What are you reading/watching? AKA Anime/Manga General

[Rafflesiac]

[Mattias]

So starting my random anime binge with Divergence Eve, and watching the first ten minutes I'm remembering that old Miyazaki quote about the problem with modern anime is that it's made by people who grew up on anime. This opening sequence is like Gunbuster made by weebs. Although Noriko wasn't such a goddamn mess. Oh there's time cops now and earth is getting Shang Tsung'd.

Overman King Gainer is really all over the place for a first episode. They throw so much out there that it's ahrd to parse what's happening. Earths screwed and everyone is living in a bubble under a police state, sure. MC gets thrown in jail for flimsy pretext, standard. But why is there suddenly a princess? Why does everyone assume MC is part of the revolution, but he never refutes it to the people chasing him, or shows enough aptitude to re-affirm those claims. Why does a police state in a bubble society allow a pop star who only sings about the outside to perform in front of the whole settlement? Like I could understand one song where she explictly says "lets GTFO" as being a shock to the army, but she's been at this for over an hour. At least the show acknoldeges the stupidity of needing the rebel alive or your evil buisness will fail, and the going out and murdering them because their rebels. It still makes no sense, but nice to see others are pointing it out.

Gundam Thunderbolt is still the shit.

What the hell is with the OP for Tower of Druaga? it sounds like a song from a Tony Hawk game. Wow, that's some tonal whiplash going from episode 1 to 2. Probably for the best since the jokes were pretty one note.

Princess Tutu was a fucking trip, but not a terrible one. I don't think I'd watch it over Utena, but I really enjoyed the absurdity and Duck-chan.

Wait the first villain in Black Cat is named Lib Tyrant? That seems like something that would have come up in the last few years, even just for a photoshop of the poster with Hillery/Pelosi/AOC/Biden's face instead.

Did not expect there to be an Idolmaster show where they pilot mechs. Well, that's not entirely true, I expected it happen eventually, since Macross already went there. I didn't expect it to happen over a decade ago. How old is Idolmaster anyways? This is the sort of thing you make when things start getting stale, not when you're franchise is only... 2 years old?!! I've got to say as a gimmick turning idols into action shows makes them way more memorable. I enjoy Love Live as I'm watching it, but I'd be hard pressed to tell you anything beyond surface level about the show.

Have you ever watched a show and thought to yourself "this is such a Kyoani show, I wonder why I've never heard of it?" then when you go look it up it turns out to be A-1? Sound of the Sky is pretty good though, if you can get over the conceit that an entire garrison is manned by five young girls, one of whom is just the person who plays revelry. Or maybe I'm too drunk to be critical anymore? Hard to tell, when the last three have all been bangers. Though I don't think I'd go back to Pananoia Agent on my own, since it's basically Depression: the Anime, but lacking a real compelling factor.

I don't know if it's just Mushibugyo or if I've just never realized it before, but it's oddd to see a show set in Edo where every singel male background character has a bald head and top knot, except for the MC's who all have crazy anime hair. Even without a ponytail contain five right angles it makes them easy to pick out. Has there ever been an anime where the MC has a standard top knot and bald head? Also why are there giant tank sized spiders wandering around a major city? And why does the MC shout his name at them when charging into battle like they'd understand? Turns out alcohol hasn't dulled my critical eye, I just hit a good patch.

[Mattias]

Lots of stuff up for today is things that I've already experienced at some point whether something I completed a long time ago, something I dropped, or something where I read the source material already.

That said, is Phantom of Inferno just a Metal Gear plot? You have a shady group of wealthy elites trying to condition the perfect soldier through a series of mind wipes, and genetic selection. It's basically Metal Gear Solid 2. Only less AI battleships named afetr dead presidents, ghost arm possesion, bisexual waterwalkers, and murder-suicide due to cuck (Fuck you Huey, you piece of shit). You know, the Kojima touch.

Wow, it took me 15 shows until I hit one where I tap out early, and it's Texhnolyze that does it. I've heard about this show anf how good it is, and I appreciate trying to do something with only five lines of dialogue, but when everything is either establishing atmosphere or trippy sex then I really have no idea what's happening and no attachment to anything.

