[Maark Abbott]

Ok so detailed thoughts from Ep1 and 2:

Edit: why did this post before I told it to? YYD.

It's very very VERY good. The intro theme and general composition on the whole. The lack of predictability. The basic concept. It's so well done. In ten minutes it managed to trounce 90% of the serious subject anime that I've seen. Glorious. D'rek, you're Senpai now.

This post has been edited by Maark Abbott: 22 October 2016 - 12:41 PM

[Maark Abbott]

SNI, Ep 5:

Spoiler

I really like that the villains are being fleshed out properly. It helps that the prime antagonist is the intellectual, calculating sort.

I can foresee the title character undergoing a Heroic BSOD soonish. She seems moderately conflicted in terms of the lives she's taking. Let's see where next week goes with this, if at all.

The plot is still developing in interesting ways and I'm still not accurately predicting events. Promising signs, all.

I'm thoroughly enamoured of the soundtrack as well. There's a strong potential for this to be my pick of the year at this rate.

This post has been edited by Maark Abbott: 29 October 2016 - 05:30 PM

[D'rek]

I'm definitely still liking it, but got a bit peeved with some bits on episode 4 that I thought were utterly unnecessary (you know what I'm talking about).

Most of the cast is indeed great, but I do kind of find that Izetta herself is barely a character at all. Seems weird how little dialogue/input/motivation/anything she has.

[Maark Abbott]

D, on 30 October 2016 - 02:41 AM, said:

I'm definitely still liking it, but got a bit peeved with some bits on episode 4 that I thought were utterly unnecessary (you know what I'm talking about).

Most of the cast is indeed great, but I do kind of find that Izetta herself is barely a character at all. Seems weird how little dialogue/input/motivation/anything she has.

Yeah, episode 4 was easily the least of the ones that are out so far. Izetta's lack of development at this stage is why I'm thinking at some stage we're going to go much further into her psyche and in all likelihood I think it'll be a point where she snaps entirely. Time will tell.




Also started watching MGRP. It's a bit weird but the whole principle is passably interesting so I've added it to my weeklies alongside JoJo and Keijo. Yes, I have no shame.

[D'rek]

Maark Abbott, on 22 October 2016 - 06:36 AM, said:

Keijo is just straight up stupid fun, and I love it for that.

I've seen a lot of similar comments on Keijo, but I don't think I can watch it just on principle

(For those who don't know, it's about a made-up girls-only sport where girls stand on floating platforms and have to hit their opponents into the pool using only their butts.)

Maark Abbott, on 31 October 2016 - 11:56 AM, said:

D, on 30 October 2016 - 02:41 AM, said:

I'm definitely still liking it, but got a bit peeved with some bits on episode 4 that I thought were utterly unnecessary (you know what I'm talking about).

Most of the cast is indeed great, but I do kind of find that Izetta herself is barely a character at all. Seems weird how little dialogue/input/motivation/anything she has.

Yeah, episode 4 was easily the least of the ones that are out so far. Izetta's lack of development at this stage is why I'm thinking at some stage we're going to go much further into her psyche and in all likelihood I think it'll be a point where she snaps entirely. Time will tell.

Maybe. But given how she's naked the OP, that random butt shot in episode 3, the new costum... I think the creators aren't really aiming to just tell an interesting faux-WW2 story and want her to be the "sexy otaku bait" or whatever (heck, they've got a moe maid and a big-boobed advisor added to the cast now, it's not even a pretense at this point). Not sure they would risk their precious sexual objectification lure by having her snap.

I think she's just going to stay so-naive-and-shy-its-a-disorder and don't expect much actual development from her throughout. If there is any development... I probably won't like it, given what they've done with her so far.

Maark Abbott, on 31 October 2016 - 11:56 AM, said:

Also started watching MGRP. It's a bit weird but the whole principle is passably interesting so I've added it to my weeklies alongside JoJo and Keijo. Yes, I have no shame.

Magic Girl Raising Project?

I read the premise. Sounds like a poor man's Madoka..?


I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but there's also Flip-Flappers airing this season, and by many accounts looks like it could be the top show of this season for a lot of people. I'm not watching it yet - saving that and Drifters to try binge-watching at the end of the season.

[Maark Abbott]

D, on 31 October 2016 - 03:27 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 22 October 2016 - 06:36 AM, said:

Keijo is just straight up stupid fun, and I love it for that.

I've seen a lot of similar comments on Keijo, but I don't think I can watch it just on principle

(For those who don't know, it's about a made-up girls-only sport where girls stand on floating platforms and have to hit their opponents into the pool using only their butts.)

Maark Abbott, on 31 October 2016 - 11:56 AM, said:

D, on 30 October 2016 - 02:41 AM, said:

I'm definitely still liking it, but got a bit peeved with some bits on episode 4 that I thought were utterly unnecessary (you know what I'm talking about).

Most of the cast is indeed great, but I do kind of find that Izetta herself is barely a character at all. Seems weird how little dialogue/input/motivation/anything she has.

Yeah, episode 4 was easily the least of the ones that are out so far. Izetta's lack of development at this stage is why I'm thinking at some stage we're going to go much further into her psyche and in all likelihood I think it'll be a point where she snaps entirely. Time will tell.

