hands, and the taste of something bitter in the air that flows like liquid through my hair. Another beautiful day. Familiar playful breezes, gentle sunlight, timid skies. It's all one pretty cliche. I'm left black and white amidst this technicolor paradise. What lends life color more than love? Unless it's a thousand miles away, bled by time and tide to the palest shadow of its former self. Sad isn't the right word. It's different . . . the feeling that wells within you when the earth is drenched with rain, and its soft gray beauty smooths everything to blurred perfection. ~Dagger~

Speaking of Batman..... Big O is a well-done, thoughtful, [i]anime[/i] series that just happens to have been heavily influenced by Batman and other American cartoons, both in terms of content and artistic style. TheGodlyME, does that automatically make it "tainted"? ~Dagger~

Solo, that was absolutely hilarious--and quite a pleasure to read, as well. Your writing is funny, fresh, and pleasantly concise. [quote]Although that might have been because the Moderators all looked rather formidable- Syk3 especially, who had changed into a full-sized Evangelion Unit 01. He could tell interactions with Mei were suddenly going to become a lot more complicated. He gave a worried look to Otakusennen. A skyscraper-tall Sachiel waved happily back.[/quote] Like terra said, hysterical describes it best. I can't wait to see more. From what I know of all the people present in the story, you've managed to capture their personalities perfectly. Great work! ^__^ ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Verykawaiineko [/i] [B]OMG the Rurouni Kenshin OVA/movie dubs.....EWWWWWWWWWW ANd they re named it Samurai X...it sounded like #### to me seriously [/B][/QUOTE] That's funny. In my opinion, Trust & Betrayal were far superior to the Rurouni Kenshin TV series. The OAVs were definitely intended for a more mature, sophisticated audience. Their dub was certainly adequate, although it lacked the depth and emotional complexity of the Japanese voice track. The worst dub I've ever heard is that of the Vampire Princess Miyu OAVs, which is probably due to the fact they were dubbed much earlier than many newer series. I'm inclined to argue that the poor quality of the Yu-Gi-Oh dub reflects badly not upon its English voice actors, but upon the show itself. ~Dagger~

Many of the Inuyasha fanfics I've read have called Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father Inutaisho. I strongly doubt that this is canon; for all I know, it may be purely fanon (as with Inari, the kitsune goddess of Yu Yu Hakusho fame). But it does seem to be a rather common nom de plume for an otherwise anonymous character. ~Dagger~

Alright. Here's version 1 of your banner (which I made before seeing your edits :P) .... nice and simple. I can "jumble" it if you so desire, and/or add some Asuka-ness. Your wish is my command. ~Dagger~

