[QuickTidal]

D, on 08 April 2016 - 04:11 AM, said:

I know there's lots of new shows that just started which I should be commenting on but HOLY SHIT ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM AAAGHGHGILUANSDIU*)&AGH*)&ASB )(&#Y$*(_) &_#($

Crap, I need to catch up apparently.

Eek!

[Cause]

I checked out Kanberi of the iron fortress. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The attack on titan parallels are very noticeable

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 13 April 2016 - 05:20 PM, said:

3 episodes into Grimgar. It is 80% talking about boobs/boys peeping in the shower/etc... this is definitely not my cup of tea. Why did you want me to watch this again?

Pretty sure i mentioned it earlier. It the mmo thing but it centers around the lamoes, as opposed to being some power fantasy show.

Idk ep 3 or 4 is when it got really noticeable

Cause, on 16 April 2016 - 12:21 PM, said:

I checked out Kanberi of the iron fortress. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The attack on titan parallels are very noticeable

its not that bad so far. I like the art style.

Mayoiga ep3 was pretty good. So they're going the whole lord of then flies route here.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 16 April 2016 - 03:07 PM

[D'rek]

LinearPhilosopher, on 16 April 2016 - 03:06 PM, said:

D, on 13 April 2016 - 05:20 PM, said:

3 episodes into Grimgar. It is 80% talking about boobs/boys peeping in the shower/etc... this is definitely not my cup of tea. Why did you want me to watch this again?

Pretty sure i mentioned it earlier. It the mmo thing but it centers around the lamoes, as opposed to being some power fantasy show.

Idk ep 3 or 4 is when it got really noticeable

Sure, except it doesn't focus on the "lamoes" learning about their classes, finding people to train them (the entire party individually found guilds and trainers for each of their classes and did days/weeks of training entirely off-screen?!), etc. Rather it apparently focuses on the "lamoes" peeking into baths, calling each other flat-chested, awkwardly falling on each other, etc etc... all the most juvenile and cliche ecchi stupidity. Gonna pass on this one.

---

Similarly, I'm giving up on Girl Meets Bear. It's really weird - 80% of each episode is cute slice-of-life humour about a 13-year-old girl and a bear, you could even call it a kids' show. Then they always throw in these jarring "sexual comedy" scenes for the other 20% that I don't think would even be funny normally, but in contrast to the other 80% come off as reeeaaaalllllyyy creepy and weird. It wasn't too bad in the first couple episodes, but it was very bad in this week's episode, and based on the reactions of those who've read the source material it doesn't seem like it is going to change.

---

I really liked the first 2 episodes of Attack on TiTrains! The visual style is just enough to be memorable without really making a big difference or standing out too much. The characters are intriguing. And I really like how the setting and capabilities feel more grounded than the Titans, colossal mysterious walls and 3DMG of Attack on Titan.

---

Hero Academia has been good fun so far, too. The story isn't particularly original (yet?) but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable story and the execution is great!

Spoiler

It was looking after the first episode like he might take the "Hero without a Quirk" route, but I'm glad they went for him getting a Quirk somehow instead - I don't think the setting or his personality would really have worked for him somehow overcoming a lack of a Quirk. Additionally, I'm glad they established him getting All Might's Quirk early on - would feel like a cop-out if they did 20 episodes of him not having a Quirk and *then* have him sprout one.

---

and Sakamoto desu ga episode 1 was fantastic!

[Mentalist]

LoGH: 61/110.

This show ebbs and flows. When it flows, there's amazing epic scale warfare on both strategic (big-ass fleets conquering planets) and tactical (multiple fleets duke it out in a given system) level. The Ragnarok arc was super-fun like that.

But then it can ebb. And when that happens you get... well, not exactly "filler", b/c not a whole lot was explained to you from the beginning, but certainly "infodumps". There's been at least 2 episodes entirely composed of history lessons where one of the characters is traveling to planet X so he's watching watching a documentary on why X is important. This may not work for everyone, since it kinda kills pacing. Some of the interlude episodes also have a slice-of-life-ish feel, when one char retires from the military to enjoy marital bliss. YMMV, it's not all balls-to-the-wall action (though any time Rosen Ritters show up things go axe-crazy very quick).

I'm clearly interested in where we're going. There's a lot of cliches in play here, but the wide cast from both sides keeps things moving- although some may find the jumping between one episode in Empire, one in Alliance to be not their cup of tea. I (mostly) don't mind too much.

So, to sum up: pretty good piece of space opera so far, nothing super-outstanding, but good.

One pretty major complaint/suggestion: you may want to start skipping the "next episode previews". They occasionally do a spectacular job killing all the suspense the episode's built up.