Maybe. But given how she's naked the OP, that random butt shot in episode 3, the new costum... I think the creators aren't really aiming to just tell an interesting faux-WW2 story and want her to be the "sexy otaku bait" or whatever (heck, they've got a moe maid and a big-boobed advisor added to the cast now, it's not even a pretense at this point). Not sure they would risk their precious sexual objectification lure by having her snap.

I think she's just going to stay so-naive-and-shy-its-a-disorder and don't expect much actual development from her throughout. If there is any development... I probably won't like it, given what they've done with her so far.

Maark Abbott, on 31 October 2016 - 11:56 AM, said:

Also started watching MGRP. It's a bit weird but the whole principle is passably interesting so I've added it to my weeklies alongside JoJo and Keijo. Yes, I have no shame.

Magic Girl Raising Project?

I read the premise. Sounds like a poor man's Madoka..?


I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but there's also Flip-Flappers airing this season, and by many accounts looks like it could be the top show of this season for a lot of people. I'm not watching it yet - saving that and Drifters to try binge-watching at the end of the season.

I never watched Madoka but effectively in MGRP, a bunch of magical girls are created via some form of Murmorperger, and then said Murmorperger decides there are too many and they have to battle to the death until half of them are full on dead.

[Terez]

I just picked up Yuri On Ice based on the recommendation of a friend. I'm on episode 2 and liking it so far. Is it just me or is the art extremely reminiscent of FMA?

Also, Funimation announced they got DBS, if anyone cares. (I don't, really. 100% Japanese cast fan now.) Old news, but I figured I'd mention it since I'm here. They're also simulcasting the sub along with Crunchyroll, Daisuki, and AnimeLab.

[Maark Abbott]

SNI, ep7:

Well, that was fun.

Spoiler

The storyline about going after a flagship to bring the Allies on board with more boots in Europe was believable, but just as importantly I entirely bought that the Germanians were using the flagship as a decoy to learn Izetta's weakness. The entire battle over the bay was supremely well done - well paced, music was spot on. There was a liiiiiittle fanservice moment after the big serious meeting, but because the rest is so good I can let this slide.

One prediction I had early in the series appears to come true - Berkman mentions something about a secret weapon / trump card and we see a tank much like Izetta was locked in during the early part of Ep1. Either it's another witch, or they've somehow managed to clone her.

Carrying on again with JJBApt4, MGRP and Keijo. Have added Bungo Stray Dogs to my queue.

[D'rek]

Terez, on 11 November 2016 - 06:35 AM, said:

I just picked up Yuri On Ice based on the recommendation of a friend. I'm on episode 2 and liking it so far. Is it just me or is the art extremely reminiscent of FMA?

Hmm, I hadn't really felt like that before but I can kinda see it. Glad you picked it up!

Terez, on 11 November 2016 - 06:35 AM, said:

Also, Funimation announced they got DBS, if anyone cares. (I don't, really. 100% Japanese cast fan now.) Old news, but I figured I'd mention it since I'm here. They're also simulcasting the sub along with Crunchyroll, Daisuki, and AnimeLab.

It looks like Toei has just recently decided to suddenly put a ton more effort into improving the quality and spread of DBS. They're simulcasting on those 3 webcast services, the English dub was announced, the animation has been more consistently good, etc. In MasakoX's latest video he does a whole analysis of how he believes the latest episode preview (which was super spoilerific) was setup very differently than the previous previews on purpose so that it would create some big hype build-up, as just another part of Toei's big push to make DBS more accessible and popular.

[Terez]

And after having watched the episode in question...

Spoiler

Most fans are convinced they only used Vegetto at all to have an excuse to sell SSB Vegetto toys.

Can't say I disagree. The salt overfloweth on r/dbz...

In other news, AnimeLab just teased an announcement that they'll be getting DBZ. They'd be the first anime subscription site to get it, if that's true. Not counting FunimationNow, of course.

PS: re: the art similarities between FMA and Yuri, I'm mostly talking about the comic art-shift style we discussed back when I was watching FMA.

This post has been edited by Terez: 13 November 2016 - 03:35 AM

[LinearPhilosopher]

recently started legend of the galactic heroes.

10 eps in, im hooked.

Also really enjoying drifters, THe casting of nobunaga is fantastic with this VA.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 14 November 2016 - 03:00 AM

[EmperorMagus]

LinearPhilosopher, on 14 November 2016 - 02:59 AM, said:

recently started legend of the galactic heroes.

10 eps in, im hooked.

Also really enjoying drifters, THe casting of nobunaga is fantastic with this VA.

Have you found somewhere to watch it with acceptable definition?

Also I can never figure out the order of the episodes/arcs. It's a shame that such a classic is so hard to watch.

[Terez]

Maark Abbott, on 12 November 2016 - 07:25 PM, said:

Have added Bungo Stray Dogs to my queue.

