Anime Thread. [Prob not 56k safe]

[Sylvrdragon]

Spice and Wolf season 1 and 2 only covered up to the 4th novel. There is 14 novels out in Japan, but it looks like its winding down. I read the novel spoiler thread on the Animesuki forums, looks like it's getting pretty serious.

Ugh, that is way too long for me. I think my comparison with Ranma was spot on. I'm told that, by the end, there was finally resolution (in the aforementioned area), but it took 7 ~24-episode seasons, 2 movies, and 13 OVAs to finally do it. AKA, they milked it for every zen they possibly could utilizing the same sexual tension ploy in nearly every single episode.

Either aspect by itself doesn't bother me all THAT much (recycle a theme for a short period of time, or milk a franchise, but with different content). After all, I watch Bleach and Naruto, but the S&W episodes don't change.

Also, I'm not sure there has been as much Character development as the the characters themselves insist there has been. I say they've been pretty much the same since maybe episode 3, and that you could swap any arcs from 4-23 without anyone really noticing (might have to take out a flashback scene or 2).

Sorry for the rant. I did like what I saw of the series, it's just that I think I'll get out now while it still has some charm.

[Eaglestrike]

I would disagree about S&W.

Spoiler: show

Season 1 Lawrence freaks the fuck out at Horo's wolf form. He later is a bit uneasy but accepts it at the end and in Season 2 he's asked her to even use it.

At first Horo and Lawrence fight at any point and Horo is doing what she can to help him (when deemed appropriate) and in season 2 she's fucking with Lawrence, heh. The amount of trust between them increased greatly between early on and now. We'll see if things continue to progress in the next few seasons though, as it could turn into what you're complaining about.

To me though it's not about Lawrence and Horo finally doing it, it's just enjoying their dialogue while they go about things. Everything that isn't about Lawrence and Horo doing it is plenty enjoyable to me, the trading and the world and such. As well, who says the final novel is where they start doing it? This is their adventures, it doesn't need to end with them getting it on, that could just further complicate things later on so they start doing it midway through the novels.

[Kaylia]

Lawrence did seem to develop an immunity to Horo's teasing overtime, and actually manage to make her jealous/worriedr. In the first season, the dialogue were often one sided, while in the second season, Lawrence hold his weight a lot more often. I don't know...I did have the impression they just met in season 1, but in the 2nd one, it felt like they have been traveling together for a while. Essentially, they haven't changed much, but they don't feel the exact same either, even if it's subtle.

And I agree with Eaglestrike. The show isn't so much about them getting together (since it's pretty much a given ), but also about figuring out how they are going to suceed. I'm actually enjoying the trading part on its own.

[Ker]

???PV / Chinka PV
http://i41.tinypic.com/wqiwx.jpg


Wondering if this an April fools joke by www.dannychoo.com. but he did post this way back on March 24th anyhow enjoy the PV.

[Zilong]

WORDS.

Get the fuck out

In all seriousness, I don't think it's even close to Rumiko Takahashi's shit, it's just a long slice of life series with great dialogue and character interaction.

Honestly, if you don't see the difference in the chemistry between Horo and Lawrence in S1 and S2, I'd suggest you go back to watching shit where 2 guys rubs their swords against each other and talk about who has it longer.

[octopus]

lol, dammit aprils fools days (check tokyotosho if you want to know what I mean)

[Sylvrdragon]

On the subject of S&W discussion:

Spoiler: show

I must admit, I did enjoy the dialog between them for a majority of the series thus far, it just seems that a lot of it is already starting to be recycled. For instance, Horo's teasing about how Lawrence wants her (and women in general) to be weak and needy. She said it at least 3 times, and Lawrence's responded every time like it was the first time he heard it (aka, no response at all). Or perhaps the theme where he's given the option to use/sacrifice Horo for his own ends (also 3 times). Or the jealousy theme (Pretty much every other female character introduced...).

Oh, and I don't necessarily mean sex when I mention resolution. If this were ecchi or hentai, then yeah, but really any MUTUAL agreement of commitment or even feelings would be more likely, and would basically fit the requirements to constitute as closure. Basically, the end of the flirting/courtship stage.

I've noticed that every anime (and pretty much every story in general) that CONTAINS a romance story ultimately ends up being ABOUT the romance story. In most series', the action-climax inevitably becomes entwined with the romance-climax- typically when the main protagonist has to rescue their love interest from the big bad, or has to make a noble sacrifice or hard choice to save them. (I feel like most of these terms should have links to a TV Tropes article) Of course... I suppose that with this anime in particular, it started out being about the romance story in the first place.

Anyway, to get back on topic, I don't like seeing a potentially good story drawn out too long. S&W is teetering on that line already. If this is really less than 1/3 of the currently published manga (which I understand it still ongoing?), then I think it's already beyond saving.

[Elcura]

Hush your heathen mouth. Even without the romance there's still a lot going for S&W.

