[Maark Abbott]

Dolmen 2.0, on 09 January 2018 - 09:36 AM, said:

So I thought I'd just slide by and suggest a slice of life anime I picked up yesterday.

Its called Servant x Service(2013).

It's all about Civil servants new to the job trying to figure their roles out. I don't want to explain too much but the reasons why they find themselves working are pretty funny and very relatable. If you liked New Game! or maybe Sakura Quest this might be interesting to watch if you guys haven't seen it already.

2013 was a dark time for me Anime-wise, it was all one Naruto shaped blur...

I'll have a look at that, I do like me some SOL anime.

[D'rek]

I've been recommended ServantXService in the past. Never got around to it, but it did sound pretty good. Then again I didn't like whichever Working season/spin-off I watched. Hmmmmmm.

Made in Abyss or Servant x Service?


(Also, I'm still pouting that no one watched the first episode of Devilman so I could see their reaction and we could OMG together in spoiler tags)

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 05 January 2018 - 07:58 PM, said:

Devilman Crybaby just arrived on Netflix and it's all sorts of fucked up (in a good way... probably?). You need to see this to believe it.

Honestly I didn't realize this was Anime. Is it in anyway related to the Devilman manga? I thought it was decent enough to follow a few chapters in but I got over it eventually. Didn't have time to add it to my read list.

Current read list:

Onepunch man (stopped for anime)
MHA (stopped for anime)
Bleach
Shingeki no Kyojin
Vinland Saga
Tokyo Ghoul
Berserk

[D'rek]

Dolmen 2.0, on 09 January 2018 - 04:43 PM, said:

D, on 05 January 2018 - 07:58 PM, said:

Devilman Crybaby just arrived on Netflix and it's all sorts of fucked up (in a good way... probably?). You need to see this to believe it.

Honestly I didn't realize this was Anime. Is it in anyway related to the Devilman manga? I thought it was decent enough to follow a few chapters in but I got over it eventually. Didn't have time to add it to my read list.

Yes, it's an adaptation of the original (enormously influential) 1970s Devilman manga. Devilman has a bajillion spin-offs/pseudo-sequels, but this is just based on the original one.

Unlike previous adaptations, this one goes all the way to the end and preserves the (controversial) manga ending

This adaptation is by Masaki Yuasa (director of Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong, Lu Over the Wall) and he definitely puts his own (bizarre?) spin on it. The main plot, themes, etc, are all the same as the manga, but Yuasa adds some original supporting characters and changes some events to widen the cast, showcase more of the world, and I guess add his own commentary on human vice or depravity.

Because it's Yuasa the animation is done by studio ScienceSARU, and I'm not sure how I feel about that - it's less detailed and gritty than I would have expected for the tone of the show, but then again maybe that fits the 70s origin better?

Also there's in-story Japanese rap and it's surprisingly good. And then one guys raps a confession to the girl he likes and it's amazing.

I don't want to give anything else away, though. It's intense, it's weird, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but it definitely left an impact.

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 09 January 2018 - 06:40 PM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 09 January 2018 - 04:43 PM, said:

D, on 05 January 2018 - 07:58 PM, said:

Devilman Crybaby just arrived on Netflix and it's all sorts of fucked up (in a good way... probably?). You need to see this to believe it.

Honestly I didn't realize this was Anime. Is it in anyway related to the Devilman manga? I thought it was decent enough to follow a few chapters in but I got over it eventually. Didn't have time to add it to my read list.

Yes, it's an adaptation of the original (enormously influential) 1970s Devilman manga. Devilman has a bajillion spin-offs/pseudo-sequels, but this is just based on the original one.

Unlike previous adaptations, this one goes all the way to the end and preserves the (controversial) manga ending

This adaptation is by Masaki Yuasa (director of Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong, Lu Over the Wall) and he definitely puts his own (bizarre?) spin on it. The main plot, themes, etc, are all the same as the manga, but Yuasa adds some original supporting characters and changes some events to widen the cast, showcase more of the world, and I guess add his own commentary on human vice or depravity.