[quote]Aa, but I'm sure that Rumiko Takahashi could somehow bring Kikyo back to life, if she felt it necessary to the story.[/quote] Hmm... I never actually took that possiblity into proper consideration. Like you said, it would probably give poor Inuyasha an aneurysm. >_< [quote]By this point, I doubt that there hasn't already been a revolving door in the afterlife labled 'Anime Characters'.[/quote] Haha, how true. Dragonball Z alone would be enough to merit having one. ChibiHorsewoman: Let's suppose that [spoiler]Kikyo [i]does[/i] die.[/spoiler] Well, as Cahoots implied, if Ms. Takahashi ressurected her once, she could easily do so again. Believe me, 140+ episodes are capable of containing any number of outrageous plot twists. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ChibiHorsewoman[/i] [spoiler]besides I heard somewhere that Kikyo dies near the end of the series so she and InuYasha can't be together[/spoiler][/QUOTE] Yes, I've heard that too. But I'd advise you not to jump to conclusions; the show is far from over, even in Japan. Also, it's not as though Kikyo and Inuyasha could [i]ever[/i] be together, seeing how as she's basically already dead. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TheGodlyME [/i]Now, Dagger IX1, the first weak point you make, "have I ever watched an entire episode?" Yes. I have watched a complete 2 parts making a whole episode--that's one hour of drivel. I have watched other episodes as well, but not for more than 16 minutes at most. I just like to keep my feelers out so I don't get left in the dust.[/quote] Good for you. And I mean that in all seriousness, too. ^_~ [quote]Second: Fine, some anime does contain characters that will always win. Fine...doesn't matter. The character in an anime wins, a lesson is taught; a lesson that isn't "you go against Japan, you will lose..." That is what america puts across in their animation. I was pointing out the overuse of political propaganda. I suppose that I sould have clarified that further than: "They have little or no character depth, are completely [I]predictable[/I] , and you KNOW that they will always win against the easily distinguished evil that has no real reason to be evil outside of the fact that the writer says "okay, he'll be evil, and the heroes will stop him, send him to jail, and hope he sees the err of his ways and becomes good...which he never will....hahahahaha...so original" It is a very common thing to do in America, because we have a swollen head...[B]we think that ANYthing outside of our acceptance is evil, bad[/B] , not even worth our time to consider." I can see how you could have misconstrued that bit of commentary for pro-good-guy-should-always-win-because-it's-new-and-original. Should I say it a third time for you?[/quote] My goodness, you sound bitter. The truly amusing part of this is that we probably share the same political viewpoints. However, you?ve chosen to indulge in the intellectual equivalent of self-flagellation?which is ultimately rather ironic, considering the implications of your username. Verbally beating up on America will do absolutely nothing to solve any of the world?s problems, regardless of whether they were created by us or not. Okay. Calling Teen Titans ?propaganda? is highly ridiculous. Come on, you?re giving the writers way too much credit. The show was obviously intended?as nearly all television shows are, live-action or otherwise?to increase ratings and draw a larger audience. Darling, Cartoon Network has other things to worry about than brainwashing America?s youth. Are you saying that shows like SD Gundam?which is currently running on Toonami, a programming block that targets young adult males?automatically abounds with amazing characterization and well-developed antagonists, simply because it?s anime, and not American animation? My friend, you obviously see the world in the strictest shades of black and white, and for that, I can only offer you my sincere pity. It?s clear that nothing I say will be able to alter your firmly held convictions, but I still feel a duty to respond to your argument. [quote]Third. Do Vash or Alucard look like Gigantor or Astro-boy? No. They don't beat the living *insert swear or vulgarity here* out of cliche characters that have been around for an unnecessary amount of time. (Batman is lots more than 10 years old, and they try, feebly, to keep him and his little co-horts in power.)(and fine; some anime do make different stories using the same characters or even sequels. And some, like Gundam, Sailor Moon, etc. plus a whole lot of other YOUNG CHILDRENS shows can become somewhat long. But I don't really support them.) Also; fine, there is a racial diversity in american animation, but it is to APPEASE the minority of the country and try to convert EVERYONE(you know, we used appeasement against the NAZIs and you can see how that turned out). In *most* anime, the cultural diversity is to show the point that there is a general cooperation between races or that there is more than just ONE country involved in the story. It could also just be that CRAZY sense of Japanese logic that there would be other races mixed in with the populous.[/quote] On what are you basing the statement that racial diversity in American animation is included solely for purposes of ?appeasement?? I don?t feel particularly appeased, and until you provide some solid evidence, your accusations are little more than vehemently expressed opinion. [quote]Yes, some anime is made for children, and some of it appeals to young adult-adult categories. Blah, Blah, Blah...America has that too, afghanistan has it, korea has it...it is quite common, so I don't really find merit with your complaint. Teen Titans was aimed at, get ready for this,TEENS! Hamtaro was aimed at the toddler-12 year old age group. Now you have just compared a kiddie show from japan with a TEEN-YOUNG ADULT show. I feel that this proves my point about just grouping all animation into one category. Also, I was merely making the observation that something that is a visual masterpiece(even though edited and dubbed) should still not be forced into the aforementioned same category as american propaganda aimed at people under 10 to try and get a higher recruitment into the army.(thank you GI JOE)[/quote] Actually, I doubt that Teen Titans was aimed strictly at teenagers. Things are not always as they appear on the surface. Most of Britney Spears? fans are 12-year-olds, despite all her desperate efforts to attract a more mature crowd. SpongeBob SquarePants has a surprisingly large adult audience, as do the Powerpuff Girls. On the contrary, many of South Park?s avid fans are barely out of elementary school. Once again, try not to make so many assumptions. And try not to drag politics into the discussion of an art form. I may add to this if inspiration chooses to strike. ~Dagger~

Has anyone else noticed that the quality of Inuyasha's artwork is starting to get pretty shaky? As the later episodes progress--I've seen up to 52--the characters' faces start to become rather distorted, at least in certain scenes. And I don't mean that they're going into SD-mode; I mean that their cheeks actually appear to have been stretched out of shape. Kagome, Inuyasha, and Miroku seem to get the worst of it, while Sesshomaru almost always looks perfectly normal. It's a rather annoying phenomena, especially since they're sometimes drawn perfectly, with incredible attention to the interplay of light and shadow. ~Dagger~

