Dagger

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AzureWolf [/i] [B]However, as a stand-alone product, the artwork - not the animation - was a huge turn-off for me. Everything's all so funky... The animation was great, but what it was animating left a lot to be desired.[/B][/QUOTE] Heh.... I had to read that last sentence several times before I finally understood what you were saying. I [i]really[/i] need to get more sleep. The character designs were totally different from anything I've ever seen before, possibly because the animators stuck so closely to Amano's original sketches. Whether or not you like his style is basically a matter of your personal aesthetic preferences. The characters' noses and eyes in particular deviated greatly from the anime norm. Now, that isn't exactly a bad thing. I admire innovation, although it sometimes meets with disastrous results (as with Reign: The Conqueror). And although the artwork was, at first, a little bit disorienting, I really came to enjoy and appreciate it. ~Dagger~

As far as I can tell, Teen Titans has a more cohesive storyline than most American cartoons, and it does seem to skew a bit older than, say, SpongeBob. If the creator stated that it wasn't anime--only influenced by anime--then I see no reason to label it as such. Teen Titans falls into a different category. It may not be a work of incredible genius, but it does succeed in blending certain traditions of American and Japanese animation without letting any one aspect seem too out of place. ~Dagger~

I also like Roger/Dorothy, from Big O. Roger is a fairly stereotypical male lead, and it doesn't help that the same man does the dub voices for him, Gene (Outlaw Star), and Spike (Cowboy Bebop). Nevertheless, Dorothy's personality is refreshingly original. When it comes to anime, most female androids are far too submissive and eager to please. ~Dagger~

The distance between us renders you a phantom-- just another figment of my drab imagination. You're painted with the broadest of brush-strokes, all dull grays and shadowy white. An old photograph, marked by the passage of sorrow and time. Too many miles for the mind to comprehend. I stare at a map of the States and sketch the length from here to there. Between us stretch mountain ranges, prairies and the vast sweeping cornfields, places that feel like they belong in another country. A different world. Yes. I'm just another of those pioneer girls, ever gazing westward towards the sunset and your fading smile.

Hmm. Try blurring the background a bit. Right now, the red and black areas are very sharp, and the contrast between them is somewhat distracting. Also, some of the character pics seem out of place. It might help to reduce their opacity. You also don't need to have nearly so many. Pick a few images with similar artistic styles (the CGed man and girl, for example), and stick with those. It'll make the banner as a whole seem more cohesive. ~Dagger~

Valen, I'm actually extremely impressed with your sig. You managed to fit a great deal of material into a [i]very[/i] small amount of space. It's rather irritating when a user's signature exceeds the length of his or her actual post, but only a few sigs are truly that bothersome. Rather than adding a program that would limit the number of lines in a sig, I'd prefer to let the staff decide when someone's sig is simply too long. I'm sure they'd be quite reasonable about it, and it's nice to retain that element of flexibility. ~Dagger~

Heh, I [i]love[/i] candy corn. Trick or treating is quite enjoyable, and I don't see why anyone would find it embarrassing. First of all, it's dark outside. Who's going to see you? Secondly, if dressing up makes you self-conscious, then you have some other issues to work on. ^_~ Despite all this, I haven't gone trick or treating in two years. Last year, I stayed at home writing a history paper. This year, I suppose I just got lazy. I didn't feel like putting in the effort required to pull together a great costume. Besides, there are easier ways to get candy--although it certainly won't be free. If you're with the right group of people, trick or treating will always be fun, regardless of how old or jaded you are. ~Dagger~

