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Post by Nutz on Dec 29, 2013 9:31:46 GMT -5
Been a while since I last posted in this thread, so here goes:
Finished So I Can't Play H. It started as a hentai wannabe version of Bleach. Grim Reapers come to claim souls. The main protagonist was a unlikeable sex crazed pervert. But slowly, the tides turned and the show really developed into something decently different from Bleach, including a REAL ENDING. So from the trenches of a C, the show turned into a B.
Brighter than the Dawning Blue. This is exhibit A for what could have been if an anime show was granted a decent budget. Man has half way realized its dream of traveling to the stars, and managed to colonize the moon. But the evils of mankind rears its ugly head, and a terrible war breaks out between Earth and the Moon. This show sets up in the aftermath, generations beyond the last war. A tenuous peace has arrived, but the scars of war is still very much on the minds of the inhabitants of both worlds. When the young lunar princess comes to Earth to study in school, it sets for the catalysis for either hope or despair. If your mind is starting to go numb from reading all this, it demonstrates my point---a well developed show. Ah, but what's the catch you ask? A low, tiny budget for the animation. This is based on a Playstation game, and the history of anime shows based on games are sketchy; so I understood why studios wouldn't commit a bigger budget. And it shows. The show starts with a poorly drawn, almost laughable scene showing space fight, with space ships getting blown apart. The character designs are a tad better visually. The story and music are top notch, easily A+s. The artwork/animation is a C. Final grade B+.
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Post by Nutz on Jan 8, 2014 12:07:15 GMT -5
Maoyu on crunchyroll. First impression? Spice and Wolf wannabe, but w/ demons instead of wolf goddess. Average animation, very interesting concepts, average character development. Basically, the demon king convinces the hero to enter into a partnership to end conflict between humans and demons. How? By resolving common problems, like hunger and disease. Very advanced concepts, compared to what was inserted in Spice and Wolf. I felt that certain concepts in Maoyu like liberation, dual currency were a tad too advanced and not adequately explained within the anime show. You could view Spice and Wolf as requiring a high school education to follow, but Maoyu requires a college education. Obviously the studio was looking to cram everything into one season, so this achievement came at a high price--viewership enjoyment of the show. The show gets an A+ for originality and ambition, but a C+ for execution of the initial vision. Final Grade: B+
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Post by Nutz on Jan 8, 2014 12:11:04 GMT -5
Ace of Diamond on crunchyroll. A supremely talented but equally confident though lacking in baseball knowledge pitcher finally learns what he's missing---training, dedication, knowledge. His enrollment in a high level high school baseball program is a an eye opener, and a glimpse of his true ability as an ace is revealed in the very last episode. It is enjoyable if you like high school baseball anime, but not so if you dislike the characters in the show. In other words, it's a hit or miss w/ viewers depending on personal taste. Final Grade: B
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Post by Nutz on Jan 10, 2014 12:27:44 GMT -5
Infinite Stratos 2 on crunchyroll. In many ways, the show is more of the same from season 1. If you liked S1, you'll luv S2. If you hated the first season, you'll hate the second. pros: great animation, fighting/action sequences, new gals for Ichika's growing harem! The animation studio KNOWS that it has a winner and they're not cutting the budget for this show. The anime show is visually pleasing, and I bet it would look fantastic when it's released on blu ray and viewed at 1080p resolution.
Cons: weak storyline. The original season was a get-to-know-you type of season, where the focus was on the character introduction and relationship exploration. This SHOULD have been the season where things start to come together. The last few minutes of the first episode seems to hint that this is the case, but. . . NOT! Yes, sorely needed villains are introduced, but they're not getting nearly enough screen time for viewers to develop strong feelings against. No, instead the focus for S2 is more of harem formation. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy harem shows as much as the next red-blooded adult male anime fan. But there was SO much potential and expectation for this season, and in the end I was. . . disappointed. I guess the writers wanted to save up some storyline for a third season, because you KNOW it's in the works. I predict third season being released within 2 years. in the meantime, my grade for Season 2 is a B.
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Post by lee13 on Jan 11, 2014 3:21:20 GMT -5
that's a lot of reviews, did you get the chance to finish a 12ep series like every other day or something  I just finished the first ep of IS2 yesterday and put in on hold, guess its not my type anime, and didn't watch season one either. Just finished Unbreakable Machine Doll now...was interesting at beginning but the development was slow, and before too much development, 12eps are used up and the anime ended at a cliff. Wouldn't mind if a season 2 is announced tho. |
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Post by Nutz on Jan 13, 2014 10:36:23 GMT -5
I split my internet bandwidth w/ a few housemates. So when I see that my streaming on hulu/crunchyroll works properly, I tend to watch a few episodes in one sitting. but I don't post these reviews right away; I'd rather give a few days to think about what I've seen.