Cross Ange is so fucking terrible. I wish I was drunker so I could enjoy it even more.

[Deathhappens]

Lots of stuff up for today is things that I've already experienced at some point whether something I completed a long time ago, something I dropped, or something where I read the source material already.

That said, is Phantom of Inferno just a Metal Gear plot? You have a shady group of wealthy elites trying to condition the perfect soldier through a series of mind wipes, and genetic selection. It's basically Metal Gear Solid 2. Only less AI battleships named afetr dead presidents, ghost arm possesion, bisexual waterwalkers, and murder-suicide due to cuck (Fuck you Huey, you piece of shit). You know, the Kojima touch.

Wow, it took me 15 shows until I hit one where I tap out early, and it's Texhnolyze that does it. I've heard about this show anf how good it is, and I appreciate trying to do something with only five lines of dialogue, but when everything is either establishing atmosphere or trippy sex then I really have no idea what's happening and no attachment to anything.

Cross Ange is so fucking terrible. I wish I was drunker so I could enjoy it even more.

Hey, you skipped Symphogear!

[Mattias]

Hey, you skipped Symphogear!

Symphogear is more symphogear. Nothing really revelatory there. Although watching it so close to Idolmaster Xenoglossia really shows how many similarities there are between them. Both series start out as an idol wannabe actually having deep connection to a legendary weapon that they have to use to protect humaity along with acting as an idol with their colleges as a cover. One uses giant robots and the other power amour fueled by j-pop.



Watching Tsubasa Resevoir Chonicles and xxx Holic back to back (weird how that worked out) really reminds me how much more I prefered Holic. The cast is more fun, the plotlines feel weighty with their 'be careful what you wish for' nature (like Franken Fran) and it avoids crazy clone doubles, alternate timeline bullshit, and everyone being a Syaoran for like 95% of it's run.

Man, someone at Sunrise in the early 90's really, REALLY liked Thriller, didn't they? Judau from Double Zeta is one, but then there the MC for GPX Cyber Formula who's just Judau but tiny. As for the show itself, it's basically the lowest possible stakes Gundam plot, with cars rather than walking weapons platforms. All it's missing is the traditional "my patent built this specifically for me but told no one about that part" plot, instead going with the more generic mecha "First person who bumbles in gets the robot".

I forgot that Fate/Stay Solvent is about people in University. I mean, it makes sense for people who gamble their lives on death matchs in the business realm wouldn't have a family to support them like high school students. O the other hand though, how often to parents show up in anime, particularly in ones centered around underground super fights. Wait, is the show called C because it sounds like 'shi'? Also Bankman looks suspiciously like Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka, which I just looked up and that movie is 15 years old now. Holy shit, I thought it was 2013-14. Wait the Servant is named Mashu? This is getting a bit surreal.

So thirty seconds into Blue Seed and I'm now obsessing over where I've heard the term Aragami before. I want to say it's the name of the monsters in Muv Luv. Nope, that's Beta. Ok Google says it's also the monsters in God Eater, which I don't think is the reference I'm looking for since I saw a total of one episode of that, more than five years ago, and even my random bullshit retaining brain isn't that good. Although I probably won't follow up on this one, it's just the kind of thing I'd expect to find playing in a small backroom at an anime con at midnight, so it's exactly what I was looking for when I solicited these suggestions. Shout out to the shitty subs that turn yamata-no-orochi to orochi-no-orochi. Oh fuck, as I was typing that random vines stripped the female lead down to her panties in the middle of her classroom. Is this going to be porn? It has about the same aesthetic as La Blue Girl, so I'm on the fence for the moment.

The only thing I can really say about Kizumonogatari (aside from the sig I had for years asking when the fuck it was going to actually come out (Huh, I've been finished with Gundam for a while now, maybe I should change it up)) is that I wish it didn't cost an arm, a leg, and three organ to be decided on later to purchase the entire series legally. Whenever I think about Aniplex pricing themselves out of a sale I remember the con I went to that was asking $275 for the ten episode Nisemonogatari. Without a dub. Ah well, I guess it's time to strap in and enjoy my second favourite vampire character in media.

