[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 04 June 2016 - 01:52 AM, said:

I'm just saying most people would recommend it because of that (and the arguably better production values, greater world-building, etc). To some extent, I think it's a valid point to make, too - if you're talking about a franchise with someone, you're more likely to be discussing the actual canon than a spin-off.

Ideally, I think it makes the most sense in that sort of situation to watch the real canon first, then watch the spin-off that changes things... but in FMA's case that happened in reverse order so maybe not.

Anyways, it's a decision Ment will have to make, if he ever watches one of them.

But heres the thing, at the end of the day you're reccomending a story, you're not reccomending a franchise. A franchise would be like reccomending gundam (hint theres tons of gundam and a variety of stories). THe faithfulness of the adaption is irrelevant, its whether or not its a good adaption thats the key issue. Deviations in narrative make for interesting new ways of telling a story.

Id also argue what FMA lacks in world building it makes up for with a tighter narrative that doesn't take as long to build up. Im also a bigger fan of how the various character evolve in the first series.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 04 June 2016 - 02:51 AM

[Una]

D, on 03 June 2016 - 01:44 PM, said:

Both The Big O and Trigun are very much 90s shows. Similar to, say, Cowboy Bebop, they're 95% episodic thing-of-the-week but then have a big pseudo-overarching plot that gets major development at the end of each cour. It's probably pretty hard to get into either of them, now that we tend to consume anime so differently these days.

Trigun is a personal all-time favourite of mine. I guess I'm an old fart who consumed most of my anime in the 90's. Then life got busy and the process of acquiring stuff to watch became too laborious.

So since I've already seen everything interesting that Netflix Canada has to offer, I am considering branching out again. The difficulty is that since my life got turned upside down, went through a couple bouts of depression, went through a life-threatening illness, and had a kid, not in that order, I am extremely sensitive to certain topics. Seeing innocent people get hurt, particularly children, throws my mood off for days, sometimes weeks. I've never had much stomach for gore, but most depictions of realistic violence are completely off limits now. The weird futuristic stuff I used to like is now risky. I am working my way through Fairy Tale, and that seems fine, for the most part. I think it's because the vast majority of fights just end with one person getting KO'ed. Nobody really seems to suffer permanent injury and almost nobody dies. Slice of life seems to be the safest genre, for the most part, unless a major plot device is the death of a parent. Much like Disney movies, orphaning the main character for dramatic effect seems to be pretty common. I've had to stare at the possibility that I could die and leave my child alone in the world and I still don't like to think about it.

With those absolutely ridiculous restrictions in mind, any recommendations? I basically don't want anything that is going to make me cry or give me nightmares. Comedies are good. I want to smile. Ideally, I want something that is going to warm the cockles of my poor, damaged heart. I really like Silver Spoon, for example. I also have a weakness for stories where ordinary girl encounters some magical world, like Inuyasha, Vision of Escaflowne, or even Fruits Basket.

[Maark Abbott]

Akame will warm your cockles.

[amphibian]

Watch One Piece, Una. It's probably right square in the sweet spot for you in regards to story quality and content.

[Terez]

Brief DBS update. New saga starts next week, with ep 47 and the return of Future Trunks (who is the same Future Trunks from before, but he has blue hair now, and new problems). Toriyama has reportedly been working hard on this story; Toei did a 4-episode filler story to bridge the gap from the last saga, which was a tournament saga. I wouldn't say the tournament saga was low stakes, but it was still pretty lighthearted. The Future Trunks saga might be the most serious turn so far, and there is a lot of hype about it. It actually began at the very end of this week's episode (not the preview).

Looks like Super will definitely outlast GT. It feels like it's just getting started. Honestly, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if it outlasted Z in terms of how many episodes there will be.

[D'rek]

Maark Abbott, on 04 June 2016 - 08:00 AM, said:

Akame will warm your cockles.

(Una, this is a joke. It's gruesome.)

amphibian, on 04 June 2016 - 06:06 PM, said:

Watch One Piece, Una. It's probably right square in the sweet spot for you in regards to story quality and content.

Uhh, while I agree it's definitely One Piece is the right genre/tone/style/etc for what Una is looking for, a 750+ episode serial might be a biiiiiit intense as a "first branching out of Netflix" anime. @Una: One Piece is a lot like Fairy Tale, but a ton better in (almost) every way (less repetitive storylines, deeper worldbuilding, etc). But it's one continuous story and suuuuuuper long. Your call!


Anyways, here's some recommendations I've got for you based on your criteria (AFAIK, none of these are on NetFlix already):



Drama:

Shirobako
Kids on the Slope (Sakamichi no Apollon)
Honey and Clover
Food Wars (Shokugeki no Souma)


Action:

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
(Neither of these are anywhere close to realistic, gritty action scenes, as both have a very fantasy setting and styles. Magi in particular is a bit similar to Fairy Tale in style.)


