730 replies to this topic

[^Leo^]

Picked up madoka magica. About 7 episodes in right now and

Spoiler

I knew that little cat dog thing kyube was evil little bastard, but this is like psychotic 3 year old levels of villainy.

Tosay the least I'm impressed with it so far. It's killing enough characters to have me interested, and the change in animation when they're in a barrier is actually a nice touch imo. Especially the fact that the witches themselves don't look like your average witch. Honestly though I think my friend who suggested it to me overhyped a bit. The characters are fairly weak, and only exhibit a few dimensions(fairly predictable ones at that). The storytelling is clean and pretty solid though. Probably gonna finish it given how short the series is. Just one question: anyone know if the movies are worth watching?

[Rujio]

Madoka just gets intenser as you go. At episode 7 you haven't seen anything yet. Episode 10 changes everything. I will say, though, that the characters are not the show's strongest point. It's more the plot/world/devices they actually manage to pull off.

 

For the movies, the first two are just the series redone, but the third movie is a sequel. Which just messes things up at the end and doesn't actually resolve things really. But that's fine.

[Fire Blazer]

Madoka just gets intenser as you go. At episode 7 you haven't seen anything yet. Episode 10 changes everything. I will say, though, that the characters are not the show's strongest point. It's more the plot/world/devices they actually manage to pull off.

 

For the movies, the first two are just the series redone, but the third movie is a sequel. Which just messes things up at the end and doesn't actually resolve things really. But that's fine.

 

I stopped at episode 2. I just couldn't take the show with its freaking... little girls and magic stuff and whatnot.... ughhh. supposedly it gets "better" and "dark" and crap but that kind of "oh look at me I LOOK harmless but am actually super dark" crap doesn't quite hook me like it does literally everyone else. and thus I sadly could never get past episode 2. honestly, even if everyone died or it had an actual good plot, I doubt it could impress me. and I think a part of it is definitely bias towards that kind of stuff, but a part of it is just like... this is over-the-top nonsense and I can't always get into that (a lot of the most popular shows are over the top, like JJBA, GL, KlK, AgK, SD, etc... guess the abbreviations lol)

[Elwood]

Yet you still have a run-on >.>

That could be a good thing too though. I think that witches facing off against the soldiers of ragnarok could be pretty fucking awesome, but not delving into that crap too deep is much safer.

 

 

*too

 

clearly you didn't spend long enough

 

 

Guys plz

[kirant]

this is over-the-top nonsense and I can't always get into that (a lot of the most popular shows are over the top, like JJBA, GL, KlK, AgK, SD, etc... guess the abbreviations lol)

Wow.  This is like the time my friend asked me to try to name any Game of Thrones character. I got the first two, then failed on all three after.

[Fire Blazer]

Kill la Kill, Akame ga Kill, Space Dandy

 

Space Dandy being more humorous/nonsensical than the others, methinkz, but I think they're all kind of humorous and nonsensical to some extent... >>' (I've only seen 2 of them myself but eh)

[Elwood]

Just started Black Lagoon and I'm liking it so far.

[^Leo^]

I looked at that a few times, but never bothered to watch it(or even read what it is tbh =p). Worth a watch?

[Rujio]

 

I stopped at episode 2. 

The first time I watched it I only saw the first two episodes, and then only came back a few days later when I was really bored because the first two episodes had been so lame. Things start changing with episode 3 (the creator had to issue an official apology after episode 3 because it traumatized all the children who had actually enjoyed the first two episodes). Everything you think you know about the show in the first few episodes just ends up being wrong.

 

Just FYI of that list the only anime I've tried watching was Kill la Kill and I couldn't stand it, and I really enjoyed Madoka Magica. From what I've seen of both (I think I gave Kill la Kill five episodes maybe before deciding to never watch it again) I would not put them remotely in the same category. It's definitely worth watching the whole series. It's only like five hours total, anyway. Maybe seven with the movie.

