Dagger

[quote name='EVA Unit 100']However, something like, say, Cowboy Bebop will be considered a classic 30 years from now, just like how Lupin III is considered a classic 30 years since it aired. Quality doesn't degenerate over time. Its been over 50 years since The Lord of the Rings was first published, but people still love it now. If something like that can last in popularity for 50 years, why couldn't Princess Mononoke last for 30?[/quote] I think Ayokano is referring more to the fact that a lot of older anime share certain stylistic qualities that make them unpalatable to some people. For example, the theatricality and melodrama present in something like Rose of Versailles is inevitably going to look silly or cheesy to people weaned on Bebop. At the same time, Rose of Versailles is widely held to be a real classic. It sounds silly to say that certain traits unite all the anime heralding from a specific era, but I do think that there are differences in overall approach (not even including artwork) that generally distinguish much older shows from newer ones. Not all older shows have that factor--the artwork of Legend of Galactic Heroes and Maison Ikkoku won't please everyone, but they're not markedly more cheesy/theatrical than more recent stuff. If there's a similar quality uniting a good percentage of the anime being made now, I'm not sure that we'd be able to recognize it until later. People talk about how digital animation has altered a lot of things, but while that has produced differences in terms of production quality (for better or for worse), it can't be solely responsible for the gradual shift in direction styles. The more serious something is, the more open it is to accusations of cheesiness. Lupin mostly gets away with what it does because it's essentially a comedy. Yet I don't have that much trouble imagining a lot of contemporary shows being considered cheesy in the future. That doesn't mean they won't be loved and proclaimed classics by others, but... well, I think I'll stop here, because now I'm just wandering. :p ~Dagger~

[quote name='Ima']So anything that is animated is considered Anime its thats simple.[/quote] With the Japanese definition, yes. But from a foreign perspective, using that definition causes the word to lose its significance. Why do we need to have or use an exact synonym for "animation," if that's all we mean by calling it "anime"? EDIT: The problem you perceive (the sheer variety involved in anime, and the fact that it's impossible to pin it down if one sticks to vague platitudes about artwork & plot) is easily solved by thinking of it as animation which happens to herald from Japan. I don't see how that's an issue. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Sage Kaley']Some of you may remember Angela from Soukyuu no Fafner and Stellvia. They aren't as well known yet but I hope they will be, the single Asu E No Brilliant Road is beautiful, I love the lead singer's voice.[/quote] Yes! More angela love! :catgirl: I'm almost desperate to hear their version of the Nadesico OP ("You Get to Burning") and the Evangelion OP ("Cruel Angel Thesis"). I've been told that both covers are excellent, and of course I would expect nothing less from my favorite J-Pop band. If they ever come to a con near me, I might actually be motivated to brave the crowds and attend. ~Dagger~

[b]Kannazuki no Miko[/b] has an incredible amount of cheese, and yet somehow the cheese level isn't significant enough to make it worth watching for that alone, which I find rather remarkable. The show just takes itself so damn seriously. I feel oddly bitter about this, possibly because I had high hopes for it (which were admittedly based on little other than the fact that it was supposed to be some kind of epic yuri thing). I know a lot of people were really amused by KnM, but I couldn't even bring myself to find it funny. :animesigh ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=Revue][COLOR=DarkGoldenrod][SIZE=1]Got a question, Chief: Does 150x500 mean a canvas that's longer than it is wide? Width x height? And to everyone: Let's do our best, yeah? And don't hold back on each other! ;)[/SIZE][/cOLOR][/QUOTE] Vertically oriented, yes. I kind of waffled on that one, but after a while I figured that it wouldn't hurt to throw in something a little different. I'm still thinking about how to approach dimensions in later rounds. Everything for the five current matches is in what one might term a medium-sized range. I'm worried that asking people to do really huge or wallpaper-sized stuff could seem unfair on my part, due to the time contraints; conversely, I don't know how well participants would take to more restrictive dimensions, or to unusual proportions like the one used for your match. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Elk']I'm currently watching the premire on CN and I have to say they kinda screwed up on Narotu's voice. It sounds too young. and the empizie the Na in Naruto too much.[/quote] We can probably presume this is an attempt to pronounce it the Japanese way (with equal emphasis on all syllables). It's an admirable effort, as far as I'm concerned--much preferable to hearing something blatantly incorrect like "Na-ROO-to" (a la "Ka-GOH-me") repeated over and over. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE=Katana][size=1][color=royalblue] Oh, and Dagger: Flying Spaghetti Monster. Love it.[/color][/size][/QUOTE] Thanks. I am honored to have been touched by His Noodly Appendage. :animesmil Also, I wanted to confirm that your answer to Doukeshi's question is quite correct. The different themes & dimensions are used both to avoid repetition and to keep it from getting boring, heh. ~Dagger~

