[D'rek]

(HeroAcad) Well, defer that to next episode I guess. This was just more build-up with a couple nifty little moments. I wasn't a fan of the pacing here, though, the cut to Midoriya and co. preparing/planning was way too long and dialogue-heavy (most of it stuff we already know, too) compared to the very short bits of actual action... felt like padding out the episode, honestly.

Whereas on the flip side this weekend's Food Wars episode was also likewise all build-up and the opening salvo of the huge battle they're just starting, but the pacing was quick, there was a bunch of new bits of information dropped to add excitement and context, and the episode ended on an amazing reveal. I'm so hyped I watched the second half of the episode twice. It didn't have the animation of MHA, but I'm feeling way more hyped for it than MHA.

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 11 June 2018 - 06:03 PM, said:

(HeroAcad) Well, defer that to next episode I guess. This was just more build-up with a couple nifty little moments. I wasn't a fan of the pacing here, though, the cut to Midoriya and co. preparing/planning was way too long and dialogue-heavy (most of it stuff we already know, too) compared to the very short bits of actual action... felt like padding out the episode, honestly.

Whereas on the flip side this weekend's Food Wars episode was also likewise all build-up and the opening salvo of the huge battle they're just starting, but the pacing was quick, there was a bunch of new bits of information dropped to add excitement and context, and the episode ended on an amazing reveal. I'm so hyped I watched the second half of the episode twice. It didn't have the animation of MHA, but I'm feeling way more hyped for it than MHA.

Honestly not sure I liked this episode of MHA. It was a good introduction to a few things but like you said it was build up and I am pretty sure they were leading off to a segway so I don't think we're getting the Epic Battle we're teased but instead some sort of Recap regarding origins.

I wouldn't hate it but I wouldn't love it either.

I don't mind the pacing so much as I'm used to the show building hype, tension etc. I'd say Food wars is doing a good job but I am not up to the latest episode. what I did watch was pretty damn good. A bit cringy here and there though...

[Maark Abbott]

DITF:

Spoiler

"We're piloting Angels to fight Angels?! lul.

The Virm were a giant space flea from nowhere. Kind of wondering how this then pans out...

[Dolmen 2.0]

Maark Abbott, on 12 June 2018 - 07:48 AM, said:

DITF:

Spoiler

"We're piloting Angels to fight Angels?! lul.

The Virm were a giant space flea from nowhere. Kind of wondering how this then pans out...

This now confirms that this show was infact an Evangelion-GoldenAge-Rahxephon x2.0 reboot.

Honestly this is what I loved about Mecha. Always escalating. Good episode for me but some foreshadowing would have helped...

[Maark Abbott]

Dolmen 2.0, on 12 June 2018 - 02:14 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 12 June 2018 - 07:48 AM, said:

DITF:

Spoiler

"We're piloting Angels to fight Angels?! lul.

The Virm were a giant space flea from nowhere. Kind of wondering how this then pans out...

This now confirms that this show was infact an Evangelion-GoldenAge-Rahxephon x2.0 reboot.

Honestly this is what I loved about Mecha. Always escalating. Good episode for me but some foreshadowing would have helped...

Ah, but that's half the fun of it.

Incidentally, I now own a NERV t-shirt. I tent my fingers and glare at people through sunglasses on trains. My son is a coward.

[Maark Abbott]

Franxx:

Spoiler

Well that episode certainly took an unexpected turn and with Dr Franxx himself getting splaOH MY GOD NO WHY ARE HER HORNS SHATTERED WHY FATE WHY ARE YOU SO CRUEL

[Dolmen 2.0]

MHA!

Spoiler

United States of Smash.

Whew. That was a good way to end his career. I mean the stakes were high, there was context woven into the fight rather than separately introduced. There was a simple yet effective exchange of blows and unlike DBZ these guys are VERY limited. A fight between major powers shouldn't be an endless slugfest. quick and decisive intelligent attacks tell a much more convincing story of what a real fight with real stakes looks like.

Also it's just so rare to have major disputes dealt with in a way that lets the plot rush onwards to the next beat. I noticed MHA is topping the ratings this week and I notice there are several climatic events going on at the same time. The thing that seems to work for MHA and is lacking in the other shows is this discussion with fists that's so easy to follow and get caught up in. Really good showing from All Might. a good "final" act.

Darling in the Franxxx...

Spoiler

I am lost. how did we get to the war on the Virm? how did we get to victory in a kiss? why did they simply forget the support characters who had a standoff off screen? I actually don't really care about the VIRM. like who are these guys anyways? why should I worry about the laser send off? It's just gone in a weird and kinda annoying direction. I think There was a better story to be told right here on the planet. This is not how you do a Tengen Toppa La Gurren Lagaan.

