[D'rek]

Two episodes into the hilariously awful ValVraVe so far. Space Nazis, vampires, magic robots AND body-switching?! Love it.

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 12 November 2015 - 06:13 PM, said:

Two episodes into the hilariously awful ValVraVe so far. Space Nazis, vampires, magic robots AND body-switching?! Love it.

IT GETS WEIRDER/BETTER.

idk i enjoyed it.

[EmperorMagus]

I finished watching the first season of Ghost in the Shell SAC.
It started as an awfully mediocre anime due to it's questionable plot line and indecipherable dialogue (at times). The dub was one of the best dubs I've seen in anime though. Past episode 21 it is among the top anime I have watched (not the best but very good). The world building and the concepts introduced in the early episodes are expertly used.
I don't consider it the best due to the simple fact that the deus ex machina called Aramaki was a little too much for me to completely stomach. Motoku is one of the most bad ass characters ever.
Tochikomas nooooooo i luv u

[LinearPhilosopher]

watch season 2, "the second gig" next.

Also why was aramaki deus ex too much? It's not like it came out of nowhere.

[Dolmen 2.0]

EmperorMagus, on 16 November 2015 - 06:52 AM, said:

I finished watching the first season of Ghost in the Shell SAC.
It started as an awfully mediocre anime due to it's questionable plot line and indecipherable dialogue (at times). The dub was one of the best dubs I've seen in anime though. Past episode 21 it is among the top anime I have watched (not the best but very good). The world building and the concepts introduced in the early episodes are expertly used.
I don't consider it the best due to the simple fact that the deus ex machina called Aramaki was a little too much for me to completely stomach. Motoku is one of the most bad ass characters ever.
Tochikomas nooooooo i luv u

I think I just got to a level of the story where I might be able to respond to this.

Yes the entry level dialogue and plot are not easy to access, I think largely because the Masamune takes the GitS world as its own character. He thought through everything and cant easily relate the story nor can he engage in lengthy explanations of whats going on. Masamune just trusted his readers to slog through the tech Jargon heavy dialogue and in doing so begin to grasp the more ephemeral concepts at play here. The Deus Ex series dealt with neo humanism really well, however I don't think anything touches on the Neo-humanistic ideas as thoroughly as GitS. Trade off being a hard to access movie and initial series but the pacing and story-telling is so good, the lack of understanding in some areas doesn't hinder the experience in the slightest. you still manage to catch on to the goings on and the mind blowing reality Major Kusanagi and her team exist in.

Spoiler

As for Aramaki being a Deus Ex Machina, well its kinda hinted at well in advance that he had been actively preping for the eventuality at the end.

I guess I can see how it was annoying though. Anyway I'm happy you got into it EM! hope you catch the movies and second season. Theres a watch order if you're bothered but I think it all works regardless of sequence.

If you have feels for the Tachikomas now well...You're gonna love the second season.

This post has been edited by Dolmen 2.0: 16 November 2015 - 03:40 PM

[D'rek]

Despite all its ridiculousness and hilarity, there's one really interesting thing that Valvrave is doing, that I'd never really thought much about before. As and after the protagonist is saving everybody, he becomes a social media sensation and instantly famous around the world. It's really interesting to see that effect since that pretty much never, ever happens in anime no matter how publicly Goku or whomever saves the day, and I really like the little bits of, say, the captain at a soccer game giving a shout-out to the hero kid fighting for his country.

[EmperorMagus]

LinearPhilosopher, on 16 November 2015 - 01:53 PM, said:

watch season 2, "the second gig" next.

Also why was aramaki deus ex too much? It's not like it came out of nowhere.

Spoiler

Maybe I didn't catch this, but how was Aramaki preparing for this before the episode that it happened in? Regardless, my point is that he could've ordered them to surrender. "Imprison" everyone and do the same thing three months later. There was absolutely no reason for the dramatic chase or Motoku's assassination. (despite the fact that I enjoyed watching both of those)

The main strength of the Anime was how well it tied everything that happened earlier in the series together. The last twist did not feel so well thought out.
I do intend to continue watching GitS. I'm currently looking for a palate cleanser before starting to watch the second season.

[Dolmen 2.0]

EmperorMagus, on 16 November 2015 - 09:45 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 16 November 2015 - 01:53 PM, said:

watch season 2, "the second gig" next.

Also why was aramaki deus ex too much? It's not like it came out of nowhere.

