Monthly Archive for August, 2006

Summer’s End

14 Comments |
August 31, 2006
| Television

One of the nice things about living a mile above sea level is the fact Summer ends early. It’s already snowing in the mountains!

Of course, that means the Summer anime season is slowly wrapping up. I haven’t done this in awhile, so…

ARIA The Natural - I don’t necessarily believe in Heaven, but if there is a Heaven, and I end up there after dying in a rickshaw accident (or something), I hope it’s a lot like Neo-Venezia. If Akari’s there, that’d be great, but I’d settle for Alice just fine.

Nana - Has anything actually happened yet? Is the story going anywhere? Beats me. I still love every minute of it, even if I don’t know why.

Binbou Shimai Monogatari - When the show first began, I commented, “It’s only ten episodes. Might as well.” What I really meant to say was, “It’s only ten episodes? Why is it only ten episodes?” This show is a lot cuter than it should be, and I’m going to miss it once it’s gone.

NHK ni Youkoso! - I think this show is absolutely brilliant when it wants to be. I’ll let you know if it ever happens again.

Tonagura - Following a strong start, the show has settled into a lazy sort of groove. Kind of like reggae. Best thing about the show? Kazuki’s “family” essentially consists of a criminal, an accomplice, a victim, and an executioner. See the slapstick potential?

Zero no Tsukaima - This has been a surprisingly well-rounded show. Each episode puts a smile on my face. Then, someone reminds me of the fact it’s only 13 episodes long, and I want to cry. Comfort me, Louise!

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - I actually stopped caring about Higurashi a LONG time ago. Thankfully, cicadas usually die by the end of the September. HURRY UP AND DIE ALREADY.

Simoun - Unless this is your first time visiting, you should already know how I feel about Simoun. I just hope the show doesn’t bite off more than it can chew in its final act. Its “Best Show of the Year” designation ain’t a done deal.

Utawarerumono - Well, you probably already know how I feel about Utawarerumono, too. I still think it’s a great show, but for me, at least, the magic’s gone. I hate to say it, but I’m looking forward to seeing it wrap up.

Honey & Clover - Duh. My only complaint, really, is that, with so many different stories to wrap up in such a short amount of time, the second season has been an emotional rollercoaster from the very start. I hate to see it end, but, at the same time, I think I’ll be relieved when it finally comes to pass.

Bokura ga Ita - A rising star. Shoujo at its best. Nothing else to say. Watch it. Now.

Strawberry Panic - Ugh. Something happened on the way to the denouement. I got some sort of perverse kick out of the show’s angsty drama early on, but now that the story demands that I actually take it seriously, I can’t work up the energy.

Kanon - 35 days and counting!

Chokotto Sister - I’ve threatened to drop this show six or seven times now, but I never follow through. It’s not that it’s horrible, necessarily. It’s just that… well, I can’t think of any good reason why I continue to watch it. That can’t be good.

Ouran High School Host Club - You know, it’s unreal how consistently funny this show is. It’s like it can do no wrong. Except to end, that is. Please say there’s more manga chapters available to animate? Pretty please? Someone?

School Rumble - Whoops. I completely forgot I was watching School Rumble.

We Were There

16 Comments |
August 30, 2006
| Television

Occasionally, I’ll catch an episode of a live action Japanese drama and think, “Ah, I should really watch more of these.” But, I never seem to follow through. I just don’t have the time for it, I suppose. That, and I watch them just as much for the cheese factor as anything else, and it seems silly to set aside time for that alone. Even in Tokyo, I never bothered watching television, although that probably had more to do with my never being home in the evening. Except for the time the NHK man showed up, of course. Conspiracy, indeed.

In a lot of ways, Bokura ga Ita is a live action show disguised as anime. That’s not to say it would work better as live action, however. Stylistically, there are so many things the show does that only work in two dimensions, much like Honey & Clover. Still, it would be easy enough to fake.

Bokura ga Ita is also a show that’s difficult to talk about, because it’s really not all that special. The story and characters are standard shoujo manga boilerplate, the animation isn’t particularly flashy, and the direction is straightforward.

Or is it?

I actually find the simplicity of the animation comforting. I don’t have to think much about it, but it’ll occasionally do something spectacular, and I’ll think, “Wow, how about that!” The same with the direction. I’m a huge Akitaro Daichi fanboy, but I wouldn’t even recognize his work in the show if I didn’t know about it beforehand. Considering his distinct style, that’s saying something. Yet, once again, the show will occasionally do something spectacular, and I’ll think, “Wow, how about that!”

And, honestly, the two leads are quite fascinating. Everything that defines them as characters is entirely believable, as are the situations they find themselves in, yet… they’re still fascinating. I have fond memories of high school, but it’s not something I think about all that often. It’s so far in the past that it’s almost something abstract. But, as I’m listening to Yano and Nana talk to each other, I’m always thinking, “Ah, I remember this conversation.”

I can never remember how it turned out, though.

Fandom Eats Itself

50 Comments |
August 30, 2006
| Industry, Otaku

Once more unto the breach!

