ElrickOtaku

Though, like Solo Tremaine I can only observe things as far as is possible from the UK; I am forced to agree with many others, in saying that overall the most influential animes are the most popular; i.e. Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, DragonBall Z and so forth. But, that is what has had the most impact overall, among popular mainstream culture. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'what animes have had the most impact amongst anime FANS?' It is more likely to THAT question that answers like Astro Boy, Inu Yasha, Akira, Tenchi, and Ghost in the Shell are more appropriate. Perhaps the two questions are beggining to meet with certain popular anime films like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, that, combined with growing numbers of news articles expressing the popularity of manga (especially amongst the serious 'salarymen' of Tokyo) that are giving it more of a stamp of mainstream culture. If nothing else, the Pokemon generations will probably stick with anime as they grow older, and thus make anime a mainstream entity in American and other Western cultures. It could be a supreme irony that Pokemon and the like which have been cursed by many older anime fans for humilitating their interest, could be the animes with the impact to ultimately give full recognition to that interest. An interesting possible vision of the future I think.

I despise [B]Erina Wong [/B] from [I][B]Martian Successor Nadesico[/B][/I]. She just seems like a natural bully who will sacrifice everything and everyone for her ambition. That alone would not be so bad, but her attacks on anyone like Akito or Yurika who might be fairly happy and content with their own positions just seem arrogant, overbearing and really rather pointless. Also, apart from her role with the CCs and the occasional personal interjection in the series (usually around the Nergal CEO) she does not seem to have much of a place. Quite simply, she seems more of a '[I]baka[/I]' than most.

I think the best anime character is Il Pallazzo from Excel Saga. He's just such a fantastic character as he tries so hard to be an evil villain but always seems to be striken with bad luck, usually in the form of Excel. With his ideological organisation ACROSS, he strives to eliminate the corruption from this world for us all, starting with the city of F...in theory anyway. Plus its just fantastic the way in which allows you to see what evil villains get up to outside of public; learning to play the guitar, playing dating games, learning to speak English ("My name is Il Pallazzo. I am coquettish."), and so much more. He's just created some incredibly huge laughs, if rather a lot of ruthlessness too (repeated shootings, dropping subordinates down trapdoors, general rudeness and infinate numbers of plots). HAIL IL PALLAZZO!

I'm glad that at least a few others have given this series the fair hearing that it really does deserve. For me, it is like those other classic space opera series like Space Battleship Yamato, though its age may make it less well known to many, for those who do/have appreciate/d it the distance of time can just make it seem all the more like a classic. I can agree that Jun Aoi is a great character, the way in which he is loyal and fairly competant just seems to make him a joke to the rest of the crew though. That said, he did seem to be brought more into the spotlight by the movie (even if he does get more humiliated than ever in it).Can't say agree over Izumi Maki though, those puns can just be annoying (if less so then Tsukomo Shiratori's barrage "Jovians can be jovial" et al...oh dear). Personally, my favorite character is Yurika Misumaru; the way in which she manages to combine extreme intelligence and competance with just being a ditz is just great - I have to admit that one of my few complaints about the film is how little a showing she gets, even if it was necessary to the plot. As for the Gai thing I think that the end of episode 3 was necessary, both to the development of Akito as a character and to just show that the series was not going to be a constantly happy kiddie series - the directors had to show some ruthlessness. I agree though, that this series was more than a little eclipsed by Evangelion; but I find that while that series is good - it has been more than a little overrated. Nadesico is in a few places far more tragic and dramatic than Evangelion was. It also was by default far funnier and just generally a nicer series, with a wide variety of characters "with slight personality defects", and a superb storyline and let's not forget a great anime-within-an-anime; Gekigengar III.

Personally, I love the Martian Successor Nadesico soundtrack. Most of the music on it is just so upbeat and energetic. It even includes my favourite opening and closing themes. 'You Get To Burning' is fantastic if only for the trumpet solo at the start. 'Watashi Rashiku' is just upbeat and such a nice, polished piece of music that it is just great to put it on after a terrible day and unwind. The jazz of Bebop is good too, but I like to listen to some good Japanese vocal more than just instumental or English singing when I'm listening to an anime soundtrack.

I tend to watch both - apart from when they're really irritating like the Excel Saga ending or if I'm watching loads at once and so it would just get repetative and take up too much time. I actually prefer to listen to some when the music is really good, like Martian Successor Nadesico's OP and ED and the Bebop movie, so that the images don't distract me.

I like the puns from Nadesico too, but I like some of the non-Izumi ones - like those of Tskuomo Shiratori: "She did'nt tune in for toons." and "Jovians can be known to be jovial sometimes." The whole conversation was pretty interesting really, but then it was a great series (and later film).

