Okita

This is one of clamps work that escaped my attention when it was first release, I've resently acquired it and thought it fairly decent, funny how clamps keeps recycling CCS name, this is the second series I've seen from clamp that uses CCS's fame as a catch gimmick, (and like the last time, I got suckered in hook line and sinker by that one single blurb in the back of the first manga... land of clow indeed! ~_~ )

Manga has it's advantages and disadvantages, but in general I prefer manga for the fuller plot, anime tends to cut scene and downsize to prevent an overflow due to their set episodic nature. Manga has this porblem too but to a lesser extend. (Then again this also invite a show to drag on till forever like Inu Yasha). I also like manga because more often than not, their ending are superior to any anime adaptation. (Again this is not always the case, simply a matter of observation through my own expirience.) In terms of Manga that do not have an anime counterpart, then you have a point of exclusiveness, though this is minor. One thing I tend to notice is that I prefer romance/drama and plot centric manga more to their action counterpart while I enjoy action/adventure more as anime. This is pure aesthetic as I simply can't enjoy a welled choreographed move in a manga as much as in the anime where it is in motion. Finally there are some unique features that manga contain that simply can't be translated to an anime, little idiosyncrasy such as facial expression, author's comment and more. In a manga you can establish the pacing, in an anime the pacing is established for you. finally densuke: while you have point in that there are manga with just as poorly executed ending as anime, you must admit that their a quite a few cases where the animated series literally cuts off without a critical resolution to make the conclusion satisfactory. This habit I would dearly like to see anime forgo, I hate series that attempts this, better to deviate from the manga completely than to cut itself off like that. eg: Legend of Basara, Kare Kano and HxH (though I admit that last redeemed itself through the endless series of OVA that just seems a tag on to the series.)

[QUOTE=densuke]Perhaps it's unfair to use the term "mass market drive(l)" to denigrate anime or manga you don't like. It's all up for sale, after all. When you mention Chobits or Love Hina though ([i]neither[/i] of which are shoujo titles), you could be pointing to "comedy/romance" or what is known (at least to American fans) as "harem anime." Certainly these are very popular and not necessarily very good. [/QUOTE] nice dissection ~_^ Considering you're first comment, I am not against the anime i did mention, I would go so far to say that I like Chobit alot, despite it's fairly unoriginal plot... also while they are not classify as shoujo, they are fairly often clumped together (yes purest might disagree but I am not so steep in anime folkslore that I don't make plenty of mistake myself. [QUOTE=densuke] HYD definitely verges on soap operatics. The characters mindlessly and unerringly find ways to get into trouble. But there are other old shoujo romance titles which are less frantic, like Marmalade Boy and Here is Greenwood. I know that all three titles had some sort of following among male fans at some point. [/QUOTE] I've read all three series you've mentioned and I agree, there are many mellow series out there that are quite popular, and the conversion to anime does ensure it has a larger male audience... [QUOTE=densuke] I like romance and watch or read plenty of it. But there is an awful lot of shoujo romance around lately, due to licensing and the efforts of fan translation groups. It's nice that it's available but it was easier to say I liked most of it when there was less of it. As it is, I don't even [i]read[/i] most of it, and there are some mangaka like Shinjo Mayu whose work I can't stand. [/QUOTE] Again nice point, I should say that the majority of shoujo that [I]I [/I] read I've liked (discounting the virtually plotless steam-fest that seems to have the singular purpose of getting to the hot and heavy by the third page) [QUOTE=densuke] This question is possibly misleading as to what you are looking for. Did you mean who likes [i]shoujo[/i] romance manga?[/QUOTE] To clarify, this is regarding shoujo romance as a genre, I an not typifying, merely asking wether an individual would give the manga the time of day AFTER they've heard that it's a shoujo? Or would simply say "oh one of THEM" and disregard? This sorta reaction is slightly extreme but we all have our favourite/least favourite genre, for example I don't particularly like Mecha anime, if a show is all giant robot and I've being given the load down, I would skip over it for lets say a samurai epic, there is of course always exceptions but that's simply a habit i developed from past expirience with the genre's core theme. Sorry if my post sounded a tad retarded, i'm writting this at 5am in the morning...

