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

[weeblord]

Finally got around to starting Sket Dance, having a good time this far. The humor strongly reminds me of Gintama, which is good because I love Gintama, so I am expecting to see if they deal with more serious things with the same kind of quality.

The mangaka of sket dance used to work as assistant on gintama, theres even a crossover episode in both gintama and sket dance. I really loved Sket dance back in the day, its definitely a gintama lite but aint nothing wrong with that.

[Benderesco]

Started watching Babylon.

...I don't know how much of it is just creators not researching properly and how much is actually accurate, but Japan's legal system is always depicted in such a bizarre way in works coming from over there.

[RoydGolden]

Started watching Babylon.

...I don't know how much of it is just creators not researching properly and how much is actually accurate, but Japan's legal system is always depicted in such a bizarre way in works coming from over there.

For what it's worth, the last story-arc is set in America and depicts the American politics and legal system just as bizarrely. So really it's probably the author.

[Mattias]

Finished my Avatar rewatch. Still great all around. I had forgotten some of the more one off episodes in the pile of angst that season 3 is. Like the episode that's basically just Footloose. That was a surprise. I'd also forgotten that they almost never bother to have Toph face people she's talking to when in group shots, just staring into nothingness. Azula is still great. I kind of wish she was the main villain instead of Ozai, since she's got a way more compelling personality than the guy who only wants to burn things/nations/people/sons. Like just have her stab him in the back at the last minute and try to conquer the world on her own.

Now onto Korra. HD really makes it look pretty. The 20's inspired OST really gets me. Korra is such a damn idiot, but at least she has character. Bolin too.

[eddyak]

Korra was a shame, imo- Most of the adventure that was in Aang was just missing from Korra, and the tactics of the writers just seemed to just be "how hard can we punch Korra in the metaphorical dick this episode? Find out next time!"

[Mattias]

Yeah there aren't really one-off episodes. Everything is focused on advancing the main plot, so it leaves less time for the characters to endear themselves to the audience. No Toph scaming the underground gambling circuit. Or Sokka learning how to sword. Or Zuko going full Man with no Name.

[Mattias]

Wow, the tonal shift in this show. Starts off pretty standard, more action show than magical girl but nothing overboard. Then people start becoming blood fountains, preforming naked torture, and assassinating government officials. Then 2 episodes later right back to normal.

The training montage was A+ though. Watching Bruce Lee movies and cosplaying Street Fighter.

The okonomiyaki thing is a bit weird. I know all these shows have a trademark food the characters always snack on, but isn't that a bit much for a snack food?

[SirGauoftheSquareTable]

Only really reading Black Clover, MHA, and Demon Slayer. Also Akame ga Kill, but I'm putting that on hold until the semester ends.

[Deathhappens]

The Jet Black Flower manga spin-off was the true sequel.
The second season doesn't exist...

Ryuusei no Gemini wasn't that bad, it just throws out most of S1's characterisation of Hei, focuses on mainly on this new kid we have no reason to be attached to and gives the singularly lame power of "summon gun", has a completely incomprehensible ending, ALSO shits upon everything we knew about Yin, and... uh, what was I talking about?

Well, the antagonist agency was cool, at least. Especially the lightsaber lesbian.

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Wow, the tonal shift in this show. Starts off pretty standard, more action show than magical girl but nothing overboard. Then people start becoming blood fountains, preforming naked torture, and assassinating government officials. Then 2 episodes later right back to normal.

The training montage was A+ though. Watching Bruce Lee movies and cosplaying Street Fighter.

The okonomiyaki thing is a bit weird. I know all these shows have a trademark food the characters always snack on, but isn't that a bit much for a snack food?

You started watching Symphogear, I could tell right from the second sentence

S1 is a bit of an odd duck tone-wise, as they really didn't know quite where they were going with it or how it was going to end while writing it (and it shows). It gets much more solid in G, and the more... questionable elements (blood fountains and kinky enemies) are toned way down or disappear entirely.