Is Tetsujin 28 just Detective Conan with the Iron Giant? Or I guess based on the time periods of each, is Conan just Tetsujin but mystery? Wait Shikishima and giant robots?! Is this another thing 13 Sentenials took from? They already took from every good Western Sci-fi, why not toss in a 1950's manga too?

[Deathhappens]

Symphogear is more symphogear. Nothing really revelatory there. Although watching it so close to Idolmaster Xenoglossia really shows how many similarities there are between them. Both series start out as an idol wannabe actually having deep connection to a legendary weapon that they have to use to protect humaity along with acting as an idol with their colleges as a cover. One uses giant robots and the other power amour fueled by j-pop.



Watching Tsubasa Resevoir Chonicles and xxx Holic back to back (weird how that worked out) really reminds me how much more I prefered Holic. The cast is more fun, the plotlines feel weighty with their 'be careful what you wish for' nature (like Franken Fran) and it avoids crazy clone doubles, alternate timeline bullshit, and everyone being a Syaoran for like 95% of it's run.

Man, someone at Sunrise in the early 90's really, REALLY liked Thriller, didn't they? Judau from Double Zeta is one, but then there the MC for GPX Cyber Formula who's just Judau but tiny. As for the show itself, it's basically the lowest possible stakes Gundam plot, with cars rather than walking weapons platforms. All it's missing is the traditional "my patent built this specifically for me but told no one about that part" plot, instead going with the more generic mecha "First person who bumbles in gets the robot".

I forgot that Fate/Stay Solvent is about people in University. I mean, it makes sense for people who gamble their lives on death matchs in the business realm wouldn't have a family to support them like high school students. O the other hand though, how often to parents show up in anime, particularly in ones centered around underground super fights. Wait, is the show called C because it sounds like 'shi'? Also Bankman looks suspiciously like Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka, which I just looked up and that movie is 15 years old now. Holy shit, I thought it was 2013-14. Wait the Servant is named Mashu? This is getting a bit surreal.

So thirty seconds into Blue Seed and I'm now obsessing over where I've heard the term Aragami before. I want to say it's the name of the monsters in Muv Luv. Nope, that's Beta. Ok Google says it's also the monsters in God Eater, which I don't think is the reference I'm looking for since I saw a total of one episode of that, more than five years ago, and even my random bullshit retaining brain isn't that good. Although I probably won't follow up on this one, it's just the kind of thing I'd expect to find playing in a small backroom at an anime con at midnight, so it's exactly what I was looking for when I solicited these suggestions. Shout out to the shitty subs that turn yamata-no-orochi to orochi-no-orochi. Oh fuck, as I was typing that random vines stripped the female lead down to her panties in the middle of her classroom. Is this going to be porn? It has about the same aesthetic as La Blue Girl, so I'm on the fence for the moment.

The only thing I can really say about Kizumonogatari (aside from the sig I had for years asking when the fuck it was going to actually come out (Huh, I've been finished with Gundam for a while now, maybe I should change it up)) is that I wish it didn't cost an arm, a leg, and three organ to be decided on later to purchase the entire series legally. Whenever I think about Aniplex pricing themselves out of a sale I remember the con I went to that was asking $275 for the ten episode Nisemonogatari. Without a dub. Ah well, I guess it's time to strap in and enjoy my second favourite vampire character in media.

Technically, I think she's called Msyu. But pronunciation.