I am sorry to say that I absolutely detest the execution and format of this type of show, it's predecessor is an anime called Neia Under 7 (or something as such) and shares the same painfully slow pacing. The theme is actually interesting, and I've nothing against it, but the way the director choose to portray action and reaction in this (and all the anime I've seen him direct) really bores me to tears, I gave up after episode six (just about the halfway point i think) and besides a few odd laugh found the show extremely sleep inducing, had this anime been giving a slightly faster pacing or even more plot centric rather than theme centric I would have enjoyed it more, as it is I find it only good as a sleep aid...

I'm not talking about mass market drive such as love hina or chobit etc (and the later clamp admits to be a shounen anime), but rather those shoujo that uses romance as its backbone rather than compliment. Series such as Hana Yori Dango have almost as much drama as a soup, yet many people find them quite appealing (as compare to the soup). But how many male honestlly find these pure romance series a blast to read? I am a very ethused fan of most shoujo romance, which i consider my second favourite genre. (oddly enough my favourite happens to be samurai epic, a great contrast) But then I also have an asian background and perhaps that is an influence (or not). So how many poeple here read romance manga and like the majority of them? who likes the genre? Is this type of genre a female dominant one or is the fans more equally split? please share your thoughts...

This should really be move to the manga section considering it's about the manga you are asking... I'm not particularly fond of this type of series, which typically relies on thin plot, mediocre to decent action scene with heavy emphasis on the build up and lots of fanservice... Real bout REALLY doesn't stand out in anyway as far as the series goes (both manga and anime), if you like type of series, give shows manga/anime like battle vixen (ikki tousen) and tenjou tenge, both of which shares similiar themes.

the art of procrastination comes almost naturally to me, I've been practicing it all throughout school and uni, it's bad and sometime can seriously undermine you lifestyle, health and mentality. It's worse than drug because there isn't even an excuse for your silly lifestyle so I advice people to not get into the practice with they lazy half. Always remember the last minute assingment that you never handed up because it was 2 pages of utter garbage (as opposed to 10 page of actual content demanded...)

Wasn't there some kind of legal technicality behind the use of the name? from what i've heard the whole reason it was change in the first place was due to some bankruptcy business and preventing of lawsuit....

This series is better known as Tenshi no Konamaiki to poeple like me that have never seen anything resembling an english release. I've read the manga and thought it was done fairly well, though the anime looked like Korea art rather than Japanese anime, the premise is actually fairly funny and I love gender-bender stories alot. Having Megumi voice act for the series was like icing on the cake, I couldn't think of a more perfect seiyruu than her. I am unsure as to whether the series is finish or not? I've never come across the series on the net much and while I know the anime is complete already The anime is suppose to be alot longer...

I'm not familiar with most VA since i usually watch all shows in sub, though I've a chance to see saiyuki and dub (and of course *sudder* dragonball z *shudder*) Anyways, I actually agree with Dan that Okita would fit Hakkai's VA, he has just enough unisex in his tone to pull it off (though I think Okita's voice in THIS series would fit a girl VA better...)

oops sorry for getting the name mixed up! really I had just watched the episode and was on an emotional drive! Kikuchiyo it is then! again sorry for such a grave misinformation....

I don't get it, how can dark end life and kill laughter? is it metaphorical or dark in the literal sense? What is the interpretation of dark here?

I actually got the first snip from toriyama a while back but never gave the manga a try, the animation for the shinigami threw me off. But your brief synopsis has intrgued me and I gave it a cursary glance, there really isn't much plot progression yet for me to give a decent comment but it feels similiar to Anne Freak so i'm feeling fairly positive towards it... Though I still would have prefer the shinigami to be a bit 'manga-fied' the one in the manga looks like a reject from a low budget b-grade horror film...

Episode 5-6 have been release for a while now, and I've just had the chance to watch it last night, while I love the story to death, I am on tight rope about the [spoiler]supposed death Katsushiro! how could they knock off the comic relief this early into the series?!?! that's just not right! [/spoiler] I am hoping beyond hope that this is a false premise because while I respect the seriousnous of the show, but having something this drastic happen on the 6th episode is really depressing.

