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Post by The Mad Plumber on Aug 17, 2009 23:39:20 GMT -5
You're talking to the skeptic here. I liked anime fine when it was once a Saturday on the Sci-Fi Channel, but when I got introduced to the attitudes and obsessions of the fanatics, I became convinced anime was the opiate of the asses. So prove me wrong. Speak up about the titles that do stand up and make the genre legitimate. Also, forgive me if I tend to lump anime television in with anime movies. I don't know the difference and, quite frankly, it doesn't make a difference to me since they all end up being sold as videos in the end. Final note: if you try to tell me that it's better to listen to anime in its original Japanese dub, I guarantee you've lost my attention. Go Nagai's New Cutey HoneyIt seems a little strange to call this a nostalgic title since this was from a time in my life I'm not too nostalgic about. As a youth, I saw this video at the rental and was intrigued by the busty heroine featured on the cover; I became further intrigued by the illustration on the back that depicted her costume disintegrating about her. Suffice to say, it's a guilty pleasure. It's a simple action vehicle whose main reward is getting to see the lead heroine in the buff whenever she shapeshifts. It's stupid, but it's watchable. The animation is fair, the art direction looks good, and the English language is done well. New Cutey Honey was probably my introduction to anime. Kiki's Delivery ServiceI like this story. It's very sensible and the protagonist is easy to sympathize with. Also, this film further highlights the lack of effective storytelling in Disney's main animated features. The Disney dub features the voices of Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, and the late Phil Hartman. The quality of this picture does inspire me to see other Studio Ghibli works.
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Post by Captain Hygiene on Aug 18, 2009 19:58:51 GMT -5
The only anime I've ever watched through was Cowboy Bebop. I give the show an A+.
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Post by angilasman on Aug 18, 2009 20:16:24 GMT -5
I absolutely love Hayao Miyazaki's films and the Cowboy Bebop series.
As for other anime: I loved Toonami and early adult swim anime when I was in junior high and high school and I have my Outlaw Star, Big-O, and Tenchi Muyo DVDs to prove it... hmmm, hopefully a reasonably priced Trigun set will come out soon to complete that collection.
Nowadays most of the stuff I see doesn't interest me. I don't know if it's me growing out of it or just the current shows not being as good, but the last one I really took a liking to was Eureka Seven which came out a few years ago and was shown for a full year (50 episodes) on adult swim.
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Aug 26, 2009 14:54:39 GMT -5
Howl's Moving CastleI had recently taken the time to sit down and watch this video that we had lying around, yet nobody else seemed to have taken interest in watching it themselves. Like Kiki's Delivery Service, this fantasy dealt with an insecure heroine. However, unlike Kiki, this picture had some clearly-defined antagonists as well as a dark setting. On my initial viewing, I really felt there were a lot of loose thread strings that were being quickly sewn together at the end and I felt kind of confused, but it works out better in subsequent viewings and I still consider it an entertaining picture. I was also impressed how well the psuedo-three-dimensional animated backgrounds meshed with the standard static backgrounds. Considering my entertainment with both Kiki's Delivery Service and Howl's Moving Castle, I am far more inclined to view other Studio Ghibli pictures.
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 26, 2009 18:24:44 GMT -5
I've been known to enjoy a bit of anime in my time.
If you're looking for further Ghibli/Miyazaki viewing definitely check out Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. Wonderful films. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind's great too, as is Castle of Cagliostro, although that was his first directing gig and it's not an original creation of his so it's very different from his other films. Great fun though. Personally I'm not a big fan of Princess Mononoke, but I'm in the major minority it would seem. It's actually quite an unsettling film, but the imagery is incredible. I think I may grow to like it on further viewings.
Check out Go Nagai's Devil Man as well. Think there's only two parts and it's violent as hell but quite entertaining. Equally as violent and entertaining is Ninja Scroll.
