[Silencer]

A Demon Llama!, on 11 July 2014 - 10:18 PM, said:

Netflix's Knights of Sadonia was alright. Got me interested in seeing some other show so started watching FMA. Its also okay so far.

Definitely watch Brotherhood if you can. They're both good but you might as well watch the better one, which sticks to the source material, if you can...unless you really want to watch both, because that's really the only other option. XD

[D'rek]

Watched the first two Sword Art season 2 episodes. Agreed that it's too early to tell for sure, but so far I think it looks like it'll be a good season. The art is still beautiful, the music is still great, and it looks like they're going to get all the motivations and introductions necessary out of the way quickly so hopefully that should mean later in the season things won't slow down.

I like that the battles in this new game are very different from the ones in the last season - whereas before it was mostly one character at a time sword-slashing a bit monster or another character, 1-on-1 duel style (and there's nothing wrong with that) this new game looks like it'll focus heavily on team-vs-team battles at long range. There's lots of animes where the fights in season 2 or 4 or 10 are pretty much the exact same as the first season - nice to know that won't happen here.

---

On a wholly different note, I think I'm officially at the point where I need to start keeping an actual list of animes because I am totally losing track. Or maybe an excel sheet

This post has been edited by D'rek: 12 July 2014 - 05:54 PM

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 12 July 2014 - 05:54 PM, said:

Watched the first two Sword Art season 2 episodes. Agreed that it's too early to tell for sure, but so far I think it looks like it'll be a good season. The art is still beautiful, the music is still great, and it looks like they're going to get all the motivations and introductions necessary out of the way quickly so hopefully that should mean later in the season things won't slow down.

I like that the battles in this new game are very different from the ones in the last season - whereas before it was mostly one character at a time sword-slashing a bit monster or another character, 1-on-1 duel style (and there's nothing wrong with that) this new game looks like it'll focus heavily on team-vs-team battles at long range. There's lots of animes where the fights in season 2 or 4 or 10 are pretty much the exact same as the first season - nice to know that won't happen here.

---

On a wholly different note, I think I'm officially at the point where I need to start keeping an actual list of animes because I am totally losing track. Or maybe an excel sheet

http://myanimelist.net/.

I set this thing up a few years ago, and im glad i did. If i had to set it up now it'd take hours to complete.
http://myanimelist.n...list/BalrogLord

I just realised i haven't updated it yet

This post has been edited by BalrogLord: 12 July 2014 - 07:20 PM

[D'rek]

BalrogLord, on 12 July 2014 - 07:19 PM, said:

D, on 12 July 2014 - 05:54 PM, said:

Watched the first two Sword Art season 2 episodes. Agreed that it's too early to tell for sure, but so far I think it looks like it'll be a good season. The art is still beautiful, the music is still great, and it looks like they're going to get all the motivations and introductions necessary out of the way quickly so hopefully that should mean later in the season things won't slow down.

I like that the battles in this new game are very different from the ones in the last season - whereas before it was mostly one character at a time sword-slashing a bit monster or another character, 1-on-1 duel style (and there's nothing wrong with that) this new game looks like it'll focus heavily on team-vs-team battles at long range. There's lots of animes where the fights in season 2 or 4 or 10 are pretty much the exact same as the first season - nice to know that won't happen here.

---

On a wholly different note, I think I'm officially at the point where I need to start keeping an actual list of animes because I am totally losing track. Or maybe an excel sheet

http://myanimelist.net/.

I set this thing up a few years ago, and im glad i did. If i had to set it up now it'd take hours to complete.
http://myanimelist.n...list/BalrogLord

I just realised i haven't updated it yet

Cool, thanks. Is there a friend-connectivity feature on this site and/or does anyone else use it? I'd like to have some sort of system that tells me what I haven't seen that you guys liked so when I'm looking for something new to watch I can find it easily (without going back through 30 pages of this thread!)

[LinearPhilosopher]

D, on 13 July 2014 - 05:38 PM, said:

BalrogLord, on 12 July 2014 - 07:19 PM, said:

D, on 12 July 2014 - 05:54 PM, said:

Watched the first two Sword Art season 2 episodes. Agreed that it's too early to tell for sure, but so far I think it looks like it'll be a good season. The art is still beautiful, the music is still great, and it looks like they're going to get all the motivations and introductions necessary out of the way quickly so hopefully that should mean later in the season things won't slow down.