[eckirion]

Fall Animes:

- One Punch Man ( Following ) - Good

- Ore ga Ojou-sama ( Following ) - So-so

- Shinmai Maou no Testament Burst ( Following ) - Disappointed NOTE: The 1st season brought a more interesting flow compared to the 2nd one.

- Comet Lucifer ( Stopped ) - Not my type

 

Plan to Watch ( Winter )

- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2

- Dagashi Kashi

- Gate 2

- Kono Subarashii Sekai

- Ooya-san wa Shishunki

[Fire Blazer]

The first time I watched it I only saw the first two episodes, and then only came back a few days later when I was really bored because the first two episodes had been so lame. Things start changing with episode 3 (the creator had to issue an official apology after episode 3 because it traumatized all the children who had actually enjoyed the first two episodes). Everything you think you know about the show in the first few episodes just ends up being wrong.

 

Just FYI of that list the only anime I've tried watching was Kill la Kill and I couldn't stand it, and I really enjoyed Madoka Magica. From what I've seen of both (I think I gave Kill la Kill five episodes maybe before deciding to never watch it again) I would not put them remotely in the same category. It's definitely worth watching the whole series. It's only like five hours total, anyway. Maybe seven with the movie.

 

"only 5 hours"

 

pfft

 

5 hours is a lot of time

 

also, unless the character/art design changes completely from what it is, I can't see myself enjoying it. to get an idea, here's a comment I made just a bit ago that kind of applies to Madoka Magica

 

 

[11/30/2015 11:11:30 PM] ballin1337: FWIW, I hate watching shows with little girls
[11/30/2015 11:11:45 PM] ballin1337: which is the main difference between Seraph and my tastes. Seraph doesn't mind as long as the rest of the show is good
[11/30/2015 11:12:03 PM | Edited 11:12:08 PM] ballin1337: I pretty much have an unwritten mental rule saying shows need to have characters at least this tall and this old or else I don't want to watch it.

 

as for how tall is "this tall" and how is "this old", it's really just a case-by-case thing, but pretty much if they're short/don't look like they've matured yet I don't dig it. I guess a general rule would be "they should look like high schoolers", though in Assassination Classroom they're technically middle schoolers but that show doesn't bother me since it doesn't have that super moe everyone-is-short bullcrap (and they're almost high schoolers, at least)

 

speaking of Assassination Classroom

 

 

Fall Animes:

- One Punch Man ( Following ) - Good

- Ore ga Ojou-sama ( Following ) - So-so

- Shinmai Maou no Testament Burst ( Following ) - Disappointed NOTE: The 1st season brought a more interesting flow compared to the 2nd one.

- Comet Lucifer ( Stopped ) - Not my type

 

Plan to Watch ( Winter )

- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2

- Dagashi Kashi

- Gate 2

- Kono Subarashii Sekai

- Ooya-san wa Shishunki

 

Watching One Punch man as well, which is solid (still overrated but meh), and the rest of the shows I'm not watching since they didn't seem to have any kind of qualities that I'd like in a show, really

 

and as for Plan to Watch, I will probably watch the 2nd seasons of Assassination Classroom and GATE, though perhaps at my own leisure (we'll see, depends on how I feel really: sometimes I feel like watching stuff, sometimes I don't... and with AC I already know what happens which drastically reduces my motivation to watch it in a timely fashion—which is exactly why I don't feel like watching Noragami Aragoto now, lol)

 

The rest I don't know much about but IIRC I did skim upcoming anime and I didn't find anything you listed that I liked... but I think Koe no Katachi should be getting an anime adaptation soon so I'll be looking forward to that if it's in the winter XP

[Elwood]

I looked at that a few times, but never bothered to watch it(or even read what it is tbh =p). Worth a watch?

 

Yep. I just finished it and absolutely loved it. LOTS of violence and gore and to say it had LOTS of foul language would be an understatement.