Because it's Yuasa the animation is done by studio ScienceSARU, and I'm not sure how I feel about that - it's less detailed and gritty than I would have expected for the tone of the show, but then again maybe that fits the 70s origin better?

Also there's in-story Japanese rap and it's surprisingly good. And then one guys raps a confession to the girl he likes and it's amazing.

I don't want to give anything else away, though. It's intense, it's weird, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but it definitely left an impact.

I watched the first episode of Devil Man:Crybaby and I have to ask, D'rek what the hell did I just watch?

Spoiler

This is dark, I get the animation comment, It's not exactly spectacular quality but its almost artistically correct for the story being told.

Speaking of the story I can barely remember my first read but this feels to do what I do recall a lot of justice. it's gritty and weird as hell.
I recall picking up a few spinoffs and a few I liked more than the original but here's a retelling that feels as raw and chaotic as the original intended.

I think there was waaaaaaaaay too many genitals turning into devil mouths for my own liking but I did like Amons arrival capping the episode, I'm not sure I
can watch it through to the end but as you suggest it has something controversial at the end so I'm admittedly curious.

Are we talking Berserk anime ending controversy or are we talking Evangelion level WTF did I see type controversy?

Also for the record, I do not recognize the recent Berserk cell shaded monstrosities as canon and that will never change.

This post has been edited by Dolmen 2.0: 09 January 2018 - 10:36 PM

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 09 January 2018 - 02:58 PM, said:

I've been recommended ServantXService in the past. Never got around to it, but it did sound pretty good. Then again I didn't like whichever Working season/spin-off I watched. Hmmmmmm.

Made in Abyss or Servant x Service?


(Also, I'm still pouting that no one watched the first episode of Devilman so I could see their reaction and we could OMG together in spoiler tags)

Made in Abyss is what i would go with.

Finally watched all of it. It lives up to the hype in many respects. Its not anime of the year material but its pretty dammned good.

So i started watching Dragon Maid and Akagi.

Dragon Maid: im enjoying this show????? Like its a dumb slice of life show thats amusing time to time, but it has its charm i suppose? The show doesn't lack for cuteness.

Akagi: 3 episodes in and im liking it. Its same style as Kaiji, though the pivotal difference is the Kaiji was a guy completely out of his luck and forced into terrible situation to save himself and others. Akagi, is someone who comes out of nowhere and is the unseen killer. Both shows are better than kakegurui as far as gambling anime are concerned. (no dumb hentai shit for starters). Sidenote, I now want to learn about how to play mahjong.

I've also put Jojo part 4 on indefinite hold. It's living up to the bizarre part of the title now, but im not really digging it (up to the invisible baby stand epiosode) Jojos Part2 still remains one of the best shounens i've ever seen (seconded only by HunterXHunter)

and saw ep 1 of grancrest, this shows got potential. Really diging our female lead here.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 10 January 2018 - 12:29 AM

[D'rek]

Dolmen 2.0, on 09 January 2018 - 10:34 PM, said:

D, on 09 January 2018 - 06:40 PM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 09 January 2018 - 04:43 PM, said:

D, on 05 January 2018 - 07:58 PM, said:

Devilman Crybaby just arrived on Netflix and it's all sorts of fucked up (in a good way... probably?). You need to see this to believe it.

Honestly I didn't realize this was Anime. Is it in anyway related to the Devilman manga? I thought it was decent enough to follow a few chapters in but I got over it eventually. Didn't have time to add it to my read list.

Yes, it's an adaptation of the original (enormously influential) 1970s Devilman manga. Devilman has a bajillion spin-offs/pseudo-sequels, but this is just based on the original one.