I would probably live in the world of Nadesico; one of impressive warfare, conflicting motives, tragedy intrigue and some great anime (let's Gekiga in!) The war might seem wrong to many, but being part of the UESF would be interesting - fighting the 'Jovian Lizards' would be a valiant cause and living in the future is always better than the present. Either that, or living, like many others, in the Gundam Wing universe. For me, I'd be a loyal trooper of the Treize Faction. Merely a soldier perhaps, but for a great cause and under a great leader, while not being a terrorist or a stupid pacifist. Though I fear that my last words would end up being 'No! Mobile Dolls!' or 'It's a GUNDAAAAMMMM!!!' Oh well, all's fair in love and war.

I found that Gasaraki influenced me a fair bit. It reinforced my interest in history, especially Japanese history, and politics. It also made me intrigued by Japanese language and culture, to the point that I'm now learning Japanese and planning to go to Japan. As I'd been fairly nationalist before then, this was a big change in me and killed off whatever xenophobia I might have had before really going into this.

Evil. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to villains; evil, arrogant, cruel, calculating, etc. Evil people just seems more 'together' then heroes. This is as they're better at having plans then heroes, who just seem to run around in a reactionary manner to ruin the evil plans. The best examples of 'classical' villians seem to be Kagato (Tenchi Muyo) and Il Pallazzo (Excel Saga). They just seem like great, reliable villians who don't do any of that changing of sides, and as such just show why villians are more interesting.

I really liked the first half of this series (apart from the music ) as it was fairly straightforward to follow. Unfortunately, though the plot got more interesting towards the end, that just made it more difficult to follow (I first tuned in at about ep.20 or so - not good). It does definately seem to be a good drama anime, but the comedy seems a bit little and far between, even by Evangelion standards!

My favorite is Martian Successor Nadesico's upbeat opening theme, which I know really well; kuyashisa o koraete keri ageta ishi koro hanekaereba DAIYAMONDO ni monaru sugute ni hairu yume nante yume ja nai yo demo kanarazu kanau to shinjiteru yo kujikenai kimi ga suki... nakitai toki aru nara soba ni zutto zutto iru kara Enduring mortification, you kicked a stone... If it bounces back, it might even become a diamond. [1] Dreams you can get right away aren't really dreams, you know. Still, I believe that they'll be granted without fail. I won't give in. I love you... [2] If you ever want to cry, I'll always, always be by your side, and so... * YOU GET TO BURNING kimi rashiku hoko rashiku mukatte yo muchuu ni natta hibi ga yume no kakera sa YOU GET TO BURNING sono kakera o atsumete asu o mezasu yuuki, mieru yo To be... Going your day's. Grow up! * You get to burning Face it proudly, as befits you. Those days when you're enraptured are pieces of your dream [3] You get to burning As you pick up those pieces, I can see (you have) the courage to aim for tomorrow, to be... Going your days. Grow up! kesshite tokenai houteishiki o narabete raku dai saseru koto ni ikigaru machi PURAIDO to ka shourai o kangaeta nara nige dasu kedo kyou ni maketa kunai to tsubuyaita kimi ga suki... ano hino mama yumemiru hitomi, zutto zutto shounen Lining up the equations you can't ever solve, this society tries to appear smart by making you fail. [4] If you considered pride and such, and the future... Even though you ran away, you muttered "I won't be beaten by the present." I love you... Your eyes are always, always those of a young boy; they keep on dreaming, just as they were on that day. [5] YOU GET TO BURNING kimi rashiku ai rashiku waratte yo muchuu ni nareru hibi ga kitto shiawase YOU GET TO BURNING kizutsuite momegenai asu o mezasu yuuki, mieru yo To be... Going your day's. Grow up! You get to burning Smile charmingly for me, as befits you. Those days when you can be enraptured are truely happiness. You get to burning Realize it, don't dispute it. I can see (you have) the courage to aim for tomorrow, to be... Going your days. Grow up!

Cowboy Bebop - Only ever saw a bit of it on CNX, then both it and CNX were dropped by the Network. A shame, as it has never been released on European Region 2. (Unavailable) Dai Guard - Only ever seen the trailer for this but it looks great, but rather expensive. (Available) Tenchi Muyo! - Dropped by Toonami, but a great (if rather heavily edited on tv) series. Released in April! (Available...in a couple of months)

I really liked both the crisp and sharp animation of Gasaraki, and the more 'twiggy' and angular look of Evangelion. Both looks seem appropriate to both series. In the end, I think that the animation just becomes appropriate to the series, and so it is the characters, the plot and other elements that become the most important part of a series, rather than the animation.

This side of the Atlantic, I spend about £15 a week. That is because (a) it is so scarce and expencive over here; and (b) I don't have a job.