QUOTE (Seth @ Jan 23 2012, 07:28 PM) |
Kamina was such a badass person, his whole character was built around being a man, a true man, something every male strives for. Yoko was a lot of fan service, but she also had a reasonable part in the story, and it just wouldn't be the same if she had a different personality. |
I think the problem when I work with that is that Kamina isn't exactly original, nor the best of the type (many comparisons head to Gai Daigoji for almost being the prototype for him and generally considered to be the better of the two). For Yoko, it's almost a personal hate of Studio Gainax's style...I don't mind the theory there...heck, Ryoko Subaru is one of my favourite characters and draws some parallels in personality (though Ryoko's is just amazing because of what characters are around her to play off it). I struggle with the fact thought that when Gainax decides a scene is too boring "let's throw in some T&A from Yoko" "Yeah!". Maybe it's because I've grown accustomed to the particular style of the late '80s to mid '90s where fanservice is off to the side, if done at all, but the way they utilize the character always bugged me.
QUOTE (Seth @ Jan 23 2012, 07:28 PM) |
I know the series was meant as a sort of parody to what every other anime is, but something about it having everything good in it just made it epic. And the whole story of a boy fighting his way to save the universe, just using his willpower, is awesome. |
It to me has always struck as an attempt at a Saturday morning cartoon show...handed over to the most insane company you'd ask to do it (Gainax is famous for gratuitous use of bouncing...ahem...and Evangelion, which I really respect them for). The story of Simon/Simone is one that I think has been done a lot...the coming of age or mental awakening here doesn't change a lot. I also have a bit of favouritism to the psychological side of shows too...a show like Stellvia of the Universe is more interesting to me while covering similar base material about fighting to save yourselves (and pointless uses of Latin, my favourite dead language), but covers deeper topics such as how humans unite and how to accept one's limitations (to which, Gurren Lagann asks "what limitations?").
I guess before I fall completely off the rails with my post, I should note I'm watching Irresponsible Captain Tylor...a show I'm convinced was made over a bet that they couldn't make a show where they'll never be agreement on the main character's sanity or intelligence. Good show, but I don't think you'll ever get anybody to agree as to whether Tylor is a genius or a man with several horseshoes up his arse.