Q1: Right and wrong are defined by the society in which you live. However, just as certain virtues are common to many religions, certain vices are condemned in nearly every culture, past or present. Few civilizations have ever condoned murder (except in the case of war or invasion). So I'd say that patterns of behavior are labelled "vices" because they fail to conform to society's standards--but these patterns of behavior are usually a manifestation of that which is inherently wrong or evil in human nature. Of course, "evil" is relative. It's just that people's perceptions of evil tend to be fairly similar. Even dictators try to convince themselves that they're working towards the general good. Q2: My main vices are laziness and selfishness. I'd much rather do something that brings me instantaneous personal gratification (i.e. go online, sleep, watch TV) than something that involves actual labor (i.e. schoolwork) or something that doesn't benefit me, but does end up pleasing someone else (i.e. cleaning my room or vacuuming the kitchen). Q3: Inflexibility. If more people were only willing to consider alternate viewpoints, there'd probably be a lot less hatred and suffering in the world. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Epid3mic [/i] [B]Dagger, you are right, any genre will have it's own stereotypes, but with sci-fi, that's not so much a genre flaw as it is an author flaw. Sci-fi does not have to be in space. Sci-fi does not even have to take place in the future. I agree that aliens are very over-used, but that is just one face of science fiction. With fantasy, I can safely say the [B]majority[/B] of fantasy will deal with wizards, elves, and/or knights(or anything like knights, don't get technical on me).[/B][/QUOTE] Good point--but in fantasy, the use of cliched themes or characters can also be blamed on the author. I'll concede that most contemporary fantasy finds its roots either in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy or in Celtic mythology (i.e. King Arthur). Just look at the Harry Potter series. Nearly every plot device in those books is borrowed from Tolkien (dementors=ringwraiths, Gandalf=Dumbledore, Shelob=Aragog, and the list goes on). However, other writers have managed to avoid employing similar cliches. Neil Gamain's books are consistently creative, entertaining, and original--and you won't find a single knight, elf, or wizard among them. Something that's always bothered me is the fact that libraries usually place fantasy novels within the over-arching catergory of science fiction. If anything, sci-fi is a subgenre of fantasy. ~Dagger~

Hmm. It's a great first effort; the three separate images seem to complement each other fairly well. However, I think you went a little overboard with the smudging. It looks cool in certain areas, but rather random in others. I like the font you used, as well as the way you arranged your text. But like Inuluver said, you should probably make your name a tiny bit brighter or larger. I'd also suggest changing its font to match that of the remaining text. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]So yes the 'act of love' is for breeding, the enjoyment is just an incentive. [/B][/QUOTE] Whether or not you believe that animals have emotions, it's impossible to deny that humans possess them. I don't really understand why you're talking about breeding humans. Frankly, I find the concept quite disconcerting, not to mention repulsive. If people only had sex in order to conceive children, then why are so many women on birth control? Not everyone wants or needs the love of a child. Many men and women have sex for the sake of affection or simple pleasure, without any interest in procreation. The "enjoyment" is [i]not[/i] always just an incentive. ~Dagger~

Hideki and Chi (from Chobits) is my absolute favorite anime couple. Hideki isn't terribly smart, but he's so good-hearted, and Chi is just adorable. One can't help wanting things to work out between them. My second favorite couple (and it's a very close second) would have to be Shuichi and Yuki, from Gravitation. They're strongly drawn together despite the fact that they're such different people. I also really respect Shuichi for being willing to follow his heart, no matter what. EDIT: Ah, yes. I also happen to be a huge Hiei/Kurama fan. They're not techically a canon couple, but Yoshihiro Togashi (the creator of Yu Yu Hakusho) said that it was up to the individual viewer to decide whether or not they're meant to be together. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by scrmngfangrl [/i] [B]dolphins are pretty well known for ganag raping too.[/B][/QUOTE] *blinks* Oookay...... There's nothing inherently wrong with premarital sex; it just isn't for everyone. Some people are very emotionally vulnerable, and therefore are better off saving themselves for marriage. Others lack the maturity necessary to comprehend the possible consequences of sexual activity. I know I've done some things that, given the chance, I might not have chosen to repeat. But I won't dwell on my mistakes or wallow in regret. As long as the people involved are smart enough to take sex seriously, I don't see why engaging in it prior to marriage is a problem. And I'd like to dispute the idea that sex creates some kind of everlasting bond. It can enhance pre-existing romantic attachments, but it's quite possible to have sexual contact with someone without developing feelings towards them. It's not a pleasant or enjoyable experience, but it's possible. ~Dagger~

