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

[SirGauoftheSquareTable]

Binged the entire Seven Deadly Sins manga. I loved it and can't wait for the sequel.

[Laserman]

The first chapter of Volume 17 of Demon Slayer just had to have something like that happen... Why?

[Rafflesiac]

Finished watching Argonaut. Matsuoka is strong and Orna jacked Aria's main heroine role. Crozzo was hype and Argonaut, Prince of Elcos was a great guy.

I should get around to reading the Sword Oratoria LNs some day.

[bassgs435]

Goddamn awesome episode 31 of Great Mazinger

Spoiler:

. Harshest fight for our heroes yet. 3 Battle beasts crippling Great, Science Fortress left without their secret most powerful weapon, Ankoku Daishogun himself going to fight Great while missiles rain down on the Fortress. The heroes won, but it was hard.

I really love the Mazinger franchise, man
009-1 done. Good show 7/10. I love the idea of the MC being a cyborg spy with machinegun nipples, Now to watch Kikaider and then World Trigger

[Deathhappens]

The extremely random rec of the day: Shiboritoranaide, Onna Shounin-san! walks a very fine line between being lewd as all heck and comically parodying every JRPG OP item strat ever. But it has potential, I believe.

Unrelatedly, finally got to watch Burn The Witch. Other than Kubo Kuboing very Kubo-ly, I'm... pretty neutral towards it? I mean, it looked okay but honestly the atmosphere just didn't click the way first arc Bleach did. You can't have mock-Harry Pottery witches on not-brooms in Fantasy London AND urban punk designs, man, pick one. Bleach worked because everyone's alternative outfit was just robes.

[Rafflesiac]

Agravity Boys is funny, may Grislow never find the Gener-Diversion.

[Skull]

Was bored so I put on the deceptively titled "Ninja Scroll" movie (there are no Ninja Scrolls involved). I'm aware that's not the original JPN title but I wouldn't be able to poke fun at it otherwise.

A pretty entertaining action flick - nothing too complex that would require thinking, excellent for when you just need something to chill out to at the end of a long day. Very much a product of its time with the extreme gore and the bewbs. The fact that it's a dark fantasy about ninjas reminded me very much of what Sekiro might look like if it was an anime. Apparently the film is a massive homage to the novels by Futaro Yamada and Takeshi Narumi which has me curious to check them out now.

[GarlandGreene]

Was bored so I put on the deceptively titled "Ninja Scroll" movie (there are no Ninja Scrolls involved). I'm aware that's not the original JPN title but I wouldn't be able to poke fun at it otherwise.

A pretty entertaining action flick - nothing too complex that would require thinking, excellent for when you just need something to chill out to at the end of a long day. Very much a product of its time with the extreme gore and the bewbs. The fact that it's a dark fantasy about ninjas reminded me very much of what Sekiro might look like if it was an anime. Apparently the film is a massive homage to the novels by Futaro Yamada and Takeshi Narumi which has me curious to check them out now.

I recommend both Wicked City and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust if you are looking for more dark action flicks by Kawajiri. Their stories aren't too much to write home about either but the unique and gorgeous art direction alongside their no-nonsense protagonists make them both fun to watch. Pretty good stuff.

[Deathhappens]

Wicked City is hella pretty, but pretty light on the action.

[Skull]

Speaking of things that are "light", I put on Ponyo for tonight's watching.

Definitely a return to Miyazaki's more whimsical slice-of-life style like Totoro, which probably isn't everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The animation was fantastic especially given none of it was apparently done on a computer. I did wince slightly at Ponyo's birth name being Brynhildr but thankfully the story had a happier ending. I certainly smiled at her leitmotif being a pastiche of Ride of the Valkyries.

[bassgs435]

Non Non Biyori done. Comfy show about girls living in a countryside village with little population. Really soothing SoL. Ren-chon's adorable. Man, can't wait for S3

[LJ3]

Speaking of things that are "light", I put on Ponyo for tonight's watching.

Definitely a return to Miyazaki's more whimsical slice-of-life style like Totoro, which probably isn't everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The animation was fantastic especially given none of it was apparently done on a computer. I did wince slightly at Ponyo's birth name being Brynhildr but thankfully the story had a happier ending. I certainly smiled at her leitmotif being a pastiche of Ride of the Valkyries.

ooooooooh

I felt explicit Little Mermaid stuff but I totally forgot about that.
Huh

[bassgs435]

Finished Great Mazinger, and with it a long time goal of mine of watching both Z and Great. That was really fun and really great. Loved it

[Skull]

Thinking it was a children's movie, I put on "Giovanni's Island" for tonight's viewing.