This post has been edited by Dolmen 2.0: 18 June 2018 - 07:54 PM

[Maark Abbott]

SO NO CHI NO PART FIVE IN OCTOBER

JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJO

Hype train

[Dolmen 2.0]

Maark Abbott, on 21 June 2018 - 07:44 AM, said:

SO NO CHI NO PART FIVE IN OCTOBER

JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJO

Hype train

So like, for the lulz I decided to google the most epic moment in Jojo History. The Squirrel cannot be beaten. I have decided. I will watch this show.

[Maark Abbott]

Dolmen 2.0, on 21 June 2018 - 08:53 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 21 June 2018 - 07:44 AM, said:

SO NO CHI NO PART FIVE IN OCTOBER

JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJO

Hype train

So like, for the lulz I decided to google the most epic moment in Jojo History. The Squirrel cannot be beaten. I have decided. I will watch this show.

The whole reason JoJo is great is because it's fucking stupid, even by anime standards. Half of it comes down to characters outwitting the outwitting that the other character did and then posing ridiculously and I love it. Season 1 (Phantom Blood) is kind of a drag but Seasn 2 onwards becomes way, way better.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Maark Abbott, on 22 June 2018 - 07:31 AM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 21 June 2018 - 08:53 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 21 June 2018 - 07:44 AM, said:

SO NO CHI NO PART FIVE IN OCTOBER

JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJO

Hype train

So like, for the lulz I decided to google the most epic moment in Jojo History. The Squirrel cannot be beaten. I have decided. I will watch this show.

The whole reason JoJo is great is because it's fucking stupid, even by anime standards. Half of it comes down to characters outwitting the outwitting that the other character did and then posing ridiculously and I love it. Season 1 (Phantom Blood) is kind of a drag but Seasn 2 onwards becomes way, way better.

Jojo is one of the best shounens of all time, and it accomplishes it by being unique. Season 2 has some of the best fights i've seen, not in terms of animation but like Dolmen said, its a mental battle.

Though Ill admit i gave up on season 4 part way through, was kinda weird... and the story was decidedly less epic (Plus poor Joseph Joestar)

Maybe season 5 will rekindle my joy?

[Dolmen 2.0]

Ok.


So 4 episodes into Jojo's Bizarre adventure and I am truly conflicted.


The Melodrama!!!!!!!!!!

It's physically painful to watch. That aside I actually find the story funny and entertaining... almost because of it? The characters could be much better, the dialogue is...bad. but also good because of it being so bad?

It's full of nonsense but the nonsense makes sense within the context of the world created? typical shounen, to be honest, just a bit more obvious about how ridiculous it is. There's a definite Gary sue syndrome going on but there's enough balance to the key players to almost forgive it?

let's see where things go. Will try push till episode 10 see if I lean one way or the other.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Dolmen 2.0, on 24 June 2018 - 09:10 AM, said:

Ok.


So 4 episodes into Jojo's Bizarre adventure and I am truly conflicted.


The Melodrama!!!!!!!!!!

It's physically painful to watch. That aside I actually find the story funny and entertaining... almost because of it? The characters could be much better, the dialogue is...bad. but also good because of it being so bad?

It's full of nonsense but the nonsense makes sense within the context of the world created? typical shounen, to be honest, just a bit more obvious about how ridiculous it is. There's a definite Gary sue syndrome going on but there's enough balance to the key players to almost forgive it?

let's see where things go. Will try push till episode 10 see if I lean one way or the other.

stick with it, you are onto something great.


Also, i just binged the first half of season 3 of MHA.

Waiting was totally worth it!

[Dolmen 2.0]

LinearPhilosopher, on 24 June 2018 - 02:09 PM, said:

Dolmen 2.0, on 24 June 2018 - 09:10 AM, said:

Ok.


So 4 episodes into Jojo's Bizarre adventure and I am truly conflicted.


The Melodrama!!!!!!!!!!

It's physically painful to watch. That aside I actually find the story funny and entertaining... almost because of it? The characters could be much better, the dialogue is...bad. but also good because of it being so bad?

It's full of nonsense but the nonsense makes sense within the context of the world created? typical shounen, to be honest, just a bit more obvious about how ridiculous it is. There's a definite Gary sue syndrome going on but there's enough balance to the key players to almost forgive it?

let's see where things go. Will try push till episode 10 see if I lean one way or the other.

stick with it, you are onto something great.


Also, i just binged the first half of season 3 of MHA.

Waiting was totally worth it!