Nobody's mentioned the obvious ones so allow me (ha!). Akira pretty much got the whole early-90's love affair in the West with Anime going and it's pretty darn brilliant. Ghost In The Shell isn't quite so but the visuals are stunning, James Cameron went mental for it and you'll see where pretty much everything in the Matrix, eXistenz and all those other online thrillers of the late-90's came from.
The most obvious series, apart from the Dragon Balls, Cowboy Bebops, Narutos etc. is Neon Genesis Evangelion. The first half is pretty much your typical kids controlling giant robots and fighting monsters type stuff the Japanese do so well. Then suddenly it becomes a philosophical family drama with almighty religious overtones. It's one of the most disturbing, brave things I've ever seen. The ending drove people mental thanks to the budget running out and then they made some films to act as a kind of alternative to the series' ending that are equally as confusing. Basically see the 26 part series, director's cuts of the last few episodes aren't essential but intreresting and then see the film End of Evangelion, skip Death and Rebirth which is actually a confusing re-edit of the series in a very short time. The End of Evangelion is one of the most mind-blowing things I've ever seen.
Other ones I like are the two Patlabor films, first one's a good action one, second plays like a political thriller. Well worth seeing. As is Giant Robo which like Evangelion starts like a boy and his robot series before becoming incredibly dark and complex. The story really is fantastic and the mecha designs are beautiful.
Last but not least is Wings of Honneamise a drama about two warring nations trying toput a man in space. It's a nice slow burning film and brilliantly animated.
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Post by angilasman on Aug 26, 2009 18:54:27 GMT -5
My absolute favorite Hayao Miyazaki film is Porco Rosso, which often is left off of discussions for some inexplicable reason.
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Aug 27, 2009 2:06:49 GMT -5
I only didn't mention it because I haven't seen it yet. DVD's going cheap at the moment though so I'm going to pick it up!
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Aug 28, 2009 19:07:48 GMT -5
Spirited AwayFilmed in CONFUSE-O-VISION!! The previews and trailers that you see on other videos for this picture don't even prepare you in the slightest for how far-out this film goes. This is, again, another video that's merely lying around; apparently, everyone else is too interested in the evolving lives of Flavor Flav and his friends. The fantasy world and bizarre creatures somewhat reminded me of the experience of the Jim Henson film Labyrinth. I probably desired a more romantic adventure like what I experienced with Howl's Moving Castle, but this was still a worthwhile and entertaining picture. Being the last of the Studio Ghibli videos we have lying around the house, I'll be looking to find some other pictures to purchase. Final Fantasy VII: Advent ChildrenThis is stupid times VII, and the apparent love affair otaku seem to have with the film disgusts me and causes a fair deal of my skepticism about the genre. This is what I will give the picture: the film is a visual marvel. The art department did magnificent job modeling the world of Midgar. Models such as Cloud, Sephiroth, the motorcycle, and some of Cloud's brothers-in-arms are impressive works of art. Nevertheless, it is still a video game movie and suffers from the inherent flaws of the genre. The characters are one-dimensional, the story is about as deep as store-bought pizza, and every character in the film breaks every rule of physics whenever it is of most convenience. Cloud himself can make Superman leaps into the air (yet travels the world via motorcycle), is immune to dragon's breath, wears Ray-Bans apparently made of Kevlar, and can shield himself from bullets being fired at him at point-blank range. The resurrection of Sephiroth makes no sense especially since the game's ending clearly established that the villain had been destroyed body and soul. The film is nothing more than a means of milking Square's most successful game for all its worth. I noted earlier New Cutey Honey as a stupid anime I somewhat enjoy because its payoff is getting to see big, bouncy boobs. With Final Fantasy VII, the reward for a stupid plot and endless prattling is getting to see fantastic action sequences with mind-blowing graphics. I prefer the boobs.I don't mind the film being an occasional diversion, but for those who would go about saying that it's the greatest film ever: NO, IT IS NOT. It is a fantastic feat in computer animation, but it is still a stupid movie.