The series has a very dark undertone and is similiar to a murder mystery (though it has an extremely gothic setting and some adult theme that are quite disturbing). Be warn that like Angel Sanctuary, the manga focus more on tragedy and doesn't have many 'happily ever after'. That being said, it's a very entertaining series, and has some well rounded and sympathetic characters, if you are a gothic horror fan, I highly recommend this.

I mentioned this in another thread but my favourite character (who happens to be a strong female lead) has to be Youko from Junni Kokki, her strength, conviction and sheer character blows me away, I will forever remember episode 39 where she [spoiler] confronts the corrupt ministers as the empress after fighting for the rebel, that and the following address to the poeple [/spoiler] had to be on of my all time favourite moment in anime. I idolise her as someone to aspire to after finishing the series, she is humble yet majestic, noble and kind yet harsh and critical when needed; in short a [spoiler] perfect Empress! [/spoiler]. Other female characters that I particularly liked include: Sarasa from legend of Basara, again another figure of great strength and conviction whom I fell in love with throughout the very short anime (a pity), though I admit she tends to lean towards the shy category when the show's shoujo nature emerges. Makoto from Ghost in the Shell SAC etc... she holds a special place in my heart for being the most unique female lead I've ever come across that I find both likable and stylishly classy. She's smart, practical and has great character depth. (though I prefer the series' interpretation of her better than Oshii's film, she just seems... more feminine in the former's case.)

I have to say that while Shinji is a sympathetic character, I despised him utterly, this is not a character flaw or even the flaw of the entire premise set behind the series, but his entire agnostic and semi-suicidal view of reality gets on my nerve like an angry tick. Ironically, my favourite character shared many of Shinji's trait (at least earlier in the series) Youko from Juuni Kokki is my all time favourite character, her humanity and self doubt is something that I can relate and sypathise with, and her nobilities of heart and spirit is something that I idolise. ep 39 alone raise her in my esteem beyond measure.

Okay first Davethestampede i don't mean to overstep my bound but try to use spoiler tag when you're virtually giving away the ending to a series. Japan_86: Kenshin did not [spoiler] catch the disease from an enemy, he caught it while trying to heal and look after the sickly which were shun at the time.[/spoiler] I know many people hated the ending but I for one appreciated it for what it was. Not that the 2nd OVA follow the style of the first and is thus a tragedy, despite the named romance in the first OVA, you must first understand that a typical japanese classic romantic literature does not end with 'and then they live happily ever after' but rather 'and then they both commited lover suicide' - the end. So following this guidleline and conisdering that both ova are actually romantic centric (and not action centric like the anime) you then realize that the style and finale is quite appropriate in term that it is sad and noble etc etc. Finally,Rurouni Kenshin was never about what one man can do to change history, the story is about a killer's path to redemption, and what being a swordsman truly means. Refer to something in the chinese movie 'hero' and one will realize that Kenshin follow the development of a true swordsmen without fault. In the original OVA, he fights with the justification of the sword, in the series he allows his heart to wield the sword and in the OVA2 [spoiler] he requires no sword at all by in a peace with the world around him. [/spoiler]

While I personally prefer subs in most circumstances, I have to agree with Dagger that in some cases the dubb are not only markably superior but entirely neccessary. One of the first dubbed series i watched was Martian Successor Nedesico which i then proceed to buy the DVD of, to watch it in the original voice with sub. I quickly got a headache trying to follow string of voices arguing over each other and their assign subtitles. In this case, I simply couldn't follow the sub that was presented to make me enjoy the show. That being said, I think the best dub I've seen to date belongs to cowboy bebop, which had a caste of voice actors that I think deserve a round of applause for immersing into the character and making them so much more believable than let say the voice actors for Dragon Ball Z.