I like that the battles in this new game are very different from the ones in the last season - whereas before it was mostly one character at a time sword-slashing a bit monster or another character, 1-on-1 duel style (and there's nothing wrong with that) this new game looks like it'll focus heavily on team-vs-team battles at long range. There's lots of animes where the fights in season 2 or 4 or 10 are pretty much the exact same as the first season - nice to know that won't happen here.

---

On a wholly different note, I think I'm officially at the point where I need to start keeping an actual list of animes because I am totally losing track. Or maybe an excel sheet

http://myanimelist.net/.

I set this thing up a few years ago, and im glad i did. If i had to set it up now it'd take hours to complete.
http://myanimelist.n...list/BalrogLord

I just realised i haven't updated it yet

Cool, thanks. Is there a friend-connectivity feature on this site and/or does anyone else use it? I'd like to have some sort of system that tells me what I haven't seen that you guys liked so when I'm looking for something new to watch I can find it easily (without going back through 30 pages of this thread!)

there is a feature that allows you to compare anime lists. I don't know how who else has it. THere is a messaging feature, however i don't use it.

[Silencer]

Well, this is a nice change. SAO II appears to be...actually...properly....taking it's time.

Admittedly GGO was a better arc, written later too, but this is the kind of pace the first arc should have had. None of this diving right in, skipping to the side stories, and ignoring a lot of the detail from the novels!

...this should almost go in the "what's making you happy" thread. XD

Also, Mahouka is finally getting to a decent challenge. I can't very well critique that anime for taking it's time (though it could do with more attention to detail/useful exposition, and less info dumps), but it's certainly taking it's sweet time to present Tatsuya with an actual challenge.
Granted I doubt it will be too much of a challenge (no prizes for guessing that Tatsuya will win), but I'm pretty sure after this arc wraps up we get some serious combat going down, which should be fun.

Now I just need the next Persona and Zankyou no Terror to release...

[LinearPhilosopher]

Silencer, on 17 July 2014 - 01:11 PM, said:

Well, this is a nice change. SAO II appears to be...actually...properly....taking it's time.

Admittedly GGO was a better arc, written later too, but this is the kind of pace the first arc should have had. None of this diving right in, skipping to the side stories, and ignoring a lot of the detail from the novels!

...this should almost go in the "what's making you happy" thread. XD

Also, Mahouka is finally getting to a decent challenge. I can't very well critique that anime for taking it's time (though it could do with more attention to detail/useful exposition, and less info dumps), but it's certainly taking it's sweet time to present Tatsuya with an actual challenge.
Granted I doubt it will be too much of a challenge (no prizes for guessing that Tatsuya will win), but I'm pretty sure after this arc wraps up we get some serious combat going down, which should be fun.

Now I just need the next Persona and Zankyou no Terror to release...

is ZnT based off a manga?

[Silencer]

Not as far as I know. It seems like a Studio MAPPA original animation.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Latest episode of ZnT was amazing. THis is now my favourite show fo the season.

[A Demon Llama!]

Just looked up what ZnT was. From same dude that made Cowboy Bebeop? Might have to check it out then. Animation looks good and seems to be more serious.

[Silencer]

BalrogLord, on 17 July 2014 - 05:43 PM, said:

Latest episode of ZnT was amazing. THis is now my favourite show fo the season.

Despite not having watched it yet, that is a pretty big claim for what is only episode 2!!!

*goes to watch*

Also on today's list: Persona 4 Golden.

Because if the second episode is as different as the first, it's going to be ludicrously awesome.

[LinearPhilosopher]

Silencer, on 18 July 2014 - 03:16 AM, said:

BalrogLord, on 17 July 2014 - 05:43 PM, said:

Latest episode of ZnT was amazing. THis is now my favourite show fo the season.

Despite not having watched it yet, that is a pretty big claim for what is only episode 2!!!

*goes to watch*

Also on today's list: Persona 4 Golden.

Because if the second episode is as different as the first, it's going to be ludicrously awesome.

so did you watch it?

[Silencer]

BalrogLord, on 19 July 2014 - 01:53 PM, said:

Silencer, on 18 July 2014 - 03:16 AM, said:

BalrogLord, on 17 July 2014 - 05:43 PM, said:

Latest episode of ZnT was amazing. THis is now my favourite show fo the season.

Despite not having watched it yet, that is a pretty big claim for what is only episode 2!!!

*goes to watch*

Also on today's list: Persona 4 Golden.