So jealous, That was the perfect time to binge!

[LinearPhilosopher]

AND I AM NOW CAUGHT UP!!!!

Spoiler

Ok this was totally worth it. Having binged the entire thing over 2 days i didn't notice any pacing issues

The summer camp raid arc was great, was cool seing dark shadow being all badass (and totally not because i cosplay tokoyami ), also, i need to incorporate darkshadow into my tokoyami cosplay.

Was also happy that arc had some legit consequences. Consequences that got further expanded upon in the following episode. Im a fan of that fight between All might and All for one, espcialy the bit near the end where all the other top heroes see him in that state but hes still able to get it together for last hit. UNITED STATES OF SMASH ALLL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Latest episode was hilarious, Bakugou mom is best mom in all of anime IMO and shes only been onscreen for a minute or so? Shes awesome i love her.

Was a blast binging all of that and i can't wait to do it all again in september!

Speaking of september! FLCL season 2 is coming out, i need to make time to rewatch season 1.

[Maark Abbott]

JoJo is so unique that I don't even consider it shounen. It's just JoJo. It's purposefully very oddball.

Like I'd said, JoJo part 1 (Phantom Blood) is pretty dire, but from Battle Tendency onwards it gets very good, especially in Stardust Crusaders when the [ s u t a n d o ] begin to appear.

Part 4 isn't as good as Part 3 but halfway in when Kira appears it gets good. It's basically "JoJo and friends kinkshame a businessman".

My post-season roundup (unfinished as Kamuy ends today iirc and GalHer isn't done):

DITF:

Spoiler

I think this has finished? They Gainaxed right at the end, huh. Proper Evangelion level weirdness.

Comic Girls: Wholesome moeblob but with the added bonus that it portrays creative struggles relatively well.

Caligula: This started as a promising philosophical tale but then took a weird bent and became a relatively typical parallel world lark.

Amanchu Advance: Unbelievably relaxed despite the absolutely bonkers portion between episodes 7-9 or so with Peter. Quite what they were thinking with that bit, I couldn't say.

Hinamatsuri: Generally wholesome but not nearly as funny as it tried to be.

Magical Girl Ore: Bonkers, absolutely stupid but good for it. Anime that knows it's idiotic and has fun with it is often good.

Magical Girl Site: I really don't like half finished stories. There should have been more suffering. MORE!

Lostorage Conflated WIXOSS: Very disjointed compared to the previous WIXOSSes (WIXii?) but it brought the overall story to a good conclusion.

Grancrest: Ended well enough. Could have done with more battles and less talking.

[D'rek]

Sooo... MHA and that scene...

Spoiler

I'm not disappointed... but I also wouldn't say I'm all that hyped, either.

The voice acting, the animation and effects, the music, the USofS smash line, it's all very pretty and exciting. The scene is very well executed. BUT... isn't it kind of boring for a climactic final battle scene?

All for One loads up a dozen quirks, gives a 2-paragraph monologue, flies forward and punches All Might who blocks with his own punch. Fists pressed up against each other, the follow-through of the punch pushes the two of them together sliding along the ground... for a whole goddamn minute. They slide and slide and slide while All for One does another monologue (like 6 paragraphs this time), All Might has his own monologue and a flashback to his mentor.

Then there's a quick and quite cool moment where they each charge up their opposite hand, but All Might fakes and brings out his other hand. Cue another flashback to his mentor, and a big ol' chant while he punches All for One back, straight into the ground. Donezo.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with talking while you're fighting, that's how you get awesome climactic fights that also tie together the story and themes and stuff. But I went back and watched the Nomu-vs-All Might fight from season 1 and that one managed to have All Might and Shigaraki talk just as much, but instead of All Might and Nomu sliding along the ground while talking they had flurries of punches and spun and bounced around, and the final blow had a whole cascade of follow-through events so it didn't unwind right away either. I think that was a way better climactic fight than this most recent one.

If Nomu-vs-All Might, where Nomu was just a strong punchy guy, could be that dynamic, then how come a fight with All for One (who has/could have tons of dynamic and interesting quirks) couldn't be more dynamic and creative?

It's not a bad scene, not at all, but I don't feel like it's a great scene either.

[Dolmen 2.0]

D, on 25 June 2018 - 03:04 PM, said:

Sooo... MHA and that scene...

Spoiler

I'm not disappointed... but I also wouldn't say I'm all that hyped, either.

The voice acting, the animation and effects, the music, the USofS smash line, it's all very pretty and exciting. The scene is very well executed. BUT... isn't it kind of boring for a climactic final battle scene?