[Cero]

Watched the first 3 episode of One Punch Man. It's pretty good though not nearly as hype as I've been hearing. 

[kirant]

Only have Fafner: Exodus right now.  I think I figured out what's going on...first season of Exodus (which I guess is their 2nd season of the franchise) is all build up.  Second season of Exodus (which is still part of their second planned series given the screwy way the seasons worked out) is all serious business.

That moment when I'm convinced this is one of the best things on TV right now.

 

Even the quiet episodes (lower cost animation, combat only for about 3-4 minutes and is heavily one-sided) are damn terrifying.  A great example of expressing really bleak situations and honestly does a better job than most movies at it.

 

Spoiler

For reference, one part of the story is a long march.  It started in the first season with about 500 soldiers/mech pilots guarding 22 000 civilians.  Things got worse before as food ran short, they fell under repeated attacks, and the humans that were supposed to help them decided to shoot them instead.  They proposed a different route, one several times longer than the one they just undertook.  Faced with the low odds of survival, many killed themselves right then and there.

 

Now they're passing through no man's land (in essence)...territory of what was once China and is now a deserted sea.  Food runs out.  Choosing between starvation and death, many (many) outright stop moving and opt to get mercy killed by aliens (characters are portrayed as happy when they are faced with this death).  Technobabble that I won't bore you with here, but soldiers need something called "blockers" to pilot or they'll die a horrible death.  That runs dry too.  They call up reserve pilots...teens and preteens.  They die too.  Winter sets in.  Many who don't die of starvation die of conditions.  The main characters admit that they're going to sleep hoping to wake up the next day.

 

They finally hear they'll get assistance by what is a mobile island.  Everybody's happy.  They get in range and send out as many of their civilians (~5 500 left) and soldiers (15) to make contact.

 

And walk straight into an ambush.  Either by luck or by planning (who knows what the alien things in this show are thinking), they get ambushed by both the aforementioned humans and aliens.  It's pretty much a massacre against the protagonists.  Nameless faces are either shot down quickly or their transport planes get taken out of the skies without much effort.  In order of importance, the protagonists in this episode

 - loses an arm,

 - is likely to die soon,

 - was captured and will also likely die soon,

 - was attacked by an alien and will probably die in a future episode,

 - shot by humans (I think)

 - confirms that his brother is orchestrating this slaughter,

 - is probably going to die soon,

 - dies in a suicide attack

 

So yeah.  Happy fun times all around.

[Cero]

Alright, I caught up fully with One Punch Man and I have to say, goddamn this show is hype. I finally understand why people have been talking about this show so much; it's pretty good lol. Started reading the manga too which is incredibly well drawn and also good. 

[Fire Blazer]

Watched the first 3 episode of One Punch Man. It's pretty good though not nearly as hype as I've been hearing. 

 

I had faith in you, but then this

 

That moment when I'm convinced this is one of the best things on TV right now.

 

Even the quiet episodes (lower cost animation, combat only for about 3-4 minutes and is heavily one-sided) are damn terrifying.  A great example of expressing really bleak situations and honestly does a better job than most movies at it.

 

I removed the spoilers (even though I read them). Holy crap. That is bleak as ****. That's just like, straight depressing. I have no attachment to the show or the characters (having not even watched it) and wow. Is there any sense of hope int his show? There has to be, right? At this point it sounds so terrible I can't help but feel like it's almost too dark to even... care. Like, idk. At some point it just becomes a bit much. Tokyo Ghoul is also brutal for instance (though in different ways) but it manages to just barely keep us threaded enough that we don't just say "screw this, this is just depressing" and quit. >>'

 

and uh

 

Kirant

 

are you by any chance a... you know... m... maso? ._. sorry but man that was some terribly bleak stuff I just read and all I did was read it

 

Alright, I caught up fully with One Punch Man and I have to say, goddamn this show is hype. I finally understand why people have been talking about this show so much; it's pretty good lol. Started reading the manga too which is incredibly well drawn and also good. 