[Toranth]

So thirty seconds into Blue Seed and I'm now obsessing over where I've heard the term Aragami before. I want to say it's the name of the monsters in Muv Luv. Nope, that's Beta. Ok Google says it's also the monsters in God Eater, which I don't think is the reference I'm looking for since I saw a total of one episode of that, more than five years ago, and even my random bullshit retaining brain isn't that good. Although I probably won't follow up on this one, it's just the kind of thing I'd expect to find playing in a small backroom at an anime con at midnight, so it's exactly what I was looking for when I solicited these suggestions. Shout out to the shitty subs that turn yamata-no-orochi to orochi-no-orochi. Oh fuck, as I was typing that random vines stripped the female lead down to her panties in the middle of her classroom. Is this going to be porn? It has about the same aesthetic as La Blue Girl, so I'm on the fence for the moment.

"Aragami" is a generic Shinto term that refers to an evil spirit/god. That's about it - the term crops up all over the place.
And no, Blue Seed is not porn, it's just from the early 90s, so there needs to be fanservice to keep the attention of the audience. IIRC, it's actually self-aware; I don't know if you have the comedy mini-shorts, but I remember some of those make fun of the constant wardrobe malfunctions and underwear displays.

[weeblord]

That said, is Phantom of Inferno just a Metal Gear plot? You have a shady group of wealthy elites trying to condition the perfect soldier through a series of mind wipes, and genetic selection. It's basically Metal Gear Solid 2. Only less AI battleships named afetr dead presidents, ghost arm possesion, bisexual waterwalkers, and murder-suicide due to cuck (Fuck you Huey, you piece of shit). You know, the Kojima touch.

for whatever its worth, the Phantom of Inferno eroge predates metal gear solid 2 by almost 2 years. It came out the same year as tsukihime, and nasu and urobuchi originally got to know eachother cause they liked each others games. Though from what ive heard the anime is quite different.

[Mattias]

"Aragami" is a generic Shinto term that refers to an evil spirit/god. That's about it - the term crops up all over the place.

Neat. God to know.

for whatever its worth, the Phantom of Inferno eroge predates metal gear solid 2 by almost 2 years.

Huh, you're right. The anime was '09 and I didn't think they'd wait more than five years to adapt an eroge into an anime. Talk about striking while the iron is ice cold.

[Mattias]

29/70 and I'm at the halfway mark. Let's see what today brings. If I can get to 60 total for this weekend, then I'll be satisfied.

Ghost Hunt feels like how Zach Baggins sees reality. The fact that the character who kept going, there's definitely no ghosts here was the first to get taken out, makes me think that she's right and instead of a ghost no one can detect, the creepy girl is using psychic powers instead. Or maybe she's Scooby Doo'ing it all. Either way, she's really sus. Okay episode 2 doesn't end the arc, so I wiki dived for the conclusion. Fucking Called It! That said, the fact I cared enough to look up plot points puts it above most of the shows I've seen this weekend. I might actually come back to this one.

Nothing much to say about Kure-nai. Oh wait dude just walked into a bar in the last five minutes said he's a mediator and beats the shit out of everyone and trashes the place. What was he mediating? The space between his fists and their faces?

Remember when Magi was fun? Pepperidge farms remembers. Also that OP is still great.

Everytime Serial Experiments Lain comes up, I mistakenly think of Elfin Lied instead. I get what the show is going for, at least in the first episode, but I'm having a hard time staying awake. You can only muse on the nature of society becoming more insular as tech develops so much. Yeah, TOTALLY NOT A DRUG. But do it and you'll be cool. Wow, I wish delivery guy nowadays would take you're entire computer set up from you're gate up a hill to the front door for you. She's really rocking that Kigu though. Get out of the stairs those children really want to get their freak on. Her friend is really pulling off that Blue Mary outfit though. Yeah Lain get that guy to eat his gun, just like Commander Sheppard would.

Master Keaton is pretty straightforward of show, but the strangest part of it is seeing characters talk about european currencies that have become defunct now that the Euro exists. Sure person X has a 5 million mark bounty on them. Is that a lot? I remember Germany hit crazy inflation during the 30's, so I have no idea what a marks relative worth is. Like how bad was the Lira before Italy hopped on the Euro?

Sora no Mani Mani is actually a super fun slice of life show. No smartass things to say about it, just really solid anime. I'm definitely continuing this one afterwards.