I finally got around to watching this film (I rented the DVD from Blockbuster--nice and cheap). I usually try to avoid anime that seems overhyped. I still haven't seen Neon Genesis Evangelion or Ghost in the Shell. The main reason that I broke my own rule for VHD was the fact that it's partially based on vampire mythology. So I figured even if it failed to meet my expectations, it would probably be campy enough for a good laugh. Well, Bloodlust took all my preconceptions and completely shattered them. I was totally amazed--at the level of animation, at the rich character designs (done by Amano), even at the (mostly) solid and believable voice acting. It's a dark, stylish flick, and characterization tends to take a back seat to action. However, it has its moments of profundity, and I quite satisfied with the movie's depth. Bloodlust simply did [i]everything[/i] right. If I were to find fault with anything, it would be with the script--certain parts were rather wooden, but the lovely English actors and actresses more than made up for that. In my opinion, Bloodlust is one of the best anime films out there. Unlike the Cowboy Bebop movie, which had a tendency to drag, it was perfectly paced. The thing that most impressed me was how the director developed D's character through other people, in a manner of speaking. D is usually expressionless, and rarely shows any kind of emotion. But his very lack of emotion and his mimimalistic reactions to the provocation of others served to show his motivations far more powerfully than if he had simply stated them himself. I believe I saw another Bloodlust thread sometime in the past month or so. There wasn't one on the first page, so I thought it was safe to create this. My apologies if it causes any inconvenience. ~Dagger~

No problem--you're very welcome. And without any further ado, here's Urd. ~Dagger~

Wow, that image is absolutely gorgeous. Like Arcadia said, it's quite intense. The bright colors add a lot to its impact. The animation is extremely smooth. It's actually rather mesmerizing to watch. The banner as a whole would look a bit cleaner if it had a border, but I'd venture to guess that adding one would be [i]extremely[/i] time-consuming. ~Dagger~

I agree with Dan. At first, the banner only appeared to be a random mish-mash of color. Try spacing the pictures out a little more, or else just using one (and perhaps some appropriate text). Simplicity is definitely a virtue. ~Dagger~

I've seen up to Episode 52 of the Inuyasha anime, and read several random volumes of the manga..... just so you know where I'm coming from. 1. Yes, Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation. [i]That doesn't mean they're the same person[/i]. Think about it. Even when she was alive, Kikyo was quieter, more serious, and arguably more troubled than Kagome ever was. The fate of her entire village lay in her hands. Kagome now faces a similar, albeit smaller, responsiblity--she must use her spiritual powers to track down and purify the shards of the Shikon no Tama. But Kagome remains bright and cheerful (vapid, some might say) even in the darkest of circumstances. The only time her optimism wavers is when she ponders the love triangle between herself, Inuyasha, and Kikyo. It's obvious, from what the two characters have said--as well as from their reactions to various situations--that though they may share the same soul, their personalities differ. Kagome and Kikyo have the same magical abilities and the same basic sense of honor and nobility. Yet other than that, they're very different. 2. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Inuyasha wants to declare his love for Kagome. "Declare" is putting it a bit strongly, to say the least. He's started to develop feelings towards her, but is Inuyasha really the type of guy to deliver a sudden proclamation of love? Maybe Inuyasha and Kagome are meant to be. After all, the entirety of the anime (so far) seems to be slowly pushing them together. However, I think that a happy ending is far from guaranteed. Let's just see where this goes. ~Dagger~

[i]I don't suppose they heard a single word I said[/i], Anubis thought cynically. Leile's sharp eyes had lead him and Aissa to one of the palace's many store rooms. Its eastern wall had crumbled away completely, and the roof sloped down to lie slanted against the floor, a great slab of stone balanced precariously on its broken edges. These dilapidated surroundings hid a veritable treasure trove of food and drink. It consisted mostly of ancient, withered jerky and rock-hard bread--probably some poor servant's dinner--but the barrels of water had surprisingly remained intact, and the liquid inside was pure. Leile was busy separating the mealy biscuits from the edible ones. She knelt as she sorted them into two piles, although he doubted she would be able to continue much longer. The shadows were already making it difficult to see. A small flame sprang into existence in the center of Anubis' cupped hand. He plucked it from his palm and settled it neatly on top of a nearby boulder. It sat there, flickering, apparently quite happy to defy the laws of nature. None of them had spoken for several hours now, and Aissa had grown accustomed to the silence. She watched the mage curiously; his power wasn't quite like anything she'd encountered before. Something about those tattoos.... "That should be more than enough," he told Leile. The girl straightened up, rubbing her back. "I guess so," she replied reluctantly, casting a critical eye over her handiwork. "Well, what now? Should we go explore?" "If I may make a suggestion...." He sounded almost hesitant--almost. Aissa rose to her feet and walked over to join the other two, rubbing her hands together in hopes of retaining some semblance of warmth. "Yes?" "Let them come to us," Anubis finished. He flicked a stray strand of hair over his shoulder, gazing past his companions at the small crack of sky that showed through the shattered roof. [i]Them[/i]? Leile's eyes narrowed. [i]That doesn't sound good.[/i]