I was wondering where I'd seen this name before; I guess it was here. I came across it again last night when looking at some of Shinichiro Miki's credits. The idea of a famous BL actor playing André Gide struck me as interesting. (Since I watched FMA:B in the dub, I wasn't familiar with him until he played a sadomasochistic self-lover in DBS.) His bedroom voice is legendary; I'm listening to some of his otome work now (I'm not the otome type but I love this guy's voice so much).

On that note, I watched the first episode of "Kiss Him, Not Me" tonight based on the (general) recommendation of someone at Theoryland who has been reading the manga. I'm not sure I'm going to like this one...

[LinearPhilosopher]

EmperorMagus, on 14 November 2016 - 05:13 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 14 November 2016 - 02:59 AM, said:

recently started legend of the galactic heroes.

10 eps in, im hooked.

Also really enjoying drifters, THe casting of nobunaga is fantastic with this VA.

Have you found somewhere to watch it with acceptable definition?

Also I can never figure out the order of the episodes/arcs. It's a shame that such a classic is so hard to watch.

found a giant torrent.

[D'rek]

Terez, on 14 November 2016 - 05:32 AM, said:

On that note, I watched the first episode of "Kiss Him, Not Me" tonight based on the (general) recommendation of someone at Theoryland who has been reading the manga. I'm not sure I'm going to like this one...

I'm watching this, too! (And I now realize forgot to post about it until now.)

I am loving it, but it's definitely aimed at a very niche audience. It's a very "anime" anime...

For the uninitiated, it's a high school comedy about a girl who's a huge BL otaku, but she one day ends up suddenly becoming really popular and now has 4 boys (and later another girl) competing for her attention. Main Character - at least initially - isn't actually interested in dating but strings them along because she wants to trick the guys into acting out typical yaoi/BL scenarios.

Also called: Watashi ga Motete Dousunda ("Oh no! I'm popular!")

[EmperorMagus]

LinearPhilosopher, on 14 November 2016 - 11:46 AM, said:

EmperorMagus, on 14 November 2016 - 05:13 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 14 November 2016 - 02:59 AM, said:

recently started legend of the galactic heroes.

10 eps in, im hooked.

Also really enjoying drifters, THe casting of nobunaga is fantastic with this VA.

Have you found somewhere to watch it with acceptable definition?

Also I can never figure out the order of the episodes/arcs. It's a shame that such a classic is so hard to watch.

found a giant torrent.

Fair enough.

I have been looking for something to watch and I guess LoGH is as good as anything else. (taking a look at the first couple of episodes right now. What's up with the chins on these people, they all look sick)

[Terez]

D, on 14 November 2016 - 09:58 PM, said:

Terez, on 14 November 2016 - 05:32 AM, said:

On that note, I watched the first episode of "Kiss Him, Not Me" tonight based on the (general) recommendation of someone at Theoryland who has been reading the manga. I'm not sure I'm going to like this one...

I'm watching this, too! (And I now realize forgot to post about it until now.)

I am loving it, but it's definitely aimed at a very niche audience. It's a very "anime" anime...

The main thing I didn't like about it is that the first episode was pretty insulting to fujōshi. And they seem to be setting up the main character to "grow out" of her BL obsession and graduate into Real Love. (Which conflicts with her fujōshi best friend who seems pretty "normal" and has a boyfriend, but all the fujōshi stereotypes are 3rd person limited from the main character.)

[EmperorMagus]

I have stuff to do for tomorrow, but LoGH is so so so good. I cannot believe an anime this dark and epic in scope existed and I am watching it just now. It has its flaws, but it's excellent overall.

<-- On 11th straight episode. (Yes I spent four hours on a single anime tonight, sue me. I don't even care.)

This is the darkest animated story I have had the pleasure (displeasure?) of watching. It's glorious.

The chins though, I don't know what's up with the chins. Can't they have one protagonist with a square chin instead of a pointy one.

[D'rek]

Terez, on 15 November 2016 - 04:04 AM, said:

The main thing I didn't like about it is that the first episode was pretty insulting to fujōshi.

Because Kae is so over-the-top crazy about it? I feel like her bff (Amane) makes for a good counter to this in how "normal" Amane is despite being a hardcore fujoshi - Amane doesn't get a lot of screentime, but we see enough of her (and of Nishina, who's also over-the-top but in a different way) that I never feel like Kae is being depicted as a representation of all fujoshi.

Terez, on 15 November 2016 - 04:04 AM, said:

And they seem to be setting up the main character to "grow out" of her BL obsession and graduate into Real Love.

Mmm, I don't think so. Maybe the manga goes there eventually, but I don't see any hints that Kae will stop being a hardcore fujoshi or that she'll actually fall for any of the guys in the anime run. The guys are starting to "grow in" though, getting more accustomed to each other...

[LinearPhilosopher]

just finished galactic heroe ep 17


Where has this show been all my life.

The best thing about this show thus far, is both yang wenli and lohengramme could easily have their own shows (tenkyou no alderamin the former, code geass the latter as examples) the show manages to share it brilliantly between the two. Add to that it frequently goes to the grunts level to tell the story of the show is cool, keeps the plot moving while not stagnating the plot and we never get too much of these characters and gives us a different perspective on the story.

Its a phenomenal act of balancing i can't recall seeing in any other anime!