 

damn you're such a punk. look at you, hopping on that pathetic bandwagon. can't believe I thought for a moment you'd not get caught in the hype. tsk tsk tsk.

[kirant]

I had faith in you, but then this

 

[...]

 

damn you're such a punk. look at you, hopping on that pathetic bandwagon. can't believe I thought for a moment you'd not get caught in the hype. tsk tsk tsk.

I was tempted to edit the post to make it make sense, but the thought that you'd lose hope in Cero because of my post is too funny a notion.

 

I removed the spoilers (even though I read them). Holy crap. That is bleak as ****. That's just like, straight depressing. I have no attachment to the show or the characters (having not even watched it) and wow. Is there any sense of hope int his show? There has to be, right? At this point it sounds so terrible I can't help but feel like it's almost too dark to even... care. Like, idk. At some point it just becomes a bit much. Tokyo Ghoul is also brutal for instance (though in different ways) but it manages to just barely keep us threaded enough that we don't just say "screw this, this is just depressing" and quit. >>'

Well, I guess it should be pointed out that Fafner (2005) wasn't exactly the happiest show.  It was about young teens fighting aliens (which curb stomped pretty much any human they met).  It drew a lot of parallels to Evangelion mixed with a Gundam series.  It's found its niche in this area though where it flip flops between a "well, things are alright at the moment" feel with normal events (such as students locking themselves up in a drama room, romantic tension) and the bleak, horrible world which they typically don't have to deal with. 

 

A theme in the character group for this side is loss of innocence.  Several characters are mentally hurt by what they have to do or what happens around them...that the world they were in before was actually quite warm and fuzzy compared to this.

 

are you by any chance a... you know... m... maso? ._. sorry but man that was some terribly bleak stuff I just read and all I did was read it

I have very little context for that and I'm assuming masochistic is what you're hinting at?

 

Really though, no.  I just find it's hard to get terribly absorbed in media where it's very obvious who's going to win and who's going to lose...it takes the excitement right out since I'm just waiting for whatever deus ex machina or plot device will save them.  Fighting a bad guy in a long running series with only main characters?  Well, it typically becomes anti-climatic for me since I know who's likely to live...especially if there's no set end date for it yet. 

 

That's what I love about the Fafner series: they aren't afraid to murder characters.  It makes the entire thing exciting since it can become incredibly difficult to predict who'll live and who'll die next episode.

[Fire Blazer]

 

I was tempted to edit the post to make it make sense, but the thought that you'd lose hope in Cero because of my post is too funny a notion.

 

AHAHAHA, I see what happened there, that's my bad. I don't think I proofed my post or I would've realized how easily that could be misunderstood, LOL

 

 

that the world they were in before was actually quite warm and fuzzy compared to this.

 

I need a little more warm and fuzzy in my life sometimes. a good balance of insightful/provocative/meaningful shows (which often are at least somewhat dark because it's difficult to make a meaningful show when everything is "sunshine and rainbows"), and some... actual sunshine and rainbows, or at least rain followed by sunshine and rainbows. as opposed to, like, natural disasters followed by seeing depressed people look at everything they once loved being destroyed, lol.

 

sorry, I like my silly analogies

 

 

I have very little context for that and I'm assuming masochistic is what you're hinting at?

 

Really though, no.  I just find it's hard to get terribly absorbed in media where it's very obvious who's going to win and who's going to lose...it takes the excitement right out since I'm just waiting for whatever deus ex machina or plot device will save them.  Fighting a bad guy in a long running series with only main characters?  Well, it typically becomes anti-climatic for me since I know who's likely to live...especially if there's no set end date for it yet. 

 

That's what I love about the Fafner series: they aren't afraid to murder characters.  It makes the entire thing exciting since it can become incredibly difficult to predict who'll live and who'll die next episode.