Haha, well, I wasn't too certain about that. The only thing I'm sure about is that it reaches more households than TAN. I can't remember if I knew about Showtime before it started sprinkling anime into its line-up, or if it only seems familiar to me now because I've seen it referenced at sites like ANN. :animeswea [off-topic]Texhnolyze is worth watching if you're into the arty side of anime; it's got this avant-garde, independent film type of feel that doesn't really have many parallels, at least when it comes to other recent series. The main potential strikes against it are its pace and its tone. It can be slow and moody at times (though not as slow as, say, Lain), leaving the viewer to just sort of soak up the atmosphere. Additionally, it's easily one of the darkest, most serious shows I've ever seen, and the melancholy is unrelenting. No comic relief, no camaraderie, virtually nothing to lighten things. It's a fascinating watch, but too many episodes at once can be kind of oppressive. Geneon's main site has a slightly misrepresentative trailer and a link to their Tex page, which (ugly design aside) hosts four clips from the show. I haven't had any luck with actually viewing said clips, but you might fare better.[/off-topic] ~Dagger~

I think [b]Texhnolyze[/b] is more deserving of excitement than Eva. That aside, it's nice to learn that [b]Peacemaker[/b] has managed to worm its way onto a channel which is (at the least, I suppose) more mainstream than The Anime Network. At any rate, may both series see heightened success. :animesmil ~Dagger~

This thread is a favorites/best topic like any other, guys, and that means backing up your choices with complete sentences is required--no ifs, ands or buts about it. It's the only way to keep threads of that type from degenerating into total spammage, so in the future try to do more than just naming a couple of shows or songs. If this warning goes unheeded, I'm going to close the topic. In other words, please don't ruin things for everyone else. ~Dagger~

Alright, this topic has more or less run its course. Newcomers, [i][b]please[/b][/i] keep in mind that when replying to any type of favorites thread, you absolutely must include solid reasons for your choices. Lists of names simply aren't going to cut it. So, yeah. Thanks in advance. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

I'm so happy that other people are starting to see this show! I can assure you, it does demand a little concentration, but Texhnolyze should be required viewing for anyone who enjoys dark, deathly serious anime (and I usually try to avoid saying stuff like that, too). I'd write more now, but I'm planning to re-watch the series fairly soon, so I'll probably be able to come up with better comments then. Nevertheless, feel free to ask me any questions you might have about the quality of the show or about what happens in later episodes. I'd absolutely love to get more fans interested in Tex. ~Dagger~

It's finally started. There were some logistical difficulties, but I believe we're now good to go. Hopefully this can regain some momentum. :animesigh I've PMed the participants about some changes which had to be implemented, but (just in case) I'll explain them here as well. There will not be any tournament committee; instead, I will be responsible for tallying votes, deciding on the specifics of each match and determining which votes are invalid (hopefully none!). The first round will be staggered. The five threads currently in play will run for a creation period (lasting until Tuesday the 13th) as well as a voting period (lasting until a date which will be announced later). Once they have been fully voted on, the round will be finished with the remaining five matches. Ideally this will help maximize turnout and prevent the OBGT from completely swamping the Art Studio with new threads. If you have general questions, comments or suggestions about the tournament, you're welcome to continue posting them here. However, please be aware that [b]sign-ups are closed[/b]. Thanks. ~Dagger~