Unlike previous adaptations, this one goes all the way to the end and preserves the (controversial) manga ending

This adaptation is by Masaki Yuasa (director of Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong, Lu Over the Wall) and he definitely puts his own (bizarre?) spin on it. The main plot, themes, etc, are all the same as the manga, but Yuasa adds some original supporting characters and changes some events to widen the cast, showcase more of the world, and I guess add his own commentary on human vice or depravity.

Because it's Yuasa the animation is done by studio ScienceSARU, and I'm not sure how I feel about that - it's less detailed and gritty than I would have expected for the tone of the show, but then again maybe that fits the 70s origin better?

Also there's in-story Japanese rap and it's surprisingly good. And then one guys raps a confession to the girl he likes and it's amazing.

I don't want to give anything else away, though. It's intense, it's weird, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but it definitely left an impact.

I watched the first episode of Devil Man:Crybaby and I have to ask, D'rek what the hell did I just watch?

Spoiler

This is dark, I get the animation comment, It's not exactly spectacular quality but its almost artistically correct for the story being told.

Speaking of the story I can barely remember my first read but this feels to do what I do recall a lot of justice. it's gritty and weird as hell.
I recall picking up a few spinoffs and a few I liked more than the original but here's a retelling that feels as raw and chaotic as the original intended.

I think there was waaaaaaaaay too many genitals turning into devil mouths for my own liking but I did like Amons arrival capping the episode, I'm not sure I
can watch it through to the end but as you suggest it has something controversial at the end so I'm admittedly curious.

Are we talking Berserk anime ending controversy or are we talking Evangelion level WTF did I see type controversy?

Also for the record, I do not recognize the recent Berserk cell shaded monstrosities as canon and that will never change.

RIGHT??!!

Spoiler

Raw and chaotic is a good way to put it. The show in general feels like it's blitzing through a bit - the initial demon-slaying fights are practically a sideshow and things aren't always explained (like how the hell does Ryou just show up with a machine gun anyway?), almost as if it doesn't have time to cover everything which I guess is mostly true, though it could just as easily be an intentional stylistic choice.

I was definitely not expecting the orgy or all the nudity... and then DEFINITELY not expecting the genitals turning into demon mouths, that's for sure. Now you can see why I didn't want to warn anyone - isn't it great as a complete surprise?! For what it's worth, the following episodes have a lot less orgies/genitals-turning-to-demons... in favour of other grotesqueness. Yuasa sure as heck isn't shy about putting the "human overindulgence = demons" metaphor front and centre in *very* literal fashion!

Re:ending -- more like Berserk ending controversy, but it's not a case of the anime ending differently than the manga, just the anime doing the same ending that was controversial when it was first written in the manga.

And yes, no one should ever consider the recent Berserk adaptation to be a legitimate part of the franchise. Eugh. Just eugh.

[Maark Abbott]

LinearPhilosopher, on 10 January 2018 - 12:27 AM, said:

Dragon Maid: im enjoying this show????? Like its a dumb slice of life show thats amusing time to time, but it has its charm i suppose? The show doesn't lack for cuteness.

I've also put Jojo part 4 on indefinite hold. It's living up to the bizarre part of the title now, but im not really digging it (up to the invisible baby stand epiosode) Jojos Part2 still remains one of the best shounens i've ever seen (seconded only by HunterXHunter)

and saw ep 1 of grancrest, this shows got potential. Really diging our female lead here.

Dragon Maid is fun as long as you don't try to take it seriously.

JJPt4 was the weakest of the series so far. It does ramp up bigtime around Ep 30 or so, but it pales in comparison to Pt3. Pt2 was also great. WAMUU! AWAKEN, MY MASTERS!

[Maark Abbott]

Watched half of the first episode of Ouka Ninja Scrolls. Bailed at that point.

The synopsis suggested it was going to be a bloody tale of two ninja on some form of quest, but the reality of it was basically some sort of Naruto clone with lots of kids running around in a gimpy manner doing improbable things. Disappointing.