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Malek
Nanite
Corn is no place for a mighty warrior!
Posts: 28
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Post by Malek on Sept 12, 2009 17:00:30 GMT -5
Definitely agree with Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell, they're both amazing series/films.
I also loved Serial Experiments Lain, which was one of the most confusing things I've ever watched (a lot of it went over my head) but absolutely brilliant. It's hard to sum up in just a few words; it involves reality and the internet ("The Wired") getting mixed up, and revolves around a weird girl called Lain.
Haibane Renmei is somewhat similar to Serial Experiments Lain, I think the characters were designed by the same guy, and it's pretty obvious. Like SEL, Haibane Renmei is also full of symbolism and leaves you in the dark in a lot of places. The Haibane are a group of angel-like beings who, for whatever reason, are stuck in a town called Glie until they can overcome their sins/faults/whatever (or something like that) and leave.
Another anime that seems to be pretty well liked is Paranoia Agent, I can hardly remember what that was even about. Again, it's pretty confusing. One of the main plot points was a boy called L'il Slugger who went round smashing people's heads in with a baseball bat -- seemingly, whenever they were at their lowest in life, and after that, their lives would turn around. The series is just another part of the mind---- genre, and I seriously wondered what I'd watched after it ended.
One of my personal favourites is Ergo Proxy, but it doesn't seem to be so well-liked by critics and the likes. It's set in a dystopian future; the main character is a girl called Re-L. I can see why people don't like the series; when other anime such as Paranoia Agent and Serial Experiments Lain can completely mess with your mind (and you accept it), it feels a little forced with Ergo Proxy. Sometimes you get the feeling that they're trying to be clever, and not quite achieving it. Anyway, I loved it.
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Post by teencaveman on Jan 19, 2010 23:31:04 GMT -5
I allways wanted to like anime but I've yet to see one that I enjoyed.
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Post by Trumpy's Magic Snout on Jan 21, 2010 15:06:39 GMT -5
I allways wanted to like anime but I've yet to see one that I enjoyed. The thing with Anime is you can find every genre you'd find in other cinema/TV so it may be best to go with something you like. Not all of it is giant robots and school children battling demons. Check out a film like Grave Of The Fireflies one of the most harrowing war films ever made, animated or otherwise, or something like a Gunsmith Cats which is basically an American 70's cop show as made by a Japanese animation studio.
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Post by harrycanyon on Jan 27, 2010 1:53:12 GMT -5
How about these?
Akira. Ghost in The Shell. Grave of the Fireflies. Barefoot Gen. Cowboy Bebop The Movie. Fist of the North Star. Ninja Scroll. Wicked City. Golgo 13 The Professional. Robot Carnival. Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend. (The one that started the whole tentacle demon thing) Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust. Nausicca: Valley of the Winds. Steamboy. Metropolis.
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Post by mystyfan on Feb 1, 2010 22:02:08 GMT -5
While I have watched alot of anime series, my faves being Trinity Blood (despite the HORRIBLE ending), Samurai Champloo, FLCL, Death Note, the ONLY movie I have seen was Unico as a child, and I LOVED it...lol
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Post by ometiklon on Feb 2, 2010 19:09:10 GMT -5
I allways wanted to like anime but I've yet to see one that I enjoyed. Try watching Chris Jansing on MSNBSC She's pretty good. BTW Would Star Blazers be considered anime? Because I stiil love that series.
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Post by caucasoididiot on Feb 16, 2010 2:42:49 GMT -5
Oddly enough, I watched 千と千尋の神隠し(Spirited Away) again just last night. Put me down as another big Miyazaki fan.
Factoid from IMDB: the walking lamp toward the end is a PIXAR tribute.
There was also a really weird one on TV about ten years back called Coji-Coji which I enjoyed a lot, but I don;t think it made it overseas.
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