It even started out with the children happily playing on the island and I was like "awwww..." until the Soviets came and the children started dying and I was like "ooohhhh...".

At least the ending was sorta hopeful if not incredibly bittersweet. That was at least better than the crushing depression of something like Grave of the Fireflies. I still cried an awful lot during the film though. T_T

[Skull]

I was waiting for somebody to say something so I wouldn't end up double posting but y'all be sleeping on anime it seems so here I go, rapid fire!

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms - Hmm...mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand it's great to see a straight fantasy anime made again in this cursed era of Isekai and the setting was genuinely interesting with some emotional moments that got to me. But the characters and the plot really needed more time to be fleshed out - in fact this story would have been much better served as a TV drama rather than a film. It's a shame really, I expect much better from Mari Okada but I think pulling double duty as Director and Writer for the first time stretched her too thinly across both roles. Hopefully she leans from this and improves in the future.

Grimgar: Fantasy and Ash - I can't prove it, but I really feel as though the original author wanted to write a straight fantasy series but the publisher told him/her to make in an Isekai. Thus we practically have an Isekai in name only as while a bunch of humans were sent to Grimgar, they were also made amnesiacs so none of the typical Isekai tropes come into play. Anyways, I really did like the series but it suffers the typical "just twelve episodes now go read the source material" of modern anime. Also I heard there was executive meddling where the staff were forced to put in large amounts of insert songs to the point where the actors were complaining about lines they recorded being cut to fit in the musical montages which is sad. But despite that I enjoyed the show and am looking into seeing if I can get my hands on the novels.

Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion - One of the best shows I've seen in a while, though not for the faint of heart given the subject matter. Surprisingly timely as I've also been playing "Ghost of Tsushima" at the same time so it's interesting to see the two different takes on the topic. I hear some people were put off by the special "filter" they used for the show but I found myself quite liking it. The characters were all very colourful and I wish we got to see more of them, but I totally understand that had it been longer than twelve episodes then the tension of the war only lasting a few days would probably be undermined. Overall definitely a recommend and I'll be checking out the manga too.

[Mattias]

The most memorable thing about Anglemois for me was that weird paper filter they put over the whole show. If they had just kept it to backgrounds only it would have been a nice style choice, but the fact it's over everything, completely static makes it look lazy instead.

It is basically just Ghost of Tsushima though.

[Skull]

It is basically just Ghost of Tsushima though.

Uh...no?

[weeblord]

I was waiting for somebody to say something so I wouldn't end up double posting but y'all be sleeping on anime it seems so here I go, rapid fire!

*nervous glance at the VN and LN thread* h-haha imagine doubleposting, couldnt be me

[bassgs435]

Show by Rock S1 done. Interesting idea combning an isekai save the world plot with a band plotline. It was fun. Great characters, and great music.
Done with SB69 Short. Funny shorts that give you some additional characterization and info on the characters. Now, having watched Mashu when it aired, all I need is S2 to be ready for Stars next season

[Deathhappens]

I was waiting for somebody to say something so I wouldn't end up double posting but y'all be sleeping on anime it seems so here I go, rapid fire!

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms - Hmm...mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand it's great to see a straight fantasy anime made again in this cursed era of Isekai and the setting was genuinely interesting with some emotional moments that got to me. But the characters and the plot really needed more time to be fleshed out - in fact this story would have been much better served as a TV drama rather than a film. It's a shame really, I expect much better from Mari Okada but I think pulling double duty as Director and Writer for the first time stretched her too thinly across both roles. Hopefully she leans from this and improves in the future.

Grimgar: Fantasy and Ash - I can't prove it, but I really feel as though the original author wanted to write a straight fantasy series but the publisher told him/her to make in an Isekai. Thus we practically have an Isekai in name only as while a bunch of humans were sent to Grimgar, they were also made amnesiacs so none of the typical Isekai tropes come into play. Anyways, I really did like the series but it suffers the typical "just twelve episodes now go read the source material" of modern anime. Also I heard there was executive meddling where the staff were forced to put in large amounts of insert songs to the point where the actors were complaining about lines they recorded being cut to fit in the musical montages which is sad. But despite that I enjoyed the show and am looking into seeing if I can get my hands on the novels.

Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion - One of the best shows I've seen in a while, though not for the faint of heart given the subject matter. Surprisingly timely as I've also been playing "Ghost of Tsushima" at the same time so it's interesting to see the two different takes on the topic. I hear some people were put off by the special "filter" they used for the show but I found myself quite liking it. The characters were all very colourful and I wish we got to see more of them, but I totally understand that had it been longer than twelve episodes then the tension of the war only lasting a few days would probably be undermined. Overall definitely a recommend and I'll be checking out the manga too.

Grimgar was great.