[D'rek]

Mentalist, on 19 April 2016 - 01:26 PM, said:

But then it can ebb. And when that happens you get... well, not exactly "filler", b/c not a whole lot was explained to you from the beginning, but certainly "infodumps". There's been at least 2 episodes entirely composed of history lessons where one of the characters is traveling to planet X so he's watching watching a documentary on why X is important. This may not work for everyone, since it kinda kills pacing. Some of the interlude episodes also have a slice-of-life-ish feel, when one char retires from the military to enjoy marital bliss. YMMV, it's not all balls-to-the-wall action (though any time Rosen Ritters show up things go axe-crazy very quick).

I wonder if this comes from the way the source material was structured. A lot of manga will simply add glossary/backstory reference pages that explain parts of the world without even trying to fit them into the narrative of the story, so if LoGH was like that maybe that's how the anime decided to fit those parts in. Nowadays we'd call that a lazy adaptation but it might've been more acceptable back then, too?

That being said, I don't know if the LoGH anime is really supposed to be an adaptation specifically of the manga, or the original novels, or both...

Mentalist, on 19 April 2016 - 01:26 PM, said:

One pretty major complaint/suggestion: you may want to start skipping the "next episode previews". They occasionally do a spectacular job killing all the suspense the episode's built up.

Duly noted!

[Mentalist]

Episode 66... what is I don't even....

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 19 April 2016 - 03:15 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 19 April 2016 - 01:26 PM, said:

But then it can ebb. And when that happens you get... well, not exactly "filler", b/c not a whole lot was explained to you from the beginning, but certainly "infodumps". There's been at least 2 episodes entirely composed of history lessons where one of the characters is traveling to planet X so he's watching watching a documentary on why X is important. This may not work for everyone, since it kinda kills pacing. Some of the interlude episodes also have a slice-of-life-ish feel, when one char retires from the military to enjoy marital bliss. YMMV, it's not all balls-to-the-wall action (though any time Rosen Ritters show up things go axe-crazy very quick).

I wonder if this comes from the way the source material was structured. A lot of manga will simply add glossary/backstory reference pages that explain parts of the world without even trying to fit them into the narrative of the story, so if LoGH was like that maybe that's how the anime decided to fit those parts in. Nowadays we'd call that a lazy adaptation but it might've been more acceptable back then, too?

That being said, I don't know if the LoGH anime is really supposed to be an adaptation specifically of the manga, or the original novels, or both...

Mentalist, on 19 April 2016 - 01:26 PM, said:

One pretty major complaint/suggestion: you may want to start skipping the "next episode previews". They occasionally do a spectacular job killing all the suspense the episode's built up.

Duly noted!

i always skip previews. spoilerific

[D'rek]

LinearPhilosopher, on 20 April 2016 - 11:21 AM, said:

Quote

Mentalist, on 19 April 2016 - 01:26 PM, said:

One pretty major complaint/suggestion: you may want to start skipping the "next episode previews". They occasionally do a spectacular job killing all the suspense the episode's built up.

Duly noted!

i always skip previews. spoilerific

I often watch them if I'm watching a show week-to-week, because when the next week rolls around having watched the preview sometimes helps me remember what happened the previous week.

If I'm watching a show once a day or faster, there's definitely no reason to... well, unless the previews are funny.

[Cause]

D, on 18 April 2016 - 02:59 PM, said:

I really liked the first 2 episodes of Attack on TiTrains! The visual style is just enough to be memorable without really making a big difference or standing out too much. The characters are intriguing. And I really like how the setting and capabilities feel more grounded than the Titans, colossal mysterious walls and 3DMG of Attack on Titan.

How did you do this? I thought the next episode was not out till april 23rd

[D'rek]

Cause, on 20 April 2016 - 05:37 PM, said:

D, on 18 April 2016 - 02:59 PM, said:

I really liked the first 2 episodes of Attack on TiTrains! The visual style is just enough to be memorable without really making a big difference or standing out too much. The characters are intriguing. And I really like how the setting and capabilities feel more grounded than the Titans, colossal mysterious walls and 3DMG of Attack on Titan.

How did you do this? I thought the next episode was not out till april 23rd

It was delayed due to the earthquake, but became available a few days later for me. Maybe it's region-specific? Hard to tell with this one - it's apparently licensed by Amazon, so the release has been pretty wonky... and the subtitles are terrible!

[Maark Abbott]

Started watching Akame ga Kill! today. 5 episodes in. There's certainly a juxtaposition when the wanton ultraviolence kicks in. I'm sort of hoping it fires up my desire to write again.

This post has been edited by Maark Abbott: 23 April 2016 - 06:28 PM

[LinearPhilosopher]

Maark Abbott, on 23 April 2016 - 06:00 PM, said:

Started watching Akame ga Kill! today. 5 episodes in. There's certainly a juxtaposition when the wanton ultraviolence kicks in. I'm sort of hoping it fires up my desire to write again.

akame ga kill is textbook popcorn anime.

[Maark Abbott]

LinearPhilosopher, on 23 April 2016 - 10:58 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 23 April 2016 - 06:00 PM, said:

Started watching Akame ga Kill! today. 5 episodes in. There's certainly a juxtaposition when the wanton ultraviolence kicks in. I'm sort of hoping it fires up my desire to write again.

akame ga kill is textbook popcorn anime.

