October 7th, 2015
2015 Fall Anime first impressions
One Punch Man-
3/5
A surprisingly mixed bag, given how I quite enjoyed the manga series. On the positive side, the score for One Punch Man has so far been sublime, though admittedly Jam Project's unintelligible opening is very throw-away. However, for the most part it matches, or outright exceeds, the intensity of any given scene. This is important, because so far the art direction has been... less inspired than one might have hoped. The characters can be quite detailed in moments of low intensity, and this applies even more so to the backgrounds, but the clumsy melting of the characters faces at moderate distances and mediocre framing make this much-hyped anime action romp a far cry from the spectacle of Blood Blockade Battlefront or Fate Stay Night/Unlimited Blade Works. Not only are the scenes framed oddly, but sequenced unconventionally, leading to negligible build-up or pay-off. Additionally, much like Space Dandy, the character movements have a half-finished quality about them, which really hurts what are supposed to be great fight scenes. On the whole, the first half of the episode left me feeling worried, and the second half, with soaring violins and intense action, didn't quite quell my fears, though did dampen them slightly.
Attack on Titan! Middle School-
3/5
Featuring what is surely the most likeable depiction of Eren thus far, this new Titan anime boasts a stunningly broad colour palette and cleverly remodelled character designs reminiscent of those in Nichijo! With that being sad though, this does not look set to become a "Carnival Phantasm" level referential success, as ironically it isn't quite as funny as the original series. The scene where Sasha is seen eating a riceball (instead of a potato) doesn't quite work as well due to the lack of tension at orientation that was pulled off so well in the original series. Additionally, Armin is being given a very lazy comedic makeover, being the shy, embarrassed one in a way that feels like he could have been a completely original character. However, Mikasa and Jean's characters work quite well, particularly in terms of how well Mikasa's voice actress contrasts her physical appearance. On the whole, if you like Attack on Titan, you might like this, but it certainly isn't my pick for anime of the season. That honour goes to...
Owarimonogatari-
4/5
Very rarely can an episode span 50 minutes with so much trippy dialogue and still successfully retain my interest throughout, but Owarimonogatari not only managed to do that, but immediately became a contender for my favourite anime from this year. From Ougi's outstanding snake-like facial appearance and sneering, manipulative nudges, to Oikura's genuine expression of bitterness, contempt and heartbreak, Shinbou really outdid himself with this first episode. Not only is this series, narratively, among the most promising in months, with its themes of "majority rule" and honest regret, but aesthetically, it boasts well-chosen colours, angles and metaphorical representations. The opening is about as engaging as a lullaby, but the ending truly embodies the feeling of youthful desire through visuals and sound. In all honesty, I have little to complain about in regards to this one.
3/5
A surprisingly mixed bag, given how I quite enjoyed the manga series. On the positive side, the score for One Punch Man has so far been sublime, though admittedly Jam Project's unintelligible opening is very throw-away. However, for the most part it matches, or outright exceeds, the intensity of any given scene. This is important, because so far the art direction has been... less inspired than one might have hoped. The characters can be quite detailed in moments of low intensity, and this applies even more so to the backgrounds, but the clumsy melting of the characters faces at moderate distances and mediocre framing make this much-hyped anime action romp a far cry from the spectacle of Blood Blockade Battlefront or Fate Stay Night/Unlimited Blade Works. Not only are the scenes framed oddly, but sequenced unconventionally, leading to negligible build-up or pay-off. Additionally, much like Space Dandy, the character movements have a half-finished quality about them, which really hurts what are supposed to be great fight scenes. On the whole, the first half of the episode left me feeling worried, and the second half, with soaring violins and intense action, didn't quite quell my fears, though did dampen them slightly.
Attack on Titan! Middle School-
3/5
Featuring what is surely the most likeable depiction of Eren thus far, this new Titan anime boasts a stunningly broad colour palette and cleverly remodelled character designs reminiscent of those in Nichijo! With that being sad though, this does not look set to become a "Carnival Phantasm" level referential success, as ironically it isn't quite as funny as the original series. The scene where Sasha is seen eating a riceball (instead of a potato) doesn't quite work as well due to the lack of tension at orientation that was pulled off so well in the original series. Additionally, Armin is being given a very lazy comedic makeover, being the shy, embarrassed one in a way that feels like he could have been a completely original character. However, Mikasa and Jean's characters work quite well, particularly in terms of how well Mikasa's voice actress contrasts her physical appearance. On the whole, if you like Attack on Titan, you might like this, but it certainly isn't my pick for anime of the season. That honour goes to...