[CENTER][I][B]Round 1, Match 5: Sean vs. Young Cheezy [/B][/I][/CENTER] [B]Date Due:[/B] Tuesday, September 13 [B] Dimensions:[/B] 600 x 350 [B]Theme:[/B] Childhood Once you have posted your submission (fulfilling the mentioned criteria), other members will vote on your work. We permit those who are participating in the tournament to vote as well. There will be no poll option ? you will be required to post a paragraph at least four sentences in length, explaining why you voted the way you did. If you fail to type a complete paragraph, your vote will not be counted, and you will receive a PM saying so. I will count & tally votes. Thank you very much for participating. Good luck! ~Dagger~

[CENTER][B][I]Round 1, Match 4: Retribution vs. Domon[/I] [/B][/CENTER] [B]Date Due: [/B]Tuesday, September 13 [B]Dimensions:[/B] 800 x 600 [B]Theme: [/B]Guns Once you have posted your submission (fulfilling the mentioned criteria), other members will vote on your work. We permit those who are participating in the tournament to vote as well. There will be no poll option ? you will be required to post a paragraph at least four sentences in length, explaining why you voted the way you did. If you fail to type a complete paragraph, your vote will not be counted, and you will receive a PM saying so. I will count & tally votes. Thank you very much for participating. Good luck! ~Dagger~

[CENTER][I][B]Round 1, Match 3: Revue vs. Katana[/B] [/I][/CENTER] [B]Date Due: [/B]Tuesday, September 13 [B] Dimensions:[/B] 150 x 500 [B]Theme: [/B] Falling Once you have posted your submission (fulfilling the mentioned criteria), other members will vote on your work. We permit those who are participating in the tournament to vote as well. There will be no poll option ? you will be required to post a paragraph at least four sentences in length, explaining why you voted the way you did. If you fail to type a complete paragraph, your vote will not be counted, and you will receive a PM saying so. I will count & tally votes. Thank you very much for participating. Good luck! ~Dagger~

[B][I][CENTER]Round 1, Match 2: AzureWolf vs. Generic NPC #3 [/CENTER][/I][/B] [B]Date Due: [/B] Tuesday, October 11 [B]Dimensions:[/B] 400 x 500 [B]Theme:[/B] Futurism Once you have posted your submission (fulfilling the mentioned criteria), other members will vote on your work. We permit those who are participating in the tournament to vote as well. There will be no poll option ? you will be required to post a paragraph at least four sentences in length, explaining why you voted the way you did. If you fail to type a complete paragraph, your vote will not be counted, and you will receive a PM saying so. I will count & tally votes. Thank you very much for participating. Good luck! ~Dagger~

[center][b][i]Round 1, Match 1: Butterfly vs. Boo[/i][/b][/center] [b]Date Due:[/b] Tuesday, September 13 [b]Dimensions:[/b] 500 x 200 [b]Theme:[/b] Snow Once you have posted your submission (fulfilling the mentioned criteria), other members will vote on your work. We permit those who are participating in the tournament to vote as well. There will be no poll option ? you will be required to post a paragraph at least four sentences in length, explaining why you voted the way you did. If you fail to type a complete paragraph, your vote will not be counted, and you will receive a PM saying so. I will count & tally votes. Thank you very much for participating. Good luck! ~Dagger~

There was, unfortunately, a bit of a mishap. Basically, the important point to clarify here is that the threads didn't vanish because of their content or anything like that. [strike]It's my understanding, however, that it won't be possible to restore them, as they seem to have been physically removed rather than simply deleted. So feel free to re-create them.[/strike] I just wanted to convey that we've got it under control, and to apologize on behalf of the staff for the inconvenience this may have caused. That said, hakuna matata. EDIT: The stuff referenced in the striked-out portion of my post may be subject to change. :) ~Dagger~