All for One loads up a dozen quirks, gives a 2-paragraph monologue, flies forward and punches All Might who blocks with his own punch. Fists pressed up against each other, the follow-through of the punch pushes the two of them together sliding along the ground... for a whole goddamn minute. They slide and slide and slide while All for One does another monologue (like 6 paragraphs this time), All Might has his own monologue and a flashback to his mentor.

Then there's a quick and quite cool moment where they each charge up their opposite hand, but All Might fakes and brings out his other hand. Cue another flashback to his mentor, and a big ol' chant while he punches All for One back, straight into the ground. Donezo.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with talking while you're fighting, that's how you get awesome climactic fights that also tie together the story and themes and stuff. But I went back and watched the Nomu-vs-All Might fight from season 1 and that one managed to have All Might and Shigaraki talk just as much, but instead of All Might and Nomu sliding along the ground while talking they had flurries of punches and spun and bounced around, and the final blow had a whole cascade of follow-through events so it didn't unwind right away either. I think that was a way better climactic fight than this most recent one.

If Nomu-vs-All Might, where Nomu was just a strong punchy guy, could be that dynamic, then how come a fight with All for One (who has/could have tons of dynamic and interesting quirks) couldn't be more dynamic and creative?

It's not a bad scene, not at all, but I don't feel like it's a great scene either.

Spoiler

Alright, lets get into this. Here's why I think this fight was better than Nomu vs All Might. (and every fight thereafter)

Sans dialogue, All-might vs One-for-All is basic. The same can be said for Todoroki vs Deku.

It's far from the best-animated action scene but definitely one of the most anticipated. Technically the best fight in MHA was Stain vs Todoroki, Lida and Deku because while there's plenty of dialogue the battle was multi-dimensional, even sided and intelligent. The animation was fluid and smooth as all hell and let's be honest, Stains actual screen presence is way more intense than Shigaraki or even One-for-All himself. his quirk is kind of rubbish but his ability to use the quirk well with his incredible fighting ability made for a great battle, but I glossed over that fight, barely cared about it to be honest.

The UsoS battle was better because it was memorable, full of feel, and it's not just hype.

The words and motivations elevate the fight. We knew All-Might in abstract terms but they chose the day he could potentially die to reflect on the day he began, they chose the day he got to prove himself to his mentor to reveal how much he'd failed her. They chose the day All-for-One was willing to go all out in front of cameras to reveal One-for-All was at its end. it was watched by everyone, they all felt the stakes and we all did too.

The entire time we watch the Nomu fight All-Might was the superior combatant and we knew this. There was tension but it was quickly diffused. He got a little help from the students and his time was almost up but we had a good idea from his ability to keep smiling there was a lot he could manage and sure enough, plenty of other heroes could have backed him up.

One-for-All made it clear no one but All-might had a chance against him. Admittedly I didn't like One-for-All as the big bad we were promised. I too expected something better and more dynamic from a character with so many options at his disposal, but I do appreciate the logic of the "simple" blow for blow. these guys were on their last legs. They used focused powers to create the strongest single attacks they could because they have history, they knew each other well enough to know that's what it would take. In One-for-Alls prime maybe he'd have done something more active with a ton of sakuga, possibly throwing in the flourishes we see characters like Stain or Aizawa exhibit.

At the end of it all, the main thing that stood out for me was this: All-might is the most important part of MHAs story, he motivates everything in the narrative. This was his final statement more than a final battle. He got a chance to exhibit the philosophy defining his position in the hero world one last time and he did it very well. Yes, it wasn't the best fight technically but I'm happy to think of it as one of the best moments in Anime this year. MHA proves something we already know, the good fights are obvious but the truly epic fights, The Mason of Death vs Son of Darkness level battles require massive context, tons of feeling, impressions from respectable onlookers and world-altering results.

Nomu being shot into the sky barely registered in the media. One-for-All getting smashed into the ground shook the MHA world to its core and there lies the reason I think it worked so much better.

Also D'rek I think you are Hype proof and I am jealous.

Maark you watched so much anime! wow! I barely kept up with Darling in the Franxxx and MHA. throwing Jojos in the mix is hubris.

[Maark Abbott]

Dolmen 2.0, on 26 June 2018 - 05:47 AM, said:

D, on 25 June 2018 - 03:04 PM, said:

Sooo... MHA and that scene...

Spoiler

I'm not disappointed... but I also wouldn't say I'm all that hyped, either.

The voice acting, the animation and effects, the music, the USofS smash line, it's all very pretty and exciting. The scene is very well executed. BUT... isn't it kind of boring for a climactic final battle scene?