Spoiler

Maybe I didn't catch this, but how was Aramaki preparing for this before the episode that it happened in? Regardless, my point is that he could've ordered them to surrender. "Imprison" everyone and do the same thing three months later. There was absolutely no reason for the dramatic chase or Motoku's assassination. (despite the fact that I enjoyed watching both of those)

The main strength of the Anime was how well it tied everything that happened earlier in the series together. The last twist did not feel so well thought out.
I do intend to continue watching GitS. I'm currently looking for a palate cleanser before starting to watch the second season.

Spoiler

I might be mistaken but I recall a scene where he meets kusanagi outside a military defence base, or was it an elevator? It was a while back when I last watched through Season 1 but I'll try skim through my collection, see if I can pick up on the scene I seem to recall. There was a conversation where Aramaki tells Kusanagi to focus on her pursuit of the Pupeteer, she does the legwork and he'll call the cavalry. I might be wrong, I just kinda expected him to step in when he did because I recall a scene like this in one of the more complicated episodes. Although if I'm right its still a poor preparation for Aramakis grand resolution.

Out of curiousity What would you have thought more appropriate?

Just to add to the above, the watch order has a split between "stand alone" and "complex" episodes. Watching the "complex" episodes outside of the "stand alone" is supposed to make it all much clearer yet I'm sure I caught the above clue in what was meant to be a "stand alone" so bleh, I might be talking nonsense.

As a pallet cleanser well I'm watching Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica...because reasons.

it's darker than I expected but the exact opposite of a tech heavy show about cyborgs.

This post has been edited by Dolmen 2.0: 17 November 2015 - 06:42 PM

[EmperorMagus]

Dolmen 2.0, on 17 November 2015 - 05:40 AM, said:

EmperorMagus, on 16 November 2015 - 09:45 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 16 November 2015 - 01:53 PM, said:

watch season 2, "the second gig" next.

Also why was aramaki deus ex too much? It's not like it came out of nowhere.

Spoiler

Maybe I didn't catch this, but how was Aramaki preparing for this before the episode that it happened in? Regardless, my point is that he could've ordered them to surrender. "Imprison" everyone and do the same thing three months later. There was absolutely no reason for the dramatic chase or Motoku's assassination. (despite the fact that I enjoyed watching both of those)

The main strength of the Anime was how well it tied everything that happened earlier in the series together. The last twist did not feel so well thought out.
I do intend to continue watching GitS. I'm currently looking for a palate cleanser before starting to watch the second season.

Spoiler

I might be mistaken but I recall a scene where he meets kusanagi outside a military defence base, or was it an elevator? It was a while back when I last watched through Season 1 but I'll try skim through my collection, see if I can pick up on the scene I seem to recall. There was a conversation where Aramaki tells Kusanagi to focus on her pursuit of the Pupeteer, she does the legwork and he'll call the cavalry. I might be wrong, I just kinda expected him to step in when he did because I recall a scene like this in one of the "Complex" episodes. Although if I'm right its still a poor preparation for Aramakis grand resolution.

Out of curiousity What would you have thought more appropriate?

Just to add to the above, the watch order has a split between "stand alone" and "complex" episodes. Watching the "complex" episodes outside of the "stand alone" is supposed to make it all much clearer yet I'm sure I caught the above clue in what was meant to be a "stand alone" so bleh, I might be talking nonsense.

As a pallet cleanser well I'm watching Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica...because reasons.

it's darker than I expected but the exact opposite of a tech heavy show about cyborgs.

Spoiler

Either a completley controlled ending where he tells everyone on his team what is happening, they let the military kill them/ capture them without actual drama and then he remakes the unit.
Or an actual structure for members of his team where some of them are eliminated. This weird amalgam of both is not as good as anyone of them would have been alone.

[D'rek]

Dolmen 2.0, on 17 November 2015 - 05:40 AM, said:

As a pallet cleanser well I'm watching Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica...because reasons.

it's darker than I expected but the exact opposite of a tech heavy show about cyborgs.

That sounds more like immediately eating a completely different meal than a palette cleanser, IMO.

[LinearPhilosopher]

EmperorMagus, on 17 November 2015 - 06:07 AM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 17 November 2015 - 05:40 AM, said:

EmperorMagus, on 16 November 2015 - 09:45 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 16 November 2015 - 01:53 PM, said:

watch season 2, "the second gig" next.