[Silencer]

Maark Abbott, on 11 January 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

Watched half of the first episode of Ouka Ninja Scrolls. Bailed at that point.

The synopsis suggested it was going to be a bloody tale of two ninja on some form of quest, but the reality of it was basically some sort of Naruto clone with lots of kids running around in a gimpy manner doing improbable things. Disappointing.

Still waiting for a proper ninja anime in the style of, say, Sword of the Stranger.

I have much less of an outright problem with Naruto these days than I used to (goes hand-in-hand with my evolving taste for anime in general), but I do still kinda sorta hate the setting and what it does to the idea of ninjas. XD

[LinearPhilosopher]

Maark Abbott, on 10 January 2018 - 08:41 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 10 January 2018 - 12:27 AM, said:

Dragon Maid: im enjoying this show????? Like its a dumb slice of life show thats amusing time to time, but it has its charm i suppose? The show doesn't lack for cuteness.

I've also put Jojo part 4 on indefinite hold. It's living up to the bizarre part of the title now, but im not really digging it (up to the invisible baby stand epiosode) Jojos Part2 still remains one of the best shounens i've ever seen (seconded only by HunterXHunter)

and saw ep 1 of grancrest, this shows got potential. Really diging our female lead here.

Dragon Maid is fun as long as you don't try to take it seriously.

JJPt4 was the weakest of the series so far. It does ramp up bigtime around Ep 30 or so, but it pales in comparison to Pt3. Pt2 was also great. WAMUU! AWAKEN, MY MASTERS!

Personally i found part 2 dwarfed part3 in terms of greatness. Most of part 3 is filler, stand user of the week stuff while part 2 had a strong narrative throughout.

[Dolmen 2.0]

Silencer, on 11 January 2018 - 09:06 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 11 January 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

Watched half of the first episode of Ouka Ninja Scrolls. Bailed at that point.

The synopsis suggested it was going to be a bloody tale of two ninja on some form of quest, but the reality of it was basically some sort of Naruto clone with lots of kids running around in a gimpy manner doing improbable things. Disappointing.

Still waiting for a proper ninja anime in the style of, say, Sword of the Stranger.

I have much less of an outright problem with Naruto these days than I used to (goes hand-in-hand with my evolving taste for anime in general), but I do still kinda sorta hate the setting and what it does to the idea of ninjas. XD

Soon...

Nice to see you've mellowed on that front, have you tried Boruto? If you haven't well you'll be pleased to find in Boruto the greatest Naruto critic. Also he's not neon orange which impresses everyone.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Dolmen 2.0, on 11 January 2018 - 06:31 PM, said:

Silencer, on 11 January 2018 - 09:06 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 11 January 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

Watched half of the first episode of Ouka Ninja Scrolls. Bailed at that point.

The synopsis suggested it was going to be a bloody tale of two ninja on some form of quest, but the reality of it was basically some sort of Naruto clone with lots of kids running around in a gimpy manner doing improbable things. Disappointing.

Still waiting for a proper ninja anime in the style of, say, Sword of the Stranger.

I have much less of an outright problem with Naruto these days than I used to (goes hand-in-hand with my evolving taste for anime in general), but I do still kinda sorta hate the setting and what it does to the idea of ninjas. XD

Soon...

Nice to see you've mellowed on that front, have you tried Boruto? If you haven't well you'll be pleased to find in Boruto the greatest Naruto critic. Also he's not neon orange which impresses everyone.

Have you tried basilisk? They're remaking it this year. If all you are looking for is an action romp id go for it.

[Maark Abbott]

LinearPhilosopher, on 12 January 2018 - 02:12 AM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 11 January 2018 - 06:31 PM, said:

Silencer, on 11 January 2018 - 09:06 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 11 January 2018 - 08:22 AM, said:

Watched half of the first episode of Ouka Ninja Scrolls. Bailed at that point.