Thanks for replying, AzureWolf! ^___^ Amity asked me to make her an Ah! My Goddess! banner, and here it is. It's simple, but I think the image and text balance each other fairly well. At least, I hope they do. ~Dagger~

I was born in Montclair, New Jersey--a cute little town, but I don't remember it very clearly, because my family moved to Maryland when I was five. I've been living on the outskirts of D.C. ever since, and I absolutely love it. On the one hand, there are plenty of parks and an abundance of beautiful scenery. On the other hand, I go to school in the city, which means that I can just walk to a restaurant instead of staying in the cafeteria for lunch--or even go see a move (if I have several free periods in a row). So I guess that I get the best of both urban and suburban life. ^__^ ~Dagger~

Another fantastic opening song is "Hemispheres," from RahXephon (one of the best series of all time). It has a quick, J-poppy beat, but manages to sound both uplifting and slightly mystical. The accompanying animation is filled with surreal images, which serve to enhance the symbolism present throughout the remainder of the show. Believe me, this song is almost impossible to get out of your head. ~Dagger~

Rough caresses on a worn-out couch, another warm body wrapped awkwardly around hers. He's tentative, too slow for her tastes. She'd scream pure frustration if she thought her throat could take the shock of release. Why won't he just look her in the eyes? It's not as though she needs affection. Simple acknowledgement will do quite nicely, thanks. The next day, she sprains her wrist playing soccer. Strange, how pain can feel so much more real than pleasure--stifled movement in her mother's basement, passionless as her first slow-dance. Clammy hands and downcast eyes are her only memory of that sixth-grade spring. She thinks she might be breaking free of something. The room still holds his scent, straight from the bottle and a little bit cloying. It's sweet all the same but she wants more than sweet. She'll leave nail-scratches in his back to wake him from this slumber. No reason to shamble through life alone. ~Dagger~

I'm with MillieFan. Hentai is something [i]entirely[/i] separate from shonen-ai and shoujo-ai. Some of it may be m/m, but I think it's safe to say that most hentai involves heterosexual couples. Acting as though same-sex pairings are pornographic by their very nature will only reinforce the negative stereotypes that surround them, even as society continues to grow more open and tolerant. scrmngfangrl, I must respectfully disagree. Hard-core [i]anything[/i], whether yaoi or straight, is pretty much pointless--because its sole purpose is sexual stimulation. Shows and manga featuring regular het or shonen-ai couples generally strive for something more; for example, to create a solid, captivating story through beautiful animation and a well-written script. The orientations of an anime's characters are pretty much irrelevant. When it comes to quality, plot and artistry are what really tip the balance. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by sweetreyes [/i] [B][COLOR=crimson][SIZE=1]Its just funny on how peopl want CN to change...But hey its a network that is getting its viewers regardless. And yes I do happen to agree with you they need to go ahead and change things a bit and start differnt series.. For one the can start DBGT..or Inuyahsa again during the day...or shoot hey lets get Trigun n there. But the fact is that anime is still a broad genre that alot of people haven't tapped into here in the US and therefor they are trying to break the nation in slowly. Once it gets its broader audience we may have a 24 hrs Anime channel..[/SIZE][/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE] I don't think that Inuyasha was ever shown during the day, and I wouldn't want it to be. On Adult Swim, it's able to air entirely uncut. CN would have to censor it quite a bit in order to move it to Toonami or Saturday. Also, there [i]is[/i] a 24-hour anime channel. It's called The Anime Network, and you may be able to get it on digital cable (depending on where you live). Go to theanimenetwork.com for more information. ~Dagger~