An Unnamed Anime Blog

Thoughts on New Shows

So here's some quick thoughts on the new season, based on what I've seen so far. Links go to JASCII's Anime Show Comments.

• School Rumble - I've only seen one episode, but I want more. So far it's got one of the best love triangles ever in a show. And it's pretty damn funny too. I'll be watching more of this.
• Bleach - Ever since my friend Lyn pointed me at the manga for this I've been a huge fan. So when I heard they were doing an anime I was psyched and nervous. This is one show I really wouldn't want to see messed up. Though I've only seen the first episode, I have to say that they've done a bang-up job with this. It has just the right feel that it should. This is something that I am sure will be licensed soon. The manga is also currently available here in the States and I highly recommend it.
• Uta-Kata - A girl from another world visits a high school girl on her last day of school before the summer and ends up staying with her. It seems like it might be interesting.
• Beet the Vandel Buster - Enh. I'll check out a second episode, but it isn't doing a ton for me.
• SunaBouzu - I think I like this one. It takes place on some post-apocalyptic world. The main character does the jobs that nobody else wants to do. It's pretty silly. And it has boobs. But it has promise (even if the character designs don't do much for me).

Next time round: Gunbuster 2, Harukanaru Toki no Naka de, Tsukuyomi Moon Phase, and others.

My Plea to Domestic Distributers

One thing I notice more and more is that fansubbers seem to do a much more complete job with their translations, and many times seem to come up with cleaner sounding subtitles. One recent example of this was the first Inu-Yasha movie, which was released by Viz. The fansub I saw of it translated the title something like "The Love That Transcends Time" (I don't have it right in front of me at the moment). Viz translated it as "Affections Touching Across Time". They both pretty much mean the same thing, but given a choice between what to call it I'd probably lean towards the first. The second just sounds kind of clunky.

The other thing I really like that I see in fansubs are the little notes that many of them have explaining various things in the show. Usually things to do with Japanese culture or explaining jokes. Too many times I see DVDs where they try to americanize the jokes more and they just don't work that well. The Azumanga Daioh DVDs are a good example of this to me. While I think ADV did a decent job with it, I've seen them do so much better.

So here's my plea to ADV, Geneon, Viz, Anime Works, FUNimation, and everyone else. Start having a subtitle track that also has notes like this. Or have them on an alternate angle or something. I like learning about the various little bits of the culture.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig - episode 14

I'm just a bit over halfway through the season season of this show and I'm still really enjoying it. This episode was a stand-alone episode that focused more on character development and history. In this one we find out how the sniper (whose name I'm spacing on at the moment) first met the Major. It's an interesting little story that is supposedly true, though since it is told through the eyes of the sniper there is definitely room for some interpretation.

Of course, now this makes me want to blow off sleep and go watch the second disk of Stand Alone Complex in DTS.

GitS Article

SFGATE.com has a nice article about some of the history of Ghost in the Shell in its various forms. Definitely an interesting read that seems to be fairly accurate.

Masamune Shirow, author of the original "GitS" manga, is one of the most popular -- and most enigmatic -- names in the manga industry; the creator of such best-selling series as "Appleseed" and "Dominion: Tank Police," he is famous for having a love of technology that borders on fetishism, and also for being so intensely private that he does not employ assistants (he letters and shades all of his artwork personally), refuses to be photographed or to appear in public and won't even reveal his real name: the one he goes by is a pseudonym some have suggested is inspired by the famous 13th-century swordsmith Masamune, or perhaps by the Kiku Masamune sake brewery, located in the artist's hometown of Kobe. (Typically, Shirow himself refuses to say.) [SFGATE.com]

Re; Cutie Honey - Episode 2

Honey Flash! I've got to say I'm really enjoying this OVA. It's silly, over the top, has tons of fanservice (oh my the fanservice!), and just plain fun. I've seen a bit of Cutie Honey before, but this is a new take on it. I believe it is at least someone influenced by the recent movie (which I really hope someone brings over here since I still haven't seen it).

The second gives us lots more action, with some pretty kickass fight scenes. As well as a little character development thrown in for taste. Oh yes, and did I mention the fan service? Honey-chan and Nat-chan fan service even! Overall a fun ride and I can't wait for the last episode (btw, can someone license this once I've seen it? I want this one on DVD too).

Anime Meets the Count of Monte Cristo

(crossposted to life-listed chronologically)

Wow. I just watched the trailer for a new anime series titled Gankutsuou. It looks like it will be an anime version of The Count of Monte Cristo. Of all the promos I've seen for the current season in Japan, this is the most stunning (and it's being produced by Gonzo, who have been doing great work lately). I hope it's as good as the animation looks. The story has been a favorite of mine since I read a version of it back in French in High School, I can't wait.

Anime That Makes You Go AUUUUUGH

One of the more recent shows I've been watching is Elfen Lied. While I have been enjoying the show a lot, the level and type of violence in it seems to make me cringe almost every episode. People are routinely decapitated, blood spurts everywhere, etc. The most recent one I watched (episode 8), almost pushed me to the "okay, this is just too much for me" point.

On the other hand, I'm still convinced that at the root of it, the show is just a dysfunctional harem show.