Darker Than Black is a show I've heard of forever but never actually checked out. Though if memory serves this is where the Chinese Electric Batman tropes originates from. Quick question about the pre credits though: First, If you have gravity powers, the first thing you should learn is how to max out gravity around you so nothing can touch you, then learn to fly. Second, Mask guy can fly too apparently, from what the cop was saying it sounds like it's rare enough to make note of it to troops on the ground, so is it common, a weird coincidence, or something they can all do but was only mentioned for audience benefit. Oh, that's where the Batman comes from. I'll continue this but probably not for a while.

Fuck Rakugo is such a good show. Yotaro is basically Ichiban from Yakuza 7, only less enamored with the Yakuza. Or Dragon Quest. This is another on my "why can't I fucking buy this show" list, along with A Place Further than the Universe and Carole and Tuesday. Also what kind of anime has a hour and a half 1st episode? Sure a 0 minute double episode pops up every once and a while, but this is longer than some of the movies I watched this weekend. And I can't even be mad because every moment is gold. Had t stop at the intermission though, or else I'd fall even further behind on The List.

Neo Ragna: Is that fucking Godzilla? No it's a giant robot, who's just acting suspiciously like Godzilla. Sudden Indian(?) boy is sudden. Did that traffic cop just tell people to lay off the horn or he'll start beating people? I thought this was Japan not Minneapolis. Oh wait they don't have guns, only clubs, so Baltimore maybe?

Ok, there's a lot of suspension of disbelief I give anime. But having all theses 200% CLAMP characters in Special A then claiming that one is a super strong wrestler? That's stretching it a bit far. Weapons? Sure. Spin kicks to royalty? Why not? but wrestling? Not with that character model. Wait why does #1 taking off his tie undo every button on his shirt and jacket at the same time? Wait did that asshole get thrown out a window by an underhand throw of a cellphone?!

[Deathhappens]

29/70 and I'm at the halfway mark. Let's see what today brings. If I can get to 60 total for this weekend, then I'll be satisfied.

Ghost Hunt feels like how Zach Baggins sees reality. The fact that the character who kept going, there's definitely no ghosts here was the first to get taken out, makes me think that she's right and instead of a ghost no one can detect, the creepy girl is using psychic powers instead. Or maybe she's Scooby Doo'ing it all. Either way, she's really sus. Okay episode 2 doesn't end the arc, so I wiki dived for the conclusion. Fucking Called It! That said, the fact I cared enough to look up plot points puts it above most of the shows I've seen this weekend. I might actually come back to this one.

Nothing much to say about Kure-nai. Oh wait dude just walked into a bar in the last five minutes said he's a mediator and beats the shit out of everyone and trashes the place. What was he mediating? The space between his fists and their faces?

Remember when Magi was fun? Pepperidge farms remembers. Also that OP is still great.

Everytime Serial Experiments Lain comes up, I mistakenly think of Elfin Lied instead. I get what the show is going for, at least in the first episode, but I'm having a hard time staying awake. You can only muse on the nature of society becoming more insular as tech develops so much. Yeah, TOTALLY NOT A DRUG. But do it and you'll be cool. Wow, I wish delivery guy nowadays would take you're entire computer set up from you're gate up a hill to the front door for you. She's really rocking that Kigu though. Get out of the stairs those children really want to get their freak on. Her friend is really pulling off that Blue Mary outfit though. Yeah Lain get that guy to eat his gun, just like Commander Sheppard would.

Master Keaton is pretty straightforward of show, but the strangest part of it is seeing characters talk about european currencies that have become defunct now that the Euro exists. Sure person X has a 5 million mark bounty on them. Is that a lot? I remember Germany hit crazy inflation during the 30's, so I have no idea what a marks relative worth is. Like how bad was the Lira before Italy hopped on the Euro?

Sora no Mani Mani is actually a super fun slice of life show. No smartass things to say about it, just really solid anime. I'm definitely continuing this one afterwards.