Owarimonogatari-
4/5
Very rarely can an episode span 50 minutes with so much trippy dialogue and still successfully retain my interest throughout, but Owarimonogatari not only managed to do that, but immediately became a contender for my favourite anime from this year. From Ougi's outstanding snake-like facial appearance and sneering, manipulative nudges, to Oikura's genuine expression of bitterness, contempt and heartbreak, Shinbou really outdid himself with this first episode. Not only is this series, narratively, among the most promising in months, with its themes of "majority rule" and honest regret, but aesthetically, it boasts well-chosen colours, angles and metaphorical representations. The opening is about as engaging as a lullaby, but the ending truly embodies the feeling of youthful desire through visuals and sound. In all honesty, I have little to complain about in regards to this one.
Posted by AmbiguousMonster | Oct 7, 2015 3:14 AM | 0 comments
September 23rd, 2015
Things I've seen the first episode or so of and may continue but I'm not making any promises
Anime Relations: Zankyou no Terror
Zankyou no Terror, Blast of Tempest, Yoru no Yatterman, Assassination Classroom, Ushio and Tora, I can't understand what my husband is saying, Ninja Slayer, Sword Art Online, Garo, Anohana, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Barakamon, Prison School, Gangsta, Log Horizon, K-ON!, Soul Eater, Texhnolyze.
Posted by AmbiguousMonster | Sep 23, 2015 5:19 PM | 0 comments
July 13th, 2015
2015 Summer Anime: First Impressions
Welcome to my first impressions. I won't include sequels or things I'm not interested in.
God Eater:
Narratively, I expected little from this, being a video game adaptation, and it delivered in that regard. However, I also expected it to deliver on the directorial front and be backed up with solid animation and an interesting art style. In that regard, it delivered even more. The colours and gradients are appropriately futuristic while also seeming suitably dark and brooding. The smooth, unique camera angles and measured utilisation of panning and "camera" movements also help to create a sense of individuality for this series. On the negative side, there are a few hiccups in the animation, and the show-don't-tell philosophy was taken a little too far in this episode. Additionally, how will anything be resolved in just 13 episodes? Only time will tell, but for now, this series, with its star-studded voice acting cast and high-quality presentation, has my attention.
Rokka no Yuusha:
The Saturday morning Disney cartoon of the season. Rokka no Yuusha brings the spirit of adventure to life in a bright and vibrant fantasy world. The charismatic Adlet is engaging, both in mannerisms and particularly in combat, but the Princess's more naïve and inexperienced personality shows more signs of development. The other 4 haven't been shown yet, though I fear that, as a 12 episode series, they may not all see much development or even screen time. On the technical side, the animation for the characters isn't very original, but the aforementioned colour palette makes it easy to tell our lead characters apart from commoners and reflects characteristics quite well. The CGI used for the monsters, while not quite as clear as those in God Eater, is serviceable, though sadly doesn't blend into the background very effectively. However, with a promisingly fast-paced start and a strong lead, Rokka no Yuusha is my current favourite.
Ushio to Tora:
Ushio to Tora is a new MAPPA anime that combines the charm and design of the old manga series with the fluidity and detail of modern high quality animation. Tora is undoubtedly the star of the show, with his funny lack of common sense and grumbly voice making him the kind of character who will probably sell a ton of merchandise. Ushio isn't bad either, but doesn't quite carry the same appeal as Tora. At the moment, it seems that the story will be episodic, but as the manga is longer than both Rurouni Kenshin and Fullmetal Alchemist, this series may continue for quite a while if it finds success. So far, the pacing is well done, with a standard monster-of-the-week style format playing out while Ushio embraces the secrets of the staff. The CGI used for some of the monsters does clash with the backgrounds and other characters, but otherwise this series is a very well-produced shounen that will likely entertain me for many weekends to come.
Gangsta:
Of everything to have aired this season, this is certainly the one about which I have the most to say. Having read the manga, I presumed that I knew what this anime would be like, but this adaptation, though maintaining the aesthetics and plot points of its source material, exudes a rather different feeling.