[Laserman]

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Episode 25: I keep expecting the show to end, but it turns out that there 26 episodes. I can't believe Inosuke just broke rocks over his swords to make them how they were before in front of the sword smiths like that. He really just doesn't know any better or just doesn't care. Kanao's past was not what I expected. And now that Tanjiro is all better, he can go on missions again.

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Yep

Chronologically, it is set between seasons one and two, acting as a bridge.

In real world production order, it went season one -> season two -> OVA. The OVA is great and almost feels like an apology for the divisive S2.

I guess someone wanted DtB to go out on a high note.

I loved watching it, that explains why there was season 2 music in the OVA. I watched the first season, the OVA, and then the second season, so I didn't know.

[Mattias]

Finished Korra S3 last night. I think this might be my favourite season of the series so far. It felt the closest to what the origanl seiries was. Half road trip/slice of life stuff, and half having to deal with the main villains. Speaking of them, they all had interesting powersets (even though I was saying the whole season how they should just throw a single bolt of lightening at water girl.), and even if their philosophy was fundamentally flawed, at least they attempted to articulate it in ways other than twirling their mustaches and kicking puppies.

[pinetree]

Yeah but don't get excited because it doesn't last. Book 4 is dumb.
Not as bad as book 2 but still pretty bad.

[Mattias]

I think I'll go for another season of Symphogear before I go back to Korra. I'm interested in how Punished Korra will turn out, but I've heard from some people this is the season where it gets a bit preachy.

[Imperial]

I'm also getting caught up on Demon Slayer, having just finished episode 24, and I've got to say Zenitsu ruins every scene he is in.

He's so shrill and obnoxious that he kills the humor he's meant to generate, and his cowardly lion/sleeping master schtick doesn't impress me. I would enjoy this series about a hundred times more if he was deleted from any given episode.

[Skull]

Nonsense, Zenitsu is best boi and I won't tolerate any slander against him.

[Imperial]

I'm not cut out for Demon Slayer's sense of humor.

When DS goes for those emotional high points, it soars. When DS spins its wheels on all of this comedy, I can feel myself losing interest.

Yushirou judo throwing Tanjiro for his perceived disrespect, Zenitus's constant freakouts, the swordsmith tantrums -- none of these things amuse me. The show sucks me in with stuff like the spider arc, but then it drives me away with its CUH-RAZY HIJINKS.

I'm sure I will watch the movie for that sweet ufotable animation, but my interest in Tanjiro and Nezuko's journey takes a hit every time one of those "comedy" characters waltzes on screen. Not sure I would watch a second season.

[Mattias]

Ok, but what about the biggest source of comedy the show has, Inosuke? He fits way more into the comedy sidekick mold than Zenitsu does.

[Imperial]

Ok, but what about the biggest source of comedy the show has, Inosuke? He fits way more into the comedy sidekick mold than Zenitsu does.

I find him more tolerable than Zenitsu because he's not as shouty and shrill.

I also find him to be more of a character. I felt some actual empathy for him when he slipped into a slump after coming up short in the spider forest. Zenitsu seemingly exists to shriek about how he would rather be hitting on women than hunting demons. Oh, and then he has, like, two whole scenes in the entire season to make him feel like he belongs in this story about demon hunters. He reminds me (in the worst way) of Shaggy and Scooby-Doo saying they would rather be eating snacks than investigating these spooky ghosts. But at least Shaggy and Scooby work for the formula and style of their show.

DS really succeeds on its demon-hunting action and heartwrenching family drama, but then it totally squanders my goodwill with Scooby-tier shenanigans.

I'm amazed that Tanjiro and Nezuko can be so great, but their supporting cast can be so awful.

[weeblord]

Inosuke is funny

Zenitsu is heroaca comedy tier

[Solomos]

Just finished Qualidea Code. I loved its use of multiple viewpoint protagonist and the chemistry amongst the 3 pairings was mostly entertaining particularly between the male leads Suzaku and totally-not-Hikigaya.

Sadly it was let down by its run time not fleshing out its world building and side characters and its low-budget. After about the 4th or 5th episode its animation quality drops to My Sister, My writer levels of shit. I wish it got another cour or more budget.

I was entertained enough that I actually want to read the novels though.