Comedy:

My Neighbour Seki-kun (Tonari no Seki-kun)
Ouran Host Club (Note: One of the main character's parents is deceased in this series, but it's not a major plot point at all and the other parent is fine. It's just a bit of backstory.)
Servant X Service
Working!
Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun
Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)


Romance:

Tamako Love Story
Snow White with the Red Hair (Akagami no Shirayuki)
Princess Tutu (kinda fantasy/comedy/romance... I'm not sure what category to put it in, really)


Sports:

Baby Steps


Totally Slice of Life and not much else:

Flying Witch

[D'rek]

Terez, on 05 June 2016 - 03:13 AM, said:

Brief DBS update. New saga starts next week, with ep 47 and the return of Future Trunks (who is the same Future Trunks from before, but he has blue hair now, and new problems). Toriyama has reportedly been working hard on this story; Toei did a 4-episode filler story to bridge the gap from the last saga, which was a tournament saga. I wouldn't say the tournament saga was low stakes, but it was still pretty lighthearted. The Future Trunks saga might be the most serious turn so far, and there is a lot of hype about it. It actually began at the very end of this week's episode (not the preview).

Looks like Super will definitely outlast GT. It feels like it's just getting started. Honestly, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if it outlasted Z in terms of how many episodes there will be.

Yeah, it looks like either Goku is going to go evil, or maybe an alt-universe Goku will appear.

Or Broly with new hair...?

[Una]

Thanks! That should keep me busy for a while.

I did hear good things about One Piece, but it's so LOOOOOONG!

[Terez]

D, on 05 June 2016 - 03:37 AM, said:

Yeah, it looks like either Goku is going to go evil, or maybe an alt-universe Goku will appear.

They're calling him Goku Black (or just Black), and since he originated in Future Trunks's timeline, it's not our Goku gone evil.* And since the future-timeline Goku died of a heart virus, my best guess is either he's from yet another alternate timeline, or that he's an android, or something. But who knows?

Others have suggested (based on various small details, like Goku Black's earrings) that a character named Demigra from Xenoverse is going to be introduced into the anime. I don't play any of the DB games, but from what I have read, this would actually make a lot of sense because Future Trunks is central to that extended world/plot. But we'll see. There is no Goku Black in Xenoverse so if they do bring in those characters, the plot at least won't be something that's already happened in a game.

Black originating from yet another alternate timeline would fit with the Xenoverse themes from what I understand (the perils of time-travel). Some people theorized that his earrings are actually Potara earrings and he's been time-traveling and fusing with alternate versions of himself (or Kakarot) in every timeline. Supposedly you can only use Potara once, but Super hasn't hesitated so far to rewrite inconvenient rules (like the 2-year limitation in the time chamber, and the incompatibility of kaioken with SS and above). But at least they give explanations most of the time.

*Not so sure this is true any more. Not going to get into why, though; I've already blabbed enough about this.

This post has been edited by Terez: 05 June 2016 - 12:42 PM

[Maark Abbott]

D, on 05 June 2016 - 03:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 04 June 2016 - 08:00 AM, said:

Akame will warm your cockles.

(Una, this is a joke. It's gruesome.)

Spoiler

Seriously though, my feels are still recovering from Leone's death in that

It is worth watching, mind you, but be prepared for a somewhat SE/GRRM mentality when it comes to character lifespans.

RE:Zero - got Episode 10 to watch which I think is the last one out just now? There's a little crown next to it on the CR app, anyway, so I guess that's what that'll mean. After that I'm carrying on with some episodes of JoJo4: Diamond is not Break (lel). I'm not really taken in by the change in direction with the artwork, and I still don't like Josuke's character design at all. There's decent potential for character development there, so we'll see.

Considering what to look into on my queue after, though, as I binged JoJo from PB>BT>SC so I'm a little burned out on it. I've got SAO, IIWTPUGIAD?, Durarara, Asterisk War and Fate/StayNight on the cards.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Maark Abbott, on 06 June 2016 - 06:44 AM, said:

D, on 05 June 2016 - 03:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 04 June 2016 - 08:00 AM, said:

Akame will warm your cockles.

(Una, this is a joke. It's gruesome.)

Spoiler

Seriously though, my feels are still recovering from Leone's death in that

It is worth watching, mind you, but be prepared for a somewhat SE/GRRM mentality when it comes to character lifespans.

RE:Zero - got Episode 10 to watch which I think is the last one out just now? There's a little crown next to it on the CR app, anyway, so I guess that's what that'll mean. After that I'm carrying on with some episodes of JoJo4: Diamond is not Break (lel). I'm not really taken in by the change in direction with the artwork, and I still don't like Josuke's character design at all. There's decent potential for character development there, so we'll see.