Darker Than Black is a show I've heard of forever but never actually checked out. Though if memory serves this is where the Chinese Electric Batman tropes originates from. Quick question about the pre credits though: First, If you have gravity powers, the first thing you should learn is how to max out gravity around you so nothing can touch you, then learn to fly. Second, Mask guy can fly too apparently, from what the cop was saying it sounds like it's rare enough to make note of it to troops on the ground, so is it common, a weird coincidence, or something they can all do but was only mentioned for audience benefit. Oh, that's where the Batman comes from. I'll continue this but probably not for a while.

Fuck Rakugo is such a good show. Yotaro is basically Ichiban from Yakuza 7, only less enamored with the Yakuza. Or Dragon Quest. This is another on my "why can't I fucking buy this show" list, along with A Place Further than the Universe and Carole and Tuesday.

He doesn't need to fly, BECAUSE HE'S BATMAN!

But really no, everyone only gets one power (and usually they're so sucky you can't improve them or find new ways to apply them like they do in BNHA), and you've already seen what Hei's power is.

[Mattias]

But he glows and floats when in the opening section when he 'fights' the Frenchman (not much of a fight when you confront your opponent in the middle of breaking his own fingers). Unless he's got bullshit power copying as his ability, and all the electricity stuff is from a generator he has hidden in his belt or something. I don't know about the power being sucky though. Matter swap guy figured out how to pull a dudes heart out. I've read Worm, that whole story is about making yourself bullshit strong with nothing powers. Well that, and how to make bad choices and compromise your morality one step, and baby, at a time. And about how constantly escalating things will hurt you in the end. And to always get your hearthead worm pills.

[Mattias]

So in Simoun they have a whole thing where everyone is born female until the hit adulthood then get to choose a gender. Aside form the fcat I'm 90% sure I read a sci0-fi book with same premise in uni, I'm sloshed enough I'm wondering the mechanics of it. On one hand it's a great way for an anime to justify why it's armed forces is entirely young waifu-able females. On the other, what happens when that stacked redhead in the background decides she's a male? Never mind, as I was typing it out the show answered the question for me. Though I don't get why non-pinky was crying afterwards? It's not like she was forced to make the decision, it was 100% voluntary. I can understand being upset if that kind of thing is forced upon you before you're ready to make that choice, but she literally had people telling her "yeah, we're in a war, if you want to stay undecided. no one will will care", plus the other person there backed out at the last minute too, so even a spur of the moment (Heh, Rakugo) choice is not set in stone and you can back out.

Buso Renkin: Never turn in to a giant snake, it never helps.

[Mattias]

I'm in the home stretch now, starting the day at 42/70.

I'm getting huge Boogiepop vibes from Shigofumi. The way the camera lingered on that knife was real telling as to the direction the plot was heading. The episodic nature would make it decent week to week, but not something I'd feel much draw to sit down and binge.

So Android Kikaider is really not holding back on being Pinocchio, but the strange thing is that in the stroy gepetto makes Pinocchio because he's old and has no children, while scientist man here has two children present to be sad when he goes missing. It honestly feels more like a Frankenstein story.

Crest of the Stars is Gundam as fuck. Peaceful space colony suddenly attacked by the Fire Nation Zeon Crossbones Vanguard. Got to say though, Lord President Dad made the right choice in selling out. This one is really good.

[Nikiri]

ended the zetsubou sensei cycle, the last season was probably the weakest or i just got tired of it and should have waited few months or years

hey, at least the op and especially ed songs are nice


now i'm craving for some more plot focused anime, let's see what's should i watch next...

[Mattias]

I'd completely forgotten about all the flash forwards in Concrete Revolutio.

Is Aura Battle Dunbine just gender swapped Ecsaflowne in the 80's? Apparently it was written by Tomino too, so probably filled with a bunch of futility of war and the human cost of it. Oh hey it's episdoe 1 and already one of the three isekai's is dead. And it's not the super racist one either. And here's adult Asuka with the same "Do you know what you're doing?" "No I just got here, I have no idea what's going on" "Then die!" energy as she'll have in 3.33 30 years later.