Viz's new [url=http://www.viz.com/naruto/site_1024.html][u]Naruto[/u][/url] website is now online. Like many other official anime sites, the design is (alas) a little too flashy for my tastes, but it's not like I'm really their target audience anyway, haha. Have fun exploring. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Monkey_Orange][COLOR=DarkOrange']I watched the clip, and so far it doesn't sound that bad :animesigh The dubbing is done by Funimation, correct? If that's the case, then I still have hope for this series -- well, AS long as the original music has NOT been kiddy-fied, OR anything else for that matter.[/COLOR][/quote] Nope, the license is held by Viz, so there aren't any Funi voice actors involved. I've seen some things that lead me to think they'll use the original music, but I guess no one will find out until Saturday, anyway. ~Dagger~

Long-running anime rarely take real season breaks. I wouldn't expect Bleach to go off the air anytime soon... unless for some reason it ends after the current arc. Episode 47: [spoiler]Wow, this one was all over the place, haha. It almost went into an Agatha Christie-like whodunit for a bit (which I wouldn't have minded, as I've stated in previous posts--it's more interesting when the killer/mastermind is someone totally unexpected). I would definitely love to have a half-episode or so of Yoruichi & Urahara flashbacks, since it seems like they must have had a very interesting past, but I suspect we won't see anything along those lines for a while... unless Urahara's fall from grace directly ties into Ichimaru's rise to power. What I'm hoping now is that Ichimaru will turn out to have some kind of really strong motivation to destroy Soul Society; I'm a little tired of villains who are just after it for the power or because they're bloodthirsty. It would be nice if it were some sort of revenge thing.[/spoiler] Refresh my memory... is this going to be the show's first [spoiler]captain versus captain[/spoiler] fight? ~Dagger~

I must say, this is the first personals ad I've ever seen posted at OB... :animeswea In any case, OtakuBoards really isn't the place for this sort of thing. You would be far better off conducting such a search through a website devoted to it or through your local newspaper. Please keep in mind that OB is a discussion-oriented message board; we also place a heavy emphasis on post quality, which includes using complete sentences whenever possible. If you have any questions about our policies, feel free to private message me or one of the other staff members. Thanks. Thread closed. ~Dagger~

I re-watched the movie a few nights ago, and it reminded me to bring up a theory (two theories, actually) I've read elsewhere and that I at least partly agree with. 1) [spoiler]Utena and Shiori are actually the same person.[/spoiler] This makes a lot of sense to me, although [spoiler]I'm not sure I would say they're literally split personalities or anything... rather, I think Shiori represents the part of Utena that still wants/wanted to rely on the real prince (Touga) rather than becoming a prince herself. It's arguable that this part of Utena is, like Touga himself, dead and has come back at Ohtori in the form of a kind of ghost. Alternatively, you could say that this desire in her doesn't fully vanish until Shiori's car crashes toward the end of the movie.[/spoiler] Any takers? 2) [spoiler]Utena, Anthy and Shiori are split personalities. By the end of the movie, Anthy and Utena reunite while Shiori is discarded.[/spoiler] I just can't buy into this concept, although it's intriguing and it's definitely interesting to watch the movie while keeping it in mind. There's a site somewhere with a really detailed and interesting explanation of possible evidence for the theory. One other thing I noticed during my latest viewing is how much Akio's seiyuu sucks. I mean, the guy's performance is laughably bad, even from the perspective of a native English speaker... it's a good thing he doesn't have too many lines. I guess next time I'll watch the dub again for comparison purposes, haha. ~Dagger~

A couple of things should be noted here... First of all, double-posting is against the rules. If you absolutely must contribute new information to a thread, despite being the most recent person to post a reply, please add it to your existing post via the edit button. Additionally--as far as I know--anime music videos are at best in a gray legal area. Since we don't permit linking to fansubs, mp3s, scanlations and so forth, I don't think AMVs ought to be made an exception. It hasn't been an issue for us in the past (as no one has posted about them in recent memory), but based on my admittedly sketchy knowledge of the subject, I don't believe OtakuBoards is the best place to ask for AMV feedback. If you have any questions about our policies, you're welcome to send me a private message. Thanks. Thread closed. ~Dagger~