Considering what to look into on my queue after, though, as I binged JoJo from PB>BT>SC so I'm a little burned out on it. I've got SAO, IIWTPUGIAD?, Durarara, Asterisk War and Fate/StayNight on the cards.

IIWTPUGIAD????

ive heard asterisk war is awful and cliched. You seen baccano?

[Maark Abbott]

LinearPhilosopher, on 08 June 2016 - 12:15 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 06 June 2016 - 06:44 AM, said:

D, on 05 June 2016 - 03:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 04 June 2016 - 08:00 AM, said:

Akame will warm your cockles.

(Una, this is a joke. It's gruesome.)

Spoiler

Seriously though, my feels are still recovering from Leone's death in that

It is worth watching, mind you, but be prepared for a somewhat SE/GRRM mentality when it comes to character lifespans.

RE:Zero - got Episode 10 to watch which I think is the last one out just now? There's a little crown next to it on the CR app, anyway, so I guess that's what that'll mean. After that I'm carrying on with some episodes of JoJo4: Diamond is not Break (lel). I'm not really taken in by the change in direction with the artwork, and I still don't like Josuke's character design at all. There's decent potential for character development there, so we'll see.

Considering what to look into on my queue after, though, as I binged JoJo from PB>BT>SC so I'm a little burned out on it. I've got SAO, IIWTPUGIAD?, Durarara, Asterisk War and Fate/StayNight on the cards.

IIWTPUGIAD????

ive heard asterisk war is awful and cliched. You seen baccano?

I have not, if it's on Clunchylorr I'll add it to the queue. Also I seem to have gotten the acronym wrong. It should be IIWTTTPUGIAD. Or, as I have learned since, DanMachi.

One of my other weebs (Roketto Leagueo partner) said that Asterisk War is kind of generic, but it looks like it may have potential. We'll see. I have always got Alter Memory to fall back on because fanboyism (Funimation put it up for free on YouTube so I chucked the season on my phone for lulz).

[LinearPhilosopher]

baccanos 13 eps long figured itd be a good break from crazy long viewing session

[Studlock]

Been watch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress made by the studio that does Attack on Titan, and while its an original work its clearly influenced by it. From the world building, to the art style, to even the characters. The differences, however, I think make a big difference. The monsters are zombie-like, so there are more of them, but also people can be turned into them. The trains as movable battle platforms that go from one city to another. The air-based weaponry. All-in-all its very similar to Attack on Titan but seems more creative in every aspect (perhaps because its an original and not an adaptation). It is also very Japanese, as if its focused on a historical Japan with a Shogunate, traditional dress, honourable suicide (if you're bitten), samurai, and so on. I don't watch a lot of anime, so I'm glad this came around as I didn't really get into Attack on Titan.

[D'rek]

Studlock, on 10 June 2016 - 06:26 AM, said:

Been watch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress made by the studio that does Attack on Titan, and while its an original work its clearly influenced by it. From the world building, to the art style, to even the characters. The differences, however, I think make a big difference. The monsters are zombie-like, so there are more of them, but also people can be turned into them. The trains as movable battle platforms that go from one city to another. The air-based weaponry. All-in-all its very similar to Attack on Titan but seems more creative in every aspect (perhaps because its an original and not an adaptation). It is also very Japanese, as if its focused on a historical Japan with a Shogunate, traditional dress, honourable suicide (if you're bitten), samurai, and so on. I don't watch a lot of anime, so I'm glad this came around as I didn't really get into Attack on Titan.

Did you see this week's episode yet? It went even more bananas! Controlled fused colonies! Gatling guns! Kabanizomlasers!

I find the worldbuilding and writing in Kabaneri frustrating, and so far the main antagonist doesn't make a lick of sense, but the show is still gorgeous to watch and they keep adding new "hype" action set pieces, so it's very entertaining.

[Mentalist]

My work has been super-hectic. Plus, summer season started, and I somehow found myself playing on 4 different rec soccer teams. Oh, and new Witcher 3 expansion is competing for my attention.

Still on Ergo Proxy, I think 4 epis in. Not minding the high-browiness (not a lot of it so far-although that Carcassonne ref probably means it was a Cathar quote of some sort), just enjoying the futuristic dystopia.

[HiddenOne]

I really like the Kabaneri show.

[Maark Abbott]

RE:Zero:

Spoiler

Hot holy mother of buttocks, Barusu survived an entire episode!

[LinearPhilosopher]

So watched ep1 of re zero. Theres something about the character i find myself liking.

Joker game is over RIP. Such a brilliant show i hope it gets renewed.

[Nicodimas]

Re: Zero is turning out to be amazing. Especially as it moves forward, you think you know what your in for....

have fun.