Why does Lovely Complex look so much like One Piece? I've got give it props for going through like two seasons of Tora Dora development in the first episode which doubled as the beach episode. Okay, apparently the director of this was also the director of early One Piece ('99-'06) and that's why it looks that way. I did a laugh when I found out their actual heights though. Guy is 5'1, which okay is pretty short, but Girl is only 5'7. This feels like Rider hating being so tall. Actually Rider is only an inch taller than MC girl.

[Skull]

Fun fact, Dunbine is actually the first ever anime Isekai. As such it zigzags between playing some tropes painfully straight yet also completely averting others.

Also, it was only directed by Tomino and not written by him.

Ah Todd. Started off being the racist American stereotype yet became the best character in the show.

[Mattias]

Fun fact, Dunbine is actually the first ever anime Isekai. As such it zigzags between playing some tropes painfully straight yet also completely averting others.

Also, it was only directed by Tomino and not written by him.

Ah Todd. Started off being the racist American stereotype yet became the best character in the show.

I guess when you're the first you don't play with tropes, you set them. Also makes sense that Tomino didn't write it, since Zeta was the next year.

Oh Baby Steps is just Tennis Deku. I can dig it. It's been a while since I've had a new sports anime to dig into (I think Ballroom was the last), and I've always heard rave reviews on this.

Oh God, I forgot Vandread was when Gonzo was experimenting with CG, but it was still horrible. Even worse than bad CG though is inconsistent CG. The army of women at the start done in CG, then when they show one killing a guy suddenly her claws are animated normally, because the guy was. Make a choice and stick with it and I can understand that there were limitations of the time, but switching between two radically different styles makes it seem like they're ashamed of it.

Holy Fuck, Wolfs Rain. Just holy fuck. How do you get animation like that train heist on a tv production? This doesn't feel like a 2003 anime, every thing is too crisp, it looks more like a mid 90's OVA or movie, something that had a ton of time and love put into it. Also that's just Emiya Alter there.

On paper Hyouka is something I should really enjoy. A mystery show going full Kyoani on the visuals, but it just doesn't draw me in. The mysteries aren't engaging and the characters feel listless. It might be interesting to watch with others, but not something I'd do by myself.

Pumpkin Scissors is pretty unique, I don't think I've seen an anime where the main soldier isn't a 19 year old veteran who has a single cheek scar (to show he's badass), but rather a giant older guy covered in scars.

First thing I noticed about not only about Gungrave, but a bunch of 90's and early 00's anime, is that for some reason Japan loves Heineken. It feels like anytime they need an obvious beer can, the it's always one of them. Second was that Girl is daughter of a mob boss, had a mother who was good friends with GunGrave, and has a similar hair colour and pointy-ness as him. She's got to be his kid right? Wait Girl, You accept giant white spider walkers with a single giant eye, but an albino Hulk makes you go WTF? Really?

Lodoss War: That's just the mine of Moria. And I think I heard Wizard say some Gandalf lines too. Wait, They've got a Wizard, Fighter, Cleric, Theif, Elf and Dwarf. Isn't that the every class from 1st Edition? When are they going to have to sit down and calculate THAC0?

Is Nerima Diakon Bros just a giant Blues Brothers pastiche? And was that Nabeshin in the OP? Wow how timely taht the first episode is about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Oh there's Nabeshin, giving out heavy weapons to take down Harvey Weinstein.

Planetes Feels like it's Shirobako in space. Only way less hopeful at the outset.

So in Tsukiyomi Moon Phase, why does the loli vampire have cat ears? Was the author just trying to shove in as many fetishes as they could? Even Vampire Bund knew that you make one vampire and one cat girl.

And with that I'm calling this marathon of mine. 63/70 isn't bad.

[Deathhappens]

I guess when you're the first you don't play with tropes, you set them. Also makes sense that Tomino didn't write it, since Zeta was the next year.

Oh Baby Steps is just Tennis Deku. I can dig it. It's been a while since I've had a new sports anime to dig into (I think Ballroom was the last), and I've always heard rave reviews on this.