Oh aye. Doesn't need much thought, lots of blood... liking it so far.

[Mentalist]

Finished episode 86 of LoGH yesterday. Will write more once I hit the landmark 90, but things certainly started happening.

[Maark Abbott]

One of my friends wants me to watch JoJo. He's trying to sell it to me with Kakyoin. Suddenly I am deathly afraid of cherries.

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 18 April 2016 - 02:59 PM, said:

---

Hero Academia has been good fun so far, too. The story isn't particularly original (yet?) but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable story and the execution is great!

Spoiler

It was looking after the first episode like he might take the "Hero without a Quirk" route, but I'm glad they went for him getting a Quirk somehow instead - I don't think the setting or his personality would really have worked for him somehow overcoming a lack of a Quirk. Additionally, I'm glad they established him getting All Might's Quirk early on - would feel like a cop-out if they did 20 episodes of him not having a Quirk and *then* have him sprout one.

---

This anime has been fantastic so far. This and Cabanari of the iron fortress show a great deal of potential. I dont like Cabanari as much because I think its still in AoT's shadow, its not standing out as much as I'd like. It is excellent though.

Hero Academia embraces all the tropes and in doing so catches you up with the odd unique run of dialogue or hint at some epicness happening in the background.

I can see the series REALLY taking off given time and the writer knows exactly how to handle his characters. it fits together really well and I'm loving it so far.

[Mentalist]

LoGH: 90/110

Ok, so 30 episodes since last update, and most have been really good. Things picked up a lot, there was a massive action-packed arc, and the death toll of title characters has increased significantly. Ep. 82 nails you right in the feels- don't preview it, just watch it. It's Erikson-level-tragedy-good.

The past 4-5 episodes were a bit of a lull (basically getting more people in places they need to be for next round of awesome), but Epi 90 ended off hinting MOAR epicawesome action/plotting/politicking to come (one of the "villains" basically lists off a laundry list of "this is how we gonna conquer the Universe!"

Not all characters are evenly well-done/deceloped: epi 89 was focused on developing a particular pair that's been shipped by half the Empire by this point- and it was cringe-worthy to the point of facepalm and laughter simultaneously.

Still, epi 90 has me primed to want to see how it concludes; there's like 3 main plotters, with at least 3-4 capable second-class cast having their own agendas, a few wildcards we can already see, PLUS a whole roster of strong supportive cast on both sides to suddenly upgrade to first-rate char as the plot demands it. Interested to see where this goes.

ETA: 4 episodes later, and DAMN! that escalated quickly...

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 27 April 2016 - 04:31 AM

[Maark Abbott]

Finished Akame ga Kill!.

Spoiler

Well, that was fucking brutal. I wasn't expecting Tatsumi to die, though I sort of imagine Leone was going to go after being shot six-seven times. GRRM eat your heart out.

So I'm wondering what to look at next. I have Crunchyroll now and as before, I've had a JoJo recommendation. Is it worth a gander or is there something else on there to check out? My preference is towards strong, bloody and constant violence.

[D'rek]

Dolmen 2.0, on 26 April 2016 - 03:32 PM, said:

D, on 18 April 2016 - 02:59 PM, said:

---

Hero Academia has been good fun so far, too. The story isn't particularly original (yet?) but that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable story and the execution is great!

Spoiler

It was looking after the first episode like he might take the "Hero without a Quirk" route, but I'm glad they went for him getting a Quirk somehow instead - I don't think the setting or his personality would really have worked for him somehow overcoming a lack of a Quirk. Additionally, I'm glad they established him getting All Might's Quirk early on - would feel like a cop-out if they did 20 episodes of him not having a Quirk and *then* have him sprout one.

---

This anime has been fantastic so far. This and Cabanari of the iron fortress show a great deal of potential. I dont like Cabanari as much because I think its still in AoT's shadow, its not standing out as much as I'd like. It is excellent though.

Hero Academia embraces all the tropes and in doing so catches you up with the odd unique run of dialogue or hint at some epicness happening in the background.

I can see the series REALLY taking off given time and the writer knows exactly how to handle his characters. it fits together really well and I'm loving it so far.

The only thing with Hero Academia is that it's only slated to be 13 episodes at the moment. I could easily see this season going through Ikuzu getting into school, getting stronger, overcoming an in-school challenge, and ending at the end of some crisis in his first year of school, or even ending at the end of his schooling, with Ikuzu first proving himself... and then the show immediately ends with "Finally, I'm ready to become a true hero!" and cut to credits. And then there is no season 2 because these 13 episodes were only made to sell the manga.

I'm sure the manga is great, but I don't really have any interest in reading it, so I'm skeptical I'll ever see more than the first chapter of this story.

Mentalist, on 26 April 2016 - 06:46 PM, said:

LoGH: 90/110

Do you feel like 20 episodes is going to be enough to resolve it all?