All for One loads up a dozen quirks, gives a 2-paragraph monologue, flies forward and punches All Might who blocks with his own punch. Fists pressed up against each other, the follow-through of the punch pushes the two of them together sliding along the ground... for a whole goddamn minute. They slide and slide and slide while All for One does another monologue (like 6 paragraphs this time), All Might has his own monologue and a flashback to his mentor.

Then there's a quick and quite cool moment where they each charge up their opposite hand, but All Might fakes and brings out his other hand. Cue another flashback to his mentor, and a big ol' chant while he punches All for One back, straight into the ground. Donezo.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with talking while you're fighting, that's how you get awesome climactic fights that also tie together the story and themes and stuff. But I went back and watched the Nomu-vs-All Might fight from season 1 and that one managed to have All Might and Shigaraki talk just as much, but instead of All Might and Nomu sliding along the ground while talking they had flurries of punches and spun and bounced around, and the final blow had a whole cascade of follow-through events so it didn't unwind right away either. I think that was a way better climactic fight than this most recent one.

If Nomu-vs-All Might, where Nomu was just a strong punchy guy, could be that dynamic, then how come a fight with All for One (who has/could have tons of dynamic and interesting quirks) couldn't be more dynamic and creative?

It's not a bad scene, not at all, but I don't feel like it's a great scene either.

Spoiler

Alright, lets get into this. Here's why I think this fight was better than Nomu vs All Might. (and every fight thereafter)

Sans dialogue, All-might vs One-for-All is basic. The same can be said for Todoroki vs Deku.

It's far from the best-animated action scene but definitely one of the most anticipated. Technically the best fight in MHA was Stain vs Todoroki, Lida and Deku because while there's plenty of dialogue the battle was multi-dimensional, even sided and intelligent. The animation was fluid and smooth as all hell and let's be honest, Stains actual screen presence is way more intense than Shigaraki or even One-for-All himself. his quirk is kind of rubbish but his ability to use the quirk well with his incredible fighting ability made for a great battle, but I glossed over that fight, barely cared about it to be honest.

The UsoS battle was better because it was memorable, full of feel, and it's not just hype.

The words and motivations elevate the fight. We knew All-Might in abstract terms but they chose the day he could potentially die to reflect on the day he began, they chose the day he got to prove himself to his mentor to reveal how much he'd failed her. They chose the day All-for-One was willing to go all out in front of cameras to reveal One-for-All was at its end. it was watched by everyone, they all felt the stakes and we all did too.

The entire time we watch the Nomu fight All-Might was the superior combatant and we knew this. There was tension but it was quickly diffused. He got a little help from the students and his time was almost up but we had a good idea from his ability to keep smiling there was a lot he could manage and sure enough, plenty of other heroes could have backed him up.

One-for-All made it clear no one but All-might had a chance against him. Admittedly I didn't like One-for-All as the big bad we were promised. I too expected something better and more dynamic from a character with so many options at his disposal, but I do appreciate the logic of the "simple" blow for blow. these guys were on their last legs. They used focused powers to create the strongest single attacks they could because they have history, they knew each other well enough to know that's what it would take. In One-for-Alls prime maybe he'd have done something more active with a ton of sakuga, possibly throwing in the flourishes we see characters like Stain or Aizawa exhibit.

At the end of it all, the main thing that stood out for me was this: All-might is the most important part of MHAs story, he motivates everything in the narrative. This was his final statement more than a final battle. He got a chance to exhibit the philosophy defining his position in the hero world one last time and he did it very well. Yes, it wasn't the best fight technically but I'm happy to think of it as one of the best moments in Anime this year. MHA proves something we already know, the good fights are obvious but the truly epic fights, The Mason of Death vs Son of Darkness level battles require massive context, tons of feeling, impressions from respectable onlookers and world-altering results.

Nomu being shot into the sky barely registered in the media. One-for-All getting smashed into the ground shook the MHA world to its core and there lies the reason I think it worked so much better.

Also D'rek I think you are Hype proof and I am jealous.

Maark you watched so much anime! wow! I barely kept up with Darling in the Franxxx and MHA. throwing Jojos in the mix is hubris.

Uhhh. This season was actually pretty slow for me. I think in the season which was Autumn/Winter sometime last year (the season before DITF started) I had like 15 seasonals on the go?

No idea what I'll pick up this next season coming to be fair but I'll find something, I'm sure.

[Maark Abbott]

Should probably add as well that I binged all of Selector Spread WIXOSS as Conflated wasn't entirely making sense without it, did all of Evangelion as well and all of Claymore. A few bits of Shirayuki and No-Rin.