The synopsis suggested it was going to be a bloody tale of two ninja on some form of quest, but the reality of it was basically some sort of Naruto clone with lots of kids running around in a gimpy manner doing improbable things. Disappointing.

Still waiting for a proper ninja anime in the style of, say, Sword of the Stranger.

I have much less of an outright problem with Naruto these days than I used to (goes hand-in-hand with my evolving taste for anime in general), but I do still kinda sorta hate the setting and what it does to the idea of ninjas. XD

Soon...

Nice to see you've mellowed on that front, have you tried Boruto? If you haven't well you'll be pleased to find in Boruto the greatest Naruto critic. Also he's not neon orange which impresses everyone.

Have you tried basilisk? They're remaking it this year. If all you are looking for is an action romp id go for it.

Oh, is it a remake? This is the one I bailed out on halfway through episode one because it was so bad.

Unexpectedly, the generic-looking harem issekai (Death March) had a strong episode 1.

[D'rek]

Silencer, on 11 January 2018 - 09:06 AM, said:

Still waiting for a proper ninja anime in the style of, say, Sword of the Stranger.

Dagger of Kamui?

Maark Abbott, on 12 January 2018 - 08:47 AM, said:

Unexpectedly, the generic-looking harem issekai (Death March) had a strong episode 1.

So did Log Horizon, Overlord, SukaSuka, Grimgar, GATE, ... other than maybe DanMachi, they all have good first episodes. Something about the Isekai setup just makes it easy to start strong, I suppose. I'd keep your expectations cautious... though I heard Death March is really more about eating sandwiches than anything else, or something...?

[Silencer]

I've been watching Grimgar in pieces with a friend, it actually seems to have maintained a lot of quality for most of the season (a few cringe moments notwithstanding).

I shall look into Dagger of Kamui.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Silencer, on 12 January 2018 - 03:06 PM, said:

I've been watching Grimgar in pieces with a friend, it actually seems to have maintained a lot of quality for most of the season (a few cringe moments notwithstanding).

I shall look into Dagger of Kamui.

I was a fan of grimgar in the fact that our protagonist were not the A-team of MMOs and how visceral the first few fights were.

[Maark Abbott]

D, on 12 January 2018 - 02:32 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 12 January 2018 - 08:47 AM, said:

Unexpectedly, the generic-looking harem issekai (Death March) had a strong episode 1.

So did Log Horizon, Overlord, SukaSuka, Grimgar, GATE, ... other than maybe DanMachi, they all have good first episodes. Something about the Isekai setup just makes it easy to start strong, I suppose. I'd keep your expectations cautious... though I heard Death March is really more about eating sandwiches than anything else, or something...?

After Smartphone, I'm not expecting anything.

I actually rather enjoyed DanMachi ep1. It's very faithful to the source material and ties into Sword Oratoria pretty nicely.

SukaSuka... Fuck sake D'rek, why do you have to remind my feelings about that one. Remind me, when did it release?

[D'rek]

I dunno, last Spring I think? I'm not going to look it up, SukaSuka doesn't deserve it

[Dolmen 2.0]

I'm just gonna say it. Basilisk was weird. I feel it tried to hard to be a ninja scrolls alternative. Action was amazing but the story wasn't original for that time in anime. A remake won't fix the plot but the fights were epic. A lot like Fate or Akame Ga Kill and suffering from the same problems.

Grimgar I really liked. Successfully managed story, development and action scenes. I hope Season 2 does happen and I hope it doesn't turn into a race or competition, they should address mysteries instead to keep things grounded.

One thing that Isekai anime don't do enough of that I wanna see is a juxtaposition between being in the MMO and being in RL. Less Gary Stus and more turning to digital survivalism as an escape from the status quo. There's so much story potential, I feel SAO may have led to a phobia in tackling the issue.

I guess I want a Ghost in the Shell worlds approach to the Isekai setting. Is there an anime that fulfills this I don't know about?