Because if the second episode is as different as the first, it's going to be ludicrously awesome.

so did you watch it?

I did. I enjoyed it, but I'm not totally hooked yet. I'm enjoying SAOII more, at least. I think next episode they're going to really sell the show to me - whether that will make it my fav of the season or not, I dunno. It's got that potential. That being said, if SAO holds up it's current promise, it will win. Because SAO done properly always wins. (The other option is that it does a K' and just sort of...fizzles out. But I doubt that. And hope it doesn't happen...)


And not sure what's up with P4G. It seems like they're skipping a LOT of the original content - basically, for the second episode to mean anything to you, you would have to have watched the original/played the game(s). I'm not sure if that was the point, or if they're doing it roundabout ways, but considering the characters who you would have no idea about showing up randomly in the second episode...?
Not complaining from my own perspective, but I think if you hadn't seen the original this will severely reduce the enjoyment/plot of the show...I'll see if they do anything in the next couple of episodes to fix that or whether it's just the fill-in episodes for Marie's content for the entire season. XD

[LinearPhilosopher]

Silencer, on 19 July 2014 - 02:01 PM, said:

BalrogLord, on 19 July 2014 - 01:53 PM, said:

Silencer, on 18 July 2014 - 03:16 AM, said:

BalrogLord, on 17 July 2014 - 05:43 PM, said:

Latest episode of ZnT was amazing. THis is now my favourite show fo the season.

Despite not having watched it yet, that is a pretty big claim for what is only episode 2!!!

*goes to watch*

Also on today's list: Persona 4 Golden.

Because if the second episode is as different as the first, it's going to be ludicrously awesome.

so did you watch it?

I did. I enjoyed it, but I'm not totally hooked yet. I'm enjoying SAOII more, at least. I think next episode they're going to really sell the show to me - whether that will make it my fav of the season or not, I dunno. It's got that potential. That being said, if SAO holds up it's current promise, it will win. Because SAO done properly always wins. (The other option is that it does a K' and just sort of...fizzles out. But I doubt that. And hope it doesn't happen...)


And not sure what's up with P4G. It seems like they're skipping a LOT of the original content - basically, for the second episode to mean anything to you, you would have to have watched the original/played the game(s). I'm not sure if that was the point, or if they're doing it roundabout ways, but considering the characters who you would have no idea about showing up randomly in the second episode...?
Not complaining from my own perspective, but I think if you hadn't seen the original this will severely reduce the enjoyment/plot of the show...I'll see if they do anything in the next couple of episodes to fix that or whether it's just the fill-in episodes for Marie's content for the entire season. XD

Reason i'm hooked is that ep 2 set the tone of the series wvery well. Looks like we're in for another roller coaster, thriller like death note was. This should be fun.

[Silencer]

Thoroughly enjoying Zankyou no Terror now. I'm particularly loving how - within reason - it's really grounded in reality.

The attention to detail and the use of real-world products (Tor, thermite bombs combined with the phreatic explosion - something which could actually legitimately take down a building, whereas just thermite, or average explosives couldn't do by themselves, the more recent stuff too) give it a lot of "free" impact. You'd normally have to work a bit for this plot to be easy to swallow (typically, supernatural or futuristic threats have to be explained, or built up, by comparison) but with what are quite legitimate methods the only explanation that is required is what would really be explained - no-one is having to give exposition they wouldn't have to give IRL. Whereas in, say, a futuristic city with psychic powers, you'd need an "As everyone in the room already knows..." moment or ten. Which would suck.

There are a few areas so far I'd like to see them improve on.

Spoiler

They could, for example, reduce some of the "Will they get caught?" stuff a notch - unless they are actually going to get caught very soon. I know that they did find the last bomb successfully, so it still works, but I seriously doubt anyone thought that Nine was going to be caught in this episode. XD

For example. But otherwise it's doing really well; the pacing is sitting in a good enough place that, while I think it could *maybe* benefit from being just a tad slower, I also think they've hit the sweet-spot in terms of what they are portraying in a single episode; it's not feeling rushed or squeezed, which is where you want to be unless you are going to do multi-episode individual plots.

[Silencer]

Though to be fair; GGO episode 4 was pretty much spot-on in terms of tone and detail. Unlike with SAO, I actually feel like this is true to the LN on an almost 1:1 basis. Much better. So excite.

[Silencer]

Oh...oh no...Silencer just found another Studio SHAFT production...crap...