[Dantrag]

I know the last FMP novel is supposed to be released soon if it hasn't already D:

[Kaylia]

Baka to test last 2 episodes kinda sucked. I assume they were exclusive to the anime to give it some closure, but they werent as funny as the other before (the pi*r² part did made me laugh in the last one though)

[Sylvrdragon]

Hush your heathen mouth. Even without the romance there's still a lot going for S&W.

This is true. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't think of any of this stuff WHILE watching the show. It was only in retrospect while I was trying to come up with something to say about it on this thread that I pinpointed the "flaws" as I see them. I realize now that I left out the list of things I LIKE about the show, which is actually longer than my list of complaints.

The jokes are funny. The dialog is witty and intelligent. The characters are both interesting. The setting is quite immersible. Horo is basically perfect in every way that matters to me. None of the conflicts were particularly over-the-top (aside from the whole Giant Wolf transformation thing, but, well, it IS Fantasy). Lawrence is a protagonist that I can relate to in at least a few ways.

I don't really know dick about music or art, but I had no complaints, so they're good enough for me. Only a few series really stand out in one direction or the other to me.

Rather than pointing out a flaw, I would say my initial comments were more stating my concern for the future of the series based on trends that I've seen with other shows. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong.

[Ker]

HeroMan Ep1

This was a slow start for this series, wish they used the manga material for the introduction than half ass it, the Ep was mainly let's see how much of a loser Joey is until he gets HeroMan and then saves Rina's life along with her father. the manga had a fight with one of the aliens, which would had made this episode much stronger, as it would offer some some challange to heroman.

-Animation was amazing, I expect nothing less coming from Studio Bones.
-Music was average, pretty much the weakest part of whole series.
-The show is clearly aimed for the kids.
-The ending animation was really nice.

I did find Stan Lee's cameos funny, but I wish he did his own character's voice, even if all of them spoke JP but him lol.

http://i44.tinypic.com/19xr9g.jpghttp://i39.tinypic.com/10mn5lu.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/r8b7zn.jpghttp://i43.tinypic.com/swfn9t.jpg

[Gulkeeva]

HeroMan Ep1

This was a slow start for this series, wish they used the manga material for the introduction to the series since this was mainly let's see how much of a loser Joey is until he gets HeroMan and then saves Rina's life along with her father, in the manga he had a fight with one of the aliens, which would had made this episode much stronger.

-Animation was amazing, I expect nothing less coming from Studio Bones.
-Music was average, pretty much the weakest part of whole series.
-The show is clearly aimed for the kids.
-The ending animation was really nice, best part of first episode by far.

I did find Stan Lee's cameos funny, but I wish he did his own character's voice, even if all of them spoke JP but him lol.
http://i44.tinypic.com/19xr9g.jpghttp://i39.tinypic.com/10mn5lu.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/r8b7zn.jpghttp://i43.tinypic.com/swfn9t.jpg

oh wow its out already O_o

also randomly.. does the kid on the bottom right remind anyone else of cowboy bebop?

[Kaylia]

Yeah, if Spike had his hair on steroid, thatr's what it would look like

[Koul]

it makes me think of that one kid from digimon

[Elcura]

Needs more googles.

[Man0warr]

In the S&W novels, they are getting farther into the North and at some point found a map of where Yoitsu was supposed to be before it got destroyed (or whatever that rumor said happened to it).

Horo and Lawrence are clearly agonizing over what's going to happen to their relationship when/if they find Yoitsu and Horo's homeland.

Comparing the relationships and romance in S&W to some shounen shit is beyond ridiculous though.

[Ker]

oh wow its out already O_o

Yeah, Kaichou wa Maid-sama and B Gata H Kei are today as well.


To-Love Ru OVA 6

Well this another ova released today, the first two segments were amusing, I didn't like the last segment but it had most nudity in it, people should enjoy this OVA once it's subbed.
NSFW

Spoiler: show

http://i44.tinypic.com/rjpaps.jpghttp://i39.tinypic.com/11jnpk3.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/wa38tt.jpghttp://i40.tinypic.com/22hpic.jpg

[Charismatic]

Edit
http://i39.tinypic.com/67jg2f.jpg
the new Tales of Symphonia Tethe'alla (Raw) is out

Here is the new opening for people who are following the OVA

Spoiler: show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uyyq14J_0s

Credit tan blog

Relevant to my interests, thanks for the heads up... had no clue that was already out

[Ker]

No Problem.

B Gata H Kei Ep1

It did start little off with the vagina joke at start, but the jokes were funny all way through, I don't think I stopped smiling and laughing until the episode was over, the penis bump joke was probably my favor bit of this episode.I do think that your enjoyment will be heavily influenced by how funny you find sex in general.my only complain is the animation and music as it's just average.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2zeih38.jpg

Opening

Spoiler: show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAJhXa9NXI4

Edit

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! EP1

J.C.STAFF playing it safe with this adaptation, the story is almost exactly like the manga, in terms of the structure and jokes.I had my doubts with them casting Okamoto Nobuhiko and Fujimura Ayumi as main leads however they did an excellent job, so happy with this series overall.

http://i41.tinypic.com/21n0bbc.jpg

Opening

Spoiler: show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsLY5WeW5Xw