Oh God, I forgot Vandread was when Gonzo was experimenting with CG, but it was still horrible. Even worse than bad CG though is inconsistent CG. The army of women at the start done in CG, then when they show one killing a guy suddenly her claws are animated normally, because the guy was. Make a choice and stick with it and I can understand that there were limitations of the time, but switching between two radically different styles makes it seem like they're ashamed of it.

Holy Fuck, Wolfs Rain. Just holy fuck. How do you get animation like that train heist on a tv production? This doesn't feel like a 2003 anime, every thing is too crisp, it looks more like a mid 90's OVA or movie, something that had a ton of time and love put into it. Also that's just Emiya Alter there.

On paper Hyouka is something I should really enjoy. A mystery show going full Kyoani on the visuals, but it just doesn't draw me in. The mysteries aren't engaging and the characters feel listless. It might be interesting to watch with others, but not something I'd do by myself.

Pumpkin Scissors is pretty unique, I don't think I've seen an anime where the main soldier isn't a 19 year old veteran who has a single cheek scar (to show he's badass), but rather a giant older guy covered in scars.

First thing I noticed about not only about Gungrave, but a bunch of 90's and early 00's anime, is that for some reason Japan loves Heineken. It feels like anytime they need an obvious beer can, the it's always one of them. Second was that Girl is daughter of a mob boss, had a mother who was good friends with GunGrave, and has a similar hair colour and pointy-ness as him. She's got to be his kid right? Wait Girl, You accept giant white spider walkers with a single giant eye, but an albino Hulk makes you go WTF? Really?

Lodoss War: That's just the mine of Moria. And I think I heard Wizard say some Gandalf lines too. Wait, They've got a Wizard, Fighter, Cleric, Theif, Elf and Dwarf. Isn't that the every class from 1st Edition? When are they going to have to sit down and calculate THAC0?

Is Nerima Diakon Bros just a giant Blues Brothers pastiche? And was that Nabeshin in the OP? Wow how timely taht the first episode is about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Oh there's Nabeshin, giving out heavy weapons to take down Harvey Weinstein.

Planetes Feels like it's Shirobako in space. Only way less hopeful at the outset.

So in Tsukiyomi Moon Phase, why does the loli vampire have cat ears? Was the author just trying to shove in as many fetishes as they could? Even Vampire Bund knew that you make one vampire and one cat girl.

And with that I'm calling this marathon of mine. 63/70 isn't bad.

Wolf's Rain came out in 2003, so you can totally call Takeuchi a hack for ripping off EMIYA's design.

[Skull]

First thing I noticed about not only about Gungrave, but a bunch of 90's and early 00's anime, is that for some reason Japan loves Heineken. It feels like anytime they need an obvious beer can, the it's always one of them. Second was that Girl is daughter of a mob boss, had a mother who was good friends with GunGrave, and has a similar hair colour and pointy-ness as him. She's got to be his kid right? Wait Girl, You accept giant white spider walkers with a single giant eye, but an albino Hulk makes you go WTF? Really?

Nope, Mika is not in fact Grave's kid. The whole gray hair on Grave was something that only happened post-transformation into a Deadman also.

Lodoss War: That's just the mine of Moria. And I think I heard Wizard say some Gandalf lines too. Wait, They've got a Wizard, Fighter, Cleric, Theif, Elf and Dwarf. Isn't that the every class from 1st Edition? When are they going to have to sit down and calculate THAC0?

IIRC Lodoss started out as a D&D session that the GM rewrote as a novel series. Or something like that anyways.

Is Nerima Diakon Bros just a giant Blues Brothers pastiche? And was that Nabeshin in the OP? Wow how timely taht the first episode is about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. Oh there's Nabeshin, giving out heavy weapons to take down Harvey Weinstein.

It is indeed a love letter to the Blues Brothers, and yes that is Nabeshin inserting himself into another anime he directed. If you thought Harvey Weinstein was topical then the fourth episode which is basically ACAB would have made you blush.