Mekakucity Actors. Check it out. XD

[D'rek]

Silencer, on 02 August 2014 - 06:21 AM, said:

Oh...oh no...Silencer just found another Studio SHAFT production...crap...


Mekakucity Actors. Check it out. XD

I watched the first episode... that was weird.

[Silencer]

D, on 02 August 2014 - 09:05 PM, said:

Silencer, on 02 August 2014 - 06:21 AM, said:

Oh...oh no...Silencer just found another Studio SHAFT production...crap...


Mekakucity Actors. Check it out. XD

I watched the first episode... that was weird.

It's Studio SHAFT - so weird is kind of a given. It's also an adaptation of a series based on Vocaloid's with special abilities. So...yeah. I have no idea if it's actually any good or not, but "weird" is about my expectation for a SHAFT production.



Mahouka continues. Though I pretty much knew what this episode would entail. One does not simply

Spoiler

Pose even the remotest threat towards Miyuki without incurring the wrath of Tatsuya - which is naturally ridiculously OP and efficient at removing the source of said threats.

It's not a bad show, it just doesn't have a lot of depth to it. And it really suffers from the 'overflowing fountain of new powers as the plot demands' effect around Tatsuya. That's not exactly uncommon in anime, but it wasn't handled with the greatest finesse in this series.

Honestly, I think it suffers from the wave of "let's adapt those guys who got published after winning the writing competition" syndrome that SAO produced. The problem is, SAO is actually a lot better written, despite having a similarly OP protagonist. My issues with the first two arcs of SAO's adaptation notwithstanding, the difference in the caliber of the source writing really shows through with these two. Mahouka is a perfectly good adaptation of worse writing. SAO was a worse adaptation of better writing. GGO's arc seems to have fixed the adaptation quality issue and voila (plus, GGO was a better arc anyway) it hits all the right notes.
But jumping on the bandwagon and adapting Mahouka just because it has a similar "success story" vibe behind it wasn't really the smartest of ideas, I think. Because it's turned decidedly "meh", unless you're into the shipping and occasional moments of badassery. Which is a shame. The world and plot have a lot of potential. They just needed a bit of work to actually be good, rather than just nice background dressing.



And onto SAOII. Going brilliantly. That first battle was handled pretty well. A lot of people probably forgot Kirito's "Listen" ability from SAO, though, so I guess that might look like a suddenly added in ability that he never had before, but it's not.
Plus, we got two awesome moments this episode:

Spoiler

"You're a guy?!?!" *cue giant glowing hand-slap print on Kirito's face*

And

Oh, fuck, it's Death Gun. Who is probably a member of Laughing Coffin from SAO. Cue Kirito looking absolutely terrified and being in the delightful position of Death Gun knowing him, but still having his own identity concealed. Wooo! Sudden Tension Climax! XD

This was really the benefit of GGO. It had a lot more pacing to it. SAO was great, but it was still a novel written to a deadline for a writing competition. Even with the re-jigging the author did for publication, it never got the flow *quite* down. GGO fixes a lot of that. (Plus, the guy was a better writer by then, anyway.)


Still, I think given the latest episode of Zankyou no Terror that I'm going to have to say that it is winning the battle for this season so far. Just. My love for the SAO source material may be giving it an undue level of performance, too.


Disclaimer: I have not watched any Aldnoah.Zero - and I don't really have any plans to until such time as I have reason to believe it's not another, though apparently well done, mecha combat anime which doesn't do enough to put it out of the "great for what it is" category and into "good regardless of category" zone. Because I still haven't finished Gargantia and I would rather wait for Aldnoah to finish airing before spending too much time/data on it. XD

[LinearPhilosopher]

a)you need to finish gargantia. It gets boring around the middle, even i skipped a few episodes, but trust me the plot is going somewhere. It just takes a while before it re appears
b)Despite myself, im enjoying the new SAO, so maybe there's hope for the franchise after all. The pacing is solid thus far and I love the method in which they dragged out the last few minutes of the latest episode to highlight the tension. Solid directing.
c)terror in resonance continues to be awesome.
d)akame ga kill continues to be entertaining.
e)mahouka kouko is now in the entertaining section
f)can someone comment on the gatari series?

Is aldnoah zero any good? it flew below my radar. THere was another mecha show i was watching this season but i stopped it after 2 eps. Too generic.

Also rwby s2 is out if anyone is curious.

This post has been edited by BalrogLord: 03 August 2014 - 07:28 PM