I've heard of Gasaraki, but haven't seen it. If I recall correctly, it was directed by Ryusuke Takahashi, the same man who also directed RahXephon (a more recent mecha series). The general consensus seems to be that its plot is one giant muddle. To quote an Amazon.com reviewer, "Gasaraki divides viewers into fervent partisans and furious detractors." If you're looking for a show that can hold its own against Evangelion, watch RahXephon. It's among the best series I've ever seen, period--and I've yet to speak with someone who dislikes it. ~Dagger~

What "past mistakes" did he make regarding Kikyo? If I knew what you were talking about, I'm sure I could come up with a counter-argument. ^_~ ~Dagger~

I've wanted to read Demon Diary for quite a while. I must say, your drawing is fantastic. You shaded the folds in his clothing exceptionally well, and I'd imagine that drawing his hair also took a certain amount of skill. His hands seem to be a little on the small side, but perhaps it's just me. Anyway, awesome work. And I love the dragon. ^__^ ~Dagger~

Out of curiousity, have you ever actually watched Teen Titans? And by that, I don't mean two or three minutes of some random episode. Did you at any point sit down to watch several episodes in consecutive order, all the while keeping an open mind, and being willing to consider that the show might possess [i]some[/i] merits? [quote]"You KNOW that they will always win."[/quote] 1. Dragonball Z: Goku doesn't lose very often, now does he? 2. Yu Yu Hakusho: No matter how much the good guys get pounded, it's pretty obvious that they'll always come out on top. Next time, think more carefully before you make such sweeping generalizations. [quote]"THE main reason that it isn't anime is that it features PREDOMINANTLY American characters."[/quote] 1. Trigun: Does Vash look Japanese to you? I'm not saying he's American, but he sure as heck isn't Asian. 2. Hellsing: I don't know too much about HS. However, I do know that it definitely doesn't take place in Japan. Have you noticed how many anime shows [i]don't[/i] feature Japanese characters? Many, such as RahXephon, have a highly diverse cast, with characters hailing from India, Africa, or the States, as well as from Japan. [quote]"It just sickens me that "Teen titans" can be on the same network as FLCL or Trigun and THEN people will mix them up and dismiss them into the same category--kid stuff--where FLCL or Trigun , etc. DO NOT BELONG."[/quote] 1. Hamtaro: Teen Titans is definitely a bit more grown-up than this show. 2. My Neighbor Totoro: Who says that "kid stuff" has to be bad? Totoro is an anime [i]classic[/i], and unlike FLCL, I wouldn't have any qualms about showing it to my little sister. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AngelWiN_Kagome [/i]:wigout: ~Dagger~ I have a couple questions for you to. 1) IF Kikyo was totally in love with Inuyasha like you say then why is she tring to kill him now?[/quote] Because she's pretty much an empty shell. You can't really expect her to shower him with praise and adoration when (a) she isn't technically a living person, (b) she lacks even that most basic of commodities--a real body, (c) the majority of her soul is currently in Kagome's possession, and (d) the last time she saw him, it definitely appeared as though he were trying to kill her. In her present form, it's virtually impossible for Kikyo to experience anything but anger, cold-blooded hatred, and utter despair. The only reason she continues to exist is because she wants so badly to destroy Inuyasha and/or Naraku. [quote]2) And if she was in love with Inuyasha then wouldn't she just find him and stay with him instead of tring to kill the one thing that actually loves Inuyasha (Kagome)? And while i'm on a roll I also ask you why it is that If Kikyo is really in love with Inuyasha why she keeps running away from him and not wanting to be with him what-so-ever?[/quote] Ah, but she [i]does[/i] want to be with him. That's why she keeps trying to drag him into Hell, instead of simply disposing of him. And think about it. Inuyasha has an enormous soft spot for Kikyo; he doesn't even try to defend himself against her various attacks and advances. If all she truly wished to do was kill him, then she would have done so long ago. [quote]3) (Wow I'm really fired up know) What did that person mean when they called Kagome a doormat? :flaming: :eek:[/QUOTE] Because Kagome doesn't really stand up for her rights. I personally admire Kagome's optimism and forbearance... but each to her own, neh? ~Dagger~

The first season, which was originally shown on Toonami, is thirteen episodes long. Cartoon Network then provided the funding for a second season, which recently aired on Adult Swim, and which brought the total number of episodes up to twenty-six. As far as I'm concerned, the second season is far superior to its worthy predecessor. It's only then that the plot starts to deal more with overriding themes, such as the importance of memories, than with your average anime villain-of-the-day. ~Dagger~