Also why was aramaki deus ex too much? It's not like it came out of nowhere.

Spoiler

Maybe I didn't catch this, but how was Aramaki preparing for this before the episode that it happened in? Regardless, my point is that he could've ordered them to surrender. "Imprison" everyone and do the same thing three months later. There was absolutely no reason for the dramatic chase or Motoku's assassination. (despite the fact that I enjoyed watching both of those)

The main strength of the Anime was how well it tied everything that happened earlier in the series together. The last twist did not feel so well thought out.
I do intend to continue watching GitS. I'm currently looking for a palate cleanser before starting to watch the second season.

Spoiler

I might be mistaken but I recall a scene where he meets kusanagi outside a military defence base, or was it an elevator? It was a while back when I last watched through Season 1 but I'll try skim through my collection, see if I can pick up on the scene I seem to recall. There was a conversation where Aramaki tells Kusanagi to focus on her pursuit of the Pupeteer, she does the legwork and he'll call the cavalry. I might be wrong, I just kinda expected him to step in when he did because I recall a scene like this in one of the "Complex" episodes. Although if I'm right its still a poor preparation for Aramakis grand resolution.

Out of curiousity What would you have thought more appropriate?

Just to add to the above, the watch order has a split between "stand alone" and "complex" episodes. Watching the "complex" episodes outside of the "stand alone" is supposed to make it all much clearer yet I'm sure I caught the above clue in what was meant to be a "stand alone" so bleh, I might be talking nonsense.

As a pallet cleanser well I'm watching Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica...because reasons.

it's darker than I expected but the exact opposite of a tech heavy show about cyborgs.

Spoiler

Either a completley controlled ending where he tells everyone on his team what is happening, they let the military kill them/ capture them without actual drama and then he remakes the unit.
Or an actual structure for members of his team where some of them are eliminated. This weird amalgam of both is not as good as anyone of them would have been alone.

my memory's a bit dated so i dont recall specifics. From what i recall because they had uncovered information about their PM but an election was near that information and they people associated with it had to to supressed until it could be disseminated after the election.

Incase you haven't caught on this is an era where the goverment has a tremendous amount of power and little oversight (the reason the interceptors were a big deal was because the right paperwork wasn't filled out)

[LinearPhilosopher]

since i know other have been following it, what's behind the hype for one punch man?

[D'rek]

LinearPhilosopher, on 17 November 2015 - 04:14 PM, said:

since i know other have been following it, what's behind the hype for one punch man?

One third excellent art and execution.

One third pseudo-satire of the shounen genre and making fun of many of its tropes.

One third deadpan humour with a deliberately-simply-drawn bald guy.

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 17 November 2015 - 05:24 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 17 November 2015 - 04:14 PM, said:

since i know other have been following it, what's behind the hype for one punch man?

One third excellent art and execution.

One third pseudo-satire of the shounen genre and making fun of many of its tropes.

One third deadpan humour with a deliberately-simply-drawn bald guy.

You forgot the part where he punches things ridiculously hard.

That's the best part.

On the reals it has some depth to it.

Episode Seven really dealt with the collateral damage issue that alot of other animes ignore. Stuff like that wins the show some points in the lofty thoughts dept.

[D'rek]

Dolmen 2.0, on 17 November 2015 - 06:36 PM, said:

D, on 17 November 2015 - 05:24 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 17 November 2015 - 04:14 PM, said:

since i know other have been following it, what's behind the hype for one punch man?

One third excellent art and execution.

One third pseudo-satire of the shounen genre and making fun of many of its tropes.

One third deadpan humour with a deliberately-simply-drawn bald guy.

You forgot the part where he punches things ridiculously hard.

That's the best part.

On the reals it has some depth to it.

Episode Seven really dealt with the collateral damage issue that alot of other animes ignore. Stuff like that wins the show some points in the lofty thoughts dept.

Sort of, yeah, but I don't think OPM does that aspect any better than most other anime (so far, at least). Like most anime protagonists, especially Shounen ones, Saitama is exceptionally clueless even when there is an obvious answer to give.

Spoiler

e.g. in episode 7's case, anyone with half a brain would have said "Yeah, I punched the meteor and the debris messed up the city, but if I hadn't punched it the entire city would have been flattened and you'd all be dead. Neither you nor any other heroes did anything about the meteor, so this is the best you get."