In the manga, while Alex is "working", a full back shot is shown of her and the man with whom she is... working. Though this established her role and status, in the anime things play out quite differently. The audience are positioned with her, leaving us feelings as frustrating and uncomfortable as her, while also seeing the gleaming desperation in her eyes and realising that she would rather be anywhere else, but isn't able to be. Not only does this establish her character very effectively, but makes the emotional moment at the end of episode 1 more impactful. On top of that, Nicolas's deafness isn't made fun of or belittled, but instead is treated like a minor obstacle which he has long since overcome. This delicacy shown when dealing with the disposition of these two characters is very intriguing, as it would have been very easy for this series to have belittled them in a mean-spirited way, just turning them into "The Prostitute" or "The Deaf Guy". On a more personal level, knowing many people with disabilities, this series would be dropped immediately in disgust if the writers did choose to take this route, and Gangsta is all the better for not taking it.
On the negative side, there wasn't really much in the way of excitement. Worick, Nicolas and Alex are well-established, but there isn't much in the way of actual energising battles, with the only confrontation resembling more of a one-sided beat-down than anything else. Though taking a minimalistic approach to action has worked well with others series, in this case I think utilising a character who can flip cars would probably be a good idea if you want to engage you audience. The music was also rather unfitting in the emotional climax, though on the whole the score, with a fine opening and ending, makes for an aurally pleasing experience in spite of such hiccups. Visually, this does slightly resemble Manglobe's other series called "Ergo Proxy" with its washed-out palette, which is essentially the complete opposite of Rokka no Yuusha, but the quality is a little hit-and-miss.
Those are my opinions on God Eater, Rokka no Yuusha, Ushio to Tora and Gangsta. I will try to keep up with these in the future.
God Eater:
Narratively, I expected little from this, being a video game adaptation, and it delivered in that regard. However, I also expected it to deliver on the directorial front and be backed up with solid animation and an interesting art style. In that regard, it delivered even more. The colours and gradients are appropriately futuristic while also seeming suitably dark and brooding. The smooth, unique camera angles and measured utilisation of panning and "camera" movements also help to create a sense of individuality for this series. On the negative side, there are a few hiccups in the animation, and the show-don't-tell philosophy was taken a little too far in this episode. Additionally, how will anything be resolved in just 13 episodes? Only time will tell, but for now, this series, with its star-studded voice acting cast and high-quality presentation, has my attention.
Rokka no Yuusha:
The Saturday morning Disney cartoon of the season. Rokka no Yuusha brings the spirit of adventure to life in a bright and vibrant fantasy world. The charismatic Adlet is engaging, both in mannerisms and particularly in combat, but the Princess's more naïve and inexperienced personality shows more signs of development. The other 4 haven't been shown yet, though I fear that, as a 12 episode series, they may not all see much development or even screen time. On the technical side, the animation for the characters isn't very original, but the aforementioned colour palette makes it easy to tell our lead characters apart from commoners and reflects characteristics quite well. The CGI used for the monsters, while not quite as clear as those in God Eater, is serviceable, though sadly doesn't blend into the background very effectively. However, with a promisingly fast-paced start and a strong lead, Rokka no Yuusha is my current favourite.
Ushio to Tora:
Ushio to Tora is a new MAPPA anime that combines the charm and design of the old manga series with the fluidity and detail of modern high quality animation. Tora is undoubtedly the star of the show, with his funny lack of common sense and grumbly voice making him the kind of character who will probably sell a ton of merchandise. Ushio isn't bad either, but doesn't quite carry the same appeal as Tora. At the moment, it seems that the story will be episodic, but as the manga is longer than both Rurouni Kenshin and Fullmetal Alchemist, this series may continue for quite a while if it finds success. So far, the pacing is well done, with a standard monster-of-the-week style format playing out while Ushio embraces the secrets of the staff. The CGI used for some of the monsters does clash with the backgrounds and other characters, but otherwise this series is a very well-produced shounen that will likely entertain me for many weekends to come.
Gangsta:
Of everything to have aired this season, this is certainly the one about which I have the most to say. Having read the manga, I presumed that I knew what this anime would be like, but this adaptation, though maintaining the aesthetics and plot points of its source material, exudes a rather different feeling.
In the manga, while Alex is "working", a full back shot is shown of her and the man with whom she is... working. Though this established her role and status, in the anime things play out quite differently. The audience are positioned with her, leaving us feelings as frustrating and uncomfortable as her, while also seeing the gleaming desperation in her eyes and realising that she would rather be anywhere else, but isn't able to be. Not only does this establish her character very effectively, but makes the emotional moment at the end of episode 1 more impactful. On top of that, Nicolas's deafness isn't made fun of or belittled, but instead is treated like a minor obstacle which he has long since overcome. This delicacy shown when dealing with the disposition of these two characters is very intriguing, as it would have been very easy for this series to have belittled them in a mean-spirited way, just turning them into "The Prostitute" or "The Deaf Guy". On a more personal level, knowing many people with disabilities, this series would be dropped immediately in disgust if the writers did choose to take this route, and Gangsta is all the better for not taking it.