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1] Created by Production I.G, this anime is supposed to be twenty-six episodes long. I can already sense the first inklings of a stirring, epic plot; in certain regards, Otogizoushi feels vaguely similar to Juuni Kokki. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] You have just sang the most beautiful music to my ears Dagger-dono! I am a huge fan of Juuni Kokki and if this series even remotely resemble the former show I will instantly fall in love with it. I am currently downloading the first episode, I can hardly wait to watch it! Thanks again for informing me of this wonderful series, I would most likely have let this one slipped by if not for your bried synopsis in an earlier thread. I've finally found the little kink that just won't go away, it has been bugging me for days that Otogizoushi's character's name seem so familiar, this persisted even with Sadamitsu in episode two until I realize finally that this anime is actually roughly based on a japanese folkslore/legend. All the main character in this series are from an old tale about Sakata no Kintoki, Raiko and his four faithful retainer (one of whom is Kintoki) where the main characters in the story. of the four we've been introduce to two now, Watanabe no Tsuna and Usui Sadamitsu, i can't wait for Urabe no Suetake and especially Sakata no Kintoki to be introduced! It will be interesting to see how they are interpreted in this anime. Anyone who has seen the very abstract art/anime Kai Doh Maru (kaidohmaru), also by production I.G. this series actually has the same character as that movie! edit: sorry for the double post but it's being days... [color=red][size=1]That's okay, but please ensure that you obey the rules. We require people to edit their posts, rather than post new ones. Thank you. - James[/color][/size]

Galaxy Angel was a nice comedy that while relatively plotless, was enjoyable to watch, it's humour has been overused but for some reason I couldn't fault it's execution despite my critical opinion of it. The only other series that sprung to mind and is not mentioned is 'Ground Defence Force Mao' an extremely silly parody on the whole alien invading earth scenario where the aliens are so gosh darn cute that they could only ever be combated by small girls in marching band uniform of similiar cuteness. Not precisely my cup of tea but I laughed alot at the first 'monster of the week' which exploded from a capsul that looked like a giant kindersurprise toy that are inside choc eggs.

Pet peeve: Itachi (Naruto), I have virtually no complaint about him except for the fact that he paints his nail purple (I am hoping that it's a shinobi thing and it's laced with posion) this REALLY annoys me for some reason and totally ruined his image for me. I don't know why it should bother me that much but I sincerely wished that he gets rid of the purple nails (toenails too!). Dear god this guy needs H-E-L-P Gendo Ikari: There is no redeeming feature with this guy, he needs a personality makeover, a fashion make over, electro therapy and FOR CRYING OUT LOUD BUY A NEW GLASS THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE TIPPED BACK TO THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE EVERY 5 MINUTE!!!! ahem, anyways, he is REALLY screwed up (Rei Ayanami anyone?) and I hate his gut more that i hate Barney... Ranma: eh, the whole macho chauvinistic pig thing is so out atm, he needs to seriously see a doctor about head trauma and he needs to learn tact almost as badly as Inu Yasha, I also suspect that he is gay because: a - he runs away from gorgeous nekked ladies b - he brags WAY too much about his manliness c - he takes so many oppertunities to dress as girls d - he likes to eat ice cream as a girl ~.~ well maybe not the last one but the other three are debatable points!

Well it's fairly obvious what my favourite quote is, though to be precise, the motto of the shinsengumi isn't just part of animedom. Aku Soku Zan! Evil Swift Slay~ so simple yet so full of the very concept that make up a samurai. Another would the end of bebop [Spoiler]where Spike poke his hangdout and whispered *bang* while using his hand gesture to immitate a gun,[/Spoiler] that scene as well as the circumstance behind it was simply mindblowing... (you have to watch the series to appreciate the dept of that single gesture and what it represent)

while i wouldn't title them great, below are the anime i would like to see a second season of, and i feel deserve -nay- *requires* a second season, mainly because they left plothole, they left you hanging, or the simply left and you are off to bugger yourself at the half finish plot with no ending in sight... Legend of Basara (season was cut short) : THERE IS NO ENDING!!!! Kare Kano (season finished, but the story just cut off?) : not only no ending, but no finale either! Juuni Kokki (season canned due to lack of material) : while i am unhappy, it has a decent ending in 39, everything afterward is considered brownies. Gilgamesh (complete ending of season that totally didn't make sense) : While I have nothing against abstract art (i loved Rahxephon) this show's ending left you wondering if the director was on hashish; WTF???? how in god's name did the whole mess ended in a bloodbath that left no satisfying conclusion to ANY characters, protagonist or not....

I'm not a particularly big fan of the detective genre, but I've seen the series before when it was on in china, now that I live in Australia, there is even less chance of me seeing the series, the fact that it is dubbed now had me very critical of it's presentation, esepcially since I know at least one of the dragonball Z dubbed crew is involve.