You REALLY need to watch IS1 to follow IS2. A lot of stuff goes on w/o explanation in the second season. Start w/ Season 1 episode one on hulu. It's free.
I came across the Unbreakable Machine Doll manga, and read a few chapters online. Will take a look at the anime on hulu sooner or later.
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Post by lee13 on Jan 16, 2014 1:27:55 GMT -5
Man...I know I should watch IS1 first, but I fast forwarded the series back when it first finished airing and didn't find the need to watch it, I just picked up IS2 on a whim, not sure if I'll finish it or just click through and see if anything is interesting at this point.
Its a great idea to give a few days for the series to sink in before review, I should do that with rating anime on MAL, because I can be quite bias right after a 7 anime with great/emotional ending and mistake it for a 9/10.
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Post by Nutz on Jan 19, 2014 1:08:07 GMT -5
An ending does not make a series. ^^ When I step back, I get time to think about how the series flowed as a whole, what the strengths and weaknesses were, etc.
Crunchyroll started showing some new series. Will give my impressions once I see more when the eps are free.
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Post by Souji Monaru on Jan 22, 2014 4:50:56 GMT -5
I recently watched the entire run of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S last week, and boy did I like it more than the first series! I liked it better than both Index series too! I am definitely an official Mikoto Maniac! ^__^
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Post by finalgear on Jan 22, 2014 15:45:50 GMT -5
An ending does not make a series. ^^ When I step back, I get time to think about how the series flowed as a whole, what the strengths and weaknesses were, etc. Crunchyroll started showing some new series. Will give my impressions once I see more when the eps are free. LOL... these new current Anime line-up... never end well.. cuz, their manga has not even finish yet... |
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Post by Nutz on Jan 26, 2014 12:56:50 GMT -5
I recently watched the entire run of To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S last week, and boy did I like it more than the first series! I liked it better than both Index series too! I am definitely an official Mikoto Maniac! ^__^ A Mikoto Maniac in the house? God help us all!  Haven't seen S. I'm glad you like it though. ^^ |
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Post by Nutz on Jan 26, 2014 13:04:08 GMT -5
LOL... these new current Anime line-up... never end well.. cuz, their manga has not even finish yet... You could be right about that. I'm still watching Ace on the Diamond at Crunchyroll and Log Horizon. Caught the first 2 eps of Nobunaga the Fool (which was just picked up by Sentai); the show reminds me of Escaflowne w/ the mecha and the strange but familiar world setting. Wizard Barristers look to be a very interesting show (lawyers for magicians gone bad!), w/ a dark background for the main protagonist. Caught one epi of Soni-Ani. Certainly fanservicy, and cute gals. But not a serious show. It's something worth watching to pass the time if you're into this genre. Magical Warfare. Saw one ep. Still in the air. Strange +. Detective show w/ action comedy. Not my cup of tea. I pass. Engaged to the Unidentified. Semi-romance comedy about a 16 year old girl in an arranged marriage. Some interesting setup w/ the inlaws and relatives. Looks promising. |
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Post by finalgear on Jan 28, 2014 11:21:12 GMT -5
^--- Escaflowne was a good series (was it on VHS) lol...
That will be a good series in BLUE-RAY/Re-master...
the movie sux...
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Post by Souji Monaru on Jan 28, 2014 22:22:33 GMT -5
Yeah, S is much better than the first series, imho. Haven't been watching anime much over the last few years. Been playing games more often than not...
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Post by Nutz on Jan 29, 2014 19:33:56 GMT -5
^--- Escaflowne was a good series (was it on VHS) lol... That will be a good series in BLUE-RAY/Re-master... the movie sux... Yes, it was originally released on VHS by Bandai, and available online as a boxed set at Bandai Village. They have it on dvd as well. I doubt it will ever see a blu ray release, as the material is quite old and they could easily blow a million bucks to remaster. Not much of a demand though. If Evangelion original series (aired on TV in Japan at around the same time as Escaflowne) get a remaster/blu ray edition, I think people would go for it. Yes, the Escaflowne movie is HORRIBLE. Thinking about it is making me wince. >< |
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I just finished the first ep of IS2 yesterday and put in on hold, guess its not my type anime, and didn't watch season one either.