On the negative side, there wasn't really much in the way of excitement. Worick, Nicolas and Alex are well-established, but there isn't much in the way of actual energising battles, with the only confrontation resembling more of a one-sided beat-down than anything else. Though taking a minimalistic approach to action has worked well with others series, in this case I think utilising a character who can flip cars would probably be a good idea if you want to engage you audience. The music was also rather unfitting in the emotional climax, though on the whole the score, with a fine opening and ending, makes for an aurally pleasing experience in spite of such hiccups. Visually, this does slightly resemble Manglobe's other series called "Ergo Proxy" with its washed-out palette, which is essentially the complete opposite of Rokka no Yuusha, but the quality is a little hit-and-miss.
Those are my opinions on God Eater, Rokka no Yuusha, Ushio to Tora and Gangsta. I will try to keep up with these in the future.
Posted by AmbiguousMonster | Jul 13, 2015 2:56 AM | 0 comments
February 28th, 2015
Berserk; The Golden Age
Anime Relations: Kenpuu Denki Berserk, Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen I - Haou no Tamago, Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen II - Doldrey Kouryaku, Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen III - Kourin
Over the week, having some time off before things get busy, I read a manga that I had heard many good things about. Berserk, by Kentarou Miura, is a story set in a dark, grim medieval fantasy world, where people live in fear and oppression and no-one is safe. The atmosphere of this manga was very bleak, yet didn't seem like it was trying to be dogmatically cool (like Elfen Lied) or trying to be memorable purely through shock-value. Some of the events that took place in this were simply horrifying, but were executing in a thoughtful and respectful manner, making them feel all the more real.
The Golden Age arc begins with Guts, our protagonist, being raised in a harsh and unforgiving environment by Gambino, whose party recovered him as a newborn. Guts, being blessed with inhuman strength and skill, quickly ascends to become a fearsome swordsman, but is at best ignored and disregarded; at worst, he is put through searing torture, both emotionally and physically. After an unfortunate event, he is forced to flee for his life, and join other mercenaries for survival. This process leads him to join the Band of the Hawk.
The story from there is brilliant, with sweeping scope and battles, but not to the detriment of its intriguing and multifaceted characters. My favourite is certainly Guts, who rises above the air-headed sword-swinging idealist found in many a battle shounen to become a truly fascinating character, both reflecting his past and experiences while not being defined by them. The other characters, particularly Griffith and Casca, are also well-written, but make several decisions and are victimised too often for them to seem quite as formidable.
The art is creative and detailed to the point where it could be called iconic. The character designs are my favourite aspect (even if an unsavoury amount of them is displayed) as it can display both subtle emotional undercurrents and bombastic expressions. There is minimal comedy in either art or story, so that may be something to keep in mind if serious stories are not your interest.
I hope to do an in-depth review of this manga once I have read some more of it, though so far it is in contention with Monster to be my favourite manga thus far.
The Golden Age arc begins with Guts, our protagonist, being raised in a harsh and unforgiving environment by Gambino, whose party recovered him as a newborn. Guts, being blessed with inhuman strength and skill, quickly ascends to become a fearsome swordsman, but is at best ignored and disregarded; at worst, he is put through searing torture, both emotionally and physically. After an unfortunate event, he is forced to flee for his life, and join other mercenaries for survival. This process leads him to join the Band of the Hawk.
The story from there is brilliant, with sweeping scope and battles, but not to the detriment of its intriguing and multifaceted characters. My favourite is certainly Guts, who rises above the air-headed sword-swinging idealist found in many a battle shounen to become a truly fascinating character, both reflecting his past and experiences while not being defined by them. The other characters, particularly Griffith and Casca, are also well-written, but make several decisions and are victimised too often for them to seem quite as formidable.
The art is creative and detailed to the point where it could be called iconic. The character designs are my favourite aspect (even if an unsavoury amount of them is displayed) as it can display both subtle emotional undercurrents and bombastic expressions. There is minimal comedy in either art or story, so that may be something to keep in mind if serious stories are not your interest.
I hope to do an in-depth review of this manga once I have read some more of it, though so far it is in contention with Monster to be my favourite manga thus far.
Posted by AmbiguousMonster | Feb 28, 2015 11:37 PM | 0 comments