[QuickTidal]

So I'm reading the ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM manga by Yusei Matsui, which is excellent so far (only on Vol. 2 so far)...can anyone who is watching the show tell me how accurate the show is to the manga, and if so how far along the show is with regards to the manga volumes?

Oh, and has anyone seen the live action movie yet?

[LinearPhilosopher]

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2015 - 01:56 PM, said:

So I'm reading the ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM manga by Yusei Matsui, which is excellent so far (only on Vol. 2 so far)...can anyone who is watching the show tell me how accurate the show is to the manga, and if so how far along the show is with regards to the manga volumes?

Oh, and has anyone seen the live action movie yet?

havent seen live action

We all think the show is great

unsure about faithfulness of adaptation

[QuickTidal]

LinearPhilosopher, on 18 November 2015 - 02:20 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2015 - 01:56 PM, said:

So I'm reading the ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM manga by Yusei Matsui, which is excellent so far (only on Vol. 2 so far)...can anyone who is watching the show tell me how accurate the show is to the manga, and if so how far along the show is with regards to the manga volumes?

Oh, and has anyone seen the live action movie yet?

havent seen live action

We all think the show is great

unsure about faithfulness of adaptation

Cool, I plan on watching the show, but without the time to dedicate to the show right now, I decided to start with the manga first.

[D'rek]

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2015 - 01:56 PM, said:

So I'm reading the ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM manga by Yusei Matsui, which is excellent so far (only on Vol. 2 so far)...can anyone who is watching the show tell me how accurate the show is to the manga, and if so how far along the show is with regards to the manga volumes?

Oh, and has anyone seen the live action movie yet?

I haven't read the manga, but based on other discussion groups I followed while the show was airing, it is following it pretty closely. IIRC, the show skipped a few very minor arcs but all the main arcs are there and the same plots are followed. Like the manga, the anime's narrative mostly sticks to Nagisa and his side-kicks Karma & Kaede, but also takes lots of opportunities to focus on other students for a bit at a time (in the anime, often for a particular episode).

Season 1 of the anime finished at the end of the Island Arc (I don't know if that is the proper name of the arc or not, but it's the one where they're on an island!) which takes place during the summer vacation between first and second semester of the school year.

That same arc ends at chapter 70 in the manga, (which is the last chapter of volume 8), though the anime might have included a little bit of chapter 71 as an epilogue (I don't remember for sure).


I watched some of the live action movie. It's about what you would expect - starts out by trying to exactly copy the anime scene for scene, looks super weird because none of the actors look anywhere close to being fourteen years old, and Koro-sensei looks... well not as bad as I thought he would but he definitely doesn't blend with his surroundings.

[QuickTidal]

D, on 18 November 2015 - 03:16 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 18 November 2015 - 01:56 PM, said:

So I'm reading the ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM manga by Yusei Matsui, which is excellent so far (only on Vol. 2 so far)...can anyone who is watching the show tell me how accurate the show is to the manga, and if so how far along the show is with regards to the manga volumes?

Oh, and has anyone seen the live action movie yet?

I haven't read the manga, but based on other discussion groups I followed while the show was airing, it is following it pretty closely. IIRC, the show skipped a few very minor arcs but all the main arcs are there and the same plots are followed. Like the manga, the anime's narrative mostly sticks to Nagisa and his side-kicks Karma & Kaede, but also takes lots of opportunities to focus on other students for a bit at a time (in the anime, often for a particular episode).

Season 1 of the anime finished at the end of the Island Arc (I don't know if that is the proper name of the arc or not, but it's the one where they're on an island!) which takes place during the summer vacation between first and second semester of the school year.

That same arc ends at chapter 70 in the manga, (which is the last chapter of volume 8), though the anime might have included a little bit of chapter 71 as an epilogue (I don't remember for sure).


I watched some of the live action movie. It's about what you would expect - starts out by trying to exactly copy the anime scene for scene, looks super weird because none of the actors look anywhere close to being fourteen years old, and Koro-sensei looks... well not as bad as I thought he would but he definitely doesn't blend with his surroundings.

Sweet, thanks! I've got Volumes 1-4 already bought, and I have Volumes 5-8 on my Xmas list...Vol. 9 comes out here in January, which I think means that will be the point when the Manga released here overtakes the show as it airs....depending on when S2 airs. At any rate, it means I can comfortably read up to Vol. 8 before watching the show.