 

haha yeah that's what I was hinting at, I was (mostly--95%) joking though lol

 

I totally understand that, though I'm not quite the same. I can still enjoy something that is predictable because for me the journey is just as important if not more important than the outcome. I want to know how X will be saved and at what cost it will come—it might not come at the main character's life or something but there can still be consequences or things given/taken and the journey in itself is exciting to me. of course, shows that are more willing to take risks and thus be less predictable are also enjoyable albeit they probably make me a bit anxious deep down--those shows where no one is safe and you don't feel like people have plot armor or plot powers or plot destiny or whatever can be thrilling but it can also be heartbreaking or stressful when you're either mourning those who died or worrying about who you will have to mourn next... lol

[kirant]

I need a little more warm and fuzzy in my life sometimes. a good balance of insightful/provocative/meaningful shows (which often are at least somewhat dark because it's difficult to make a meaningful show when everything is "sunshine and rainbows"), and some... actual sunshine and rainbows, or at least rain followed by sunshine and rainbows. as opposed to, like, natural disasters followed by seeing depressed people look at everything they once loved being destroyed, lol.

 

sorry, I like my silly analogies

To be fair, the character's "warm and fuzzy" life comparable is probably akin to Evangelion minus all the characters being mentally screwed up nine ways to Sunday.  Which isn't terrible, minus the fighting aliens part.

 

The series actually is more of the "rain, then sun, then rain" cycle you describe.  There are perfectly normal sequences at times (mostly in the first half of the series) where characters go to school, plan events, go on team bonding activities, etc (a comparison for pure grimdark might be Texhnolyze).  The 2004 series did rack up the depression score in episodes ~21 to 26 and it looks like this series is hitting the same point.

 

I totally understand that, though I'm not quite the same. I can still enjoy something that is predictable because for me the journey is just as important if not more important than the outcome. I want to know how X will be saved and at what cost it will come—it might not come at the main character's life or something but there can still be consequences or things given/taken and the journey in itself is exciting to me. of course, shows that are more willing to take risks and thus be less predictable are also enjoyable albeit they probably make me a bit anxious deep down--those shows where no one is safe and you don't feel like people have plot armor or plot powers or plot destiny or whatever can be thrilling but it can also be heartbreaking or stressful when you're either mourning those who died or worrying about who you will have to mourn next... lol

The problem in a long running series though is that the "cost" is typically not all that bad.  It'll be something they can work with and most cases have the character return back to their old selves at some point.  Rarely do you get something like a debilitating injury (one that would force either them to sideline the character permanently or force the artists to change how they animate the character) and instead fall back on "they're lying in bed" or "they're a mummy".  It really doesn't end up feeling like a cost for me. 

 

It's certainly hard for a long runner to make things exciting without the "anybody can die" effect in play since they need to keep their character healthy but need to find a way to make danger actually feel like danger.  This goes double if it's a main character (triple if it's THE main character) since you know they can't do anything bad to them.  Cinemasins provides the perfect example of this in some movie called Divergent around the 12:45 mark (of the video, not the counter in the top-right corner):

 

 

EDIT -

 

Holy hell.  Turns out we have a new winner for most badass pilot in the series only playing second fiddle to the series' protagonists.

Spoiler

Turns out, this is not the face of mercy.

 

 

For reference, the above is a character you'd fully expect from that image. Typically. Turns out, this season broke her too as it has most other characters. The story previously mentioned (in the season 10 years ago) that she was an exceptional pilot but she's never really distinguished herself aside from being an unusually good sniper. Breaking her caused her to completely curb stomp a squad of elite sociopathic human soldiers (which no other character even laid a finger on before this). In a much less special unit than most other characters. While the enemies were fully armed and her unit has nothing but emergency weaponry.  And using nothing but tow cables for half the fight.

[Ezra]

I've been watching:

One Piece; currently on the thriller bark arc. I'm on episode 370 to be exact.

Gintama, I'm on episode 50.

And I've also been watching One Punch man but I've only seen the first 2 episodes.