Before I begin, I should mention that I’m only keeping up with one Doremi release at the moment, that being Binbou Shimai Monogatari. Ignoring the odd line here and there, I’ve been satisfied with the group’s work on the show. Still, I think DarkMirage’s criticism of their Mai-Otome DVD Special release is legitimate. Someone really dropped the ball there.

Anyway…

Why do I watch fansubs? Because I’m lazy, to be honest. My Japanese comprehension skills are decent enough, but even despite that, there are very few shows I can fully enjoy without the aid of any translation whatsoever. Some shows, I can manage well enough. Others, I’d be completely lost without subtitles. In the end, I only have time to watch any given episode once before moving on, so I find its simply more efficient to wait patiently for a fansub release than attempt to stay on top of a show as it airs in Japan. My schedule is wonky enough that, even if I were pulling episodes off Winny the day they aired, I wouldn’t have time to watch them for several more days to come. Fansubs suit my pace, it seems.

But, as much as I appreciate the work fansub groups are doing, I have to admit that I find the fansub community in general to be a pretty ugly place. It’s the stench of arrogance, I think. Visit just about any fansub group’s website and poke around their discussion forum, and you’ll see it plain as day…

“When will the next episode be released?”

“Shut up and go away. It’ll be released when it’s released.”

It’s no secret that fansub groups compete with each other. Not over quality of work, mind you - unless you consider annoying karaoke effects to be work befitting of honest criticism - but, rather, over eyeballs. The group that gets the most attention wins. Who has more people idling in their IRC channel? Who has the most active discussion forum? Who sees their name in lights most often? It’s a popularity contest, obviously.

So why, pray tell, are so many fansubbers such giant assholes most of the time? Why do they insist on reminding people to “not complain about something they got for free?” Why do they waste so much energy trashing the commercial anime industry - an industry that, for all basic purposes, is responsible for bringing anime fandom out of the shadows and into the mainstream? And why do fansub groupies bend over and take it with a smile? The moronic “Fansubs are better than DVDs!” talking point will never die, I fear.

Mind you, I don’t think the fansub scene is a lost cause. I’d argue that things have improved a good bit in recent years. The days of mega-groups subbing more shows than feasible are behind us, it seems. Fewer niche shows are falling through the cracks. There are still some good groups out there doing good work for all the right reasons.

On the other hand, I have to agree with DarkMirage: fansubbers aren’t doing what they claim to be doing. Are fansubbers (and their fans) so arrogant as to think the commercial anime industry would be lost without them? Or is that just an excuse?

Honesty counts, you know.

Anime Two Point Oh!

6 Comments |
August 29, 2006
| News, Otaku

Suzumiya Haruhi is out to conquer the world, it seems. For the online version of the article, see here.

There’s no shortage of goofy anime parody videos available on YouTube, that’s for sure.

Lost Their Music

47 Comments |
August 26, 2006
| Television

Mecha? I mean, seriously… MECHA?

Utawarerumono done gone and jumped the shark.

Actually, I think the show’s been on a downhill slide ever since the “HAKURO SMASH!” arc. I just didn’t want to come out and say it. My overall opinion of the show is still positive, and I have to admit that it’s still a lot of fun when it wants to be. However, the story has completely fallen apart.

Oh well.

Knee Deep in the Hoopla

8 Comments |
August 25, 2006
| Otaku, Television

I’ve given in to temptation and caught up with Simoun, and can confidently say it’s now my favorite show of the year. Given how good a year this has been, that’s saying something.

If you’ve been waiting on the Simoun-Fans releases and feel like pushing forward, you can grab subtitle scripts here. Good luck finding raws, though. A friend was kind of enough to hook me up, for which I’m eternally grateful.

To avoid spoilers, I’ll abstain from saying anything else… except, “Tempus Spatium just wants to rock, man!”

Kanon Prelude

19 Comments |
August 24, 2006
| Television

Is it October yet?

For anime fans, this is the year that just keeps on giving. Kyoto Animation’s Kanon remake should be a winner - that much is practically a given - but, even so, I feel a little like a kid on Christmas morning every time something new about the show is revealed. A little nervous, a little excited, very anxious… rarely do I get this way about a show this far ahead of time, so I might as well twist the fanboy dial up to eleven and enjoy the hell out of it.

So, now that the Kanon Prelude is out, providing us with our first detailed look at the show, what’s the verdict? Looks pretty damn nice, if you ask me. Stunning animation? Check. The old gang? Check. Original OP+ED? Check. Sugita Tomokazu? Check.

OK, so that last one was one of the wild cards to worry about. Opinions will differ, no doubt, but I’m happy with Sugita-san’s take on Yuuichi. Honestly, I’ll admit to having been worried about the change. I had feared he’d show up on the first day of recording to a chorus of “give us Kyon!”, and, let’s face it… Yuuichi ain’t Kyon. But, no, we got something new. Not quite Kyon, not quite Mayama, not quite Rin, not quite Hideki (that would’ve been a riot!). Nope, it’s Yuuichi.

Everyone else sounds about the same as I remember. Shiori sounded a little more mature, I think, and Ayu didn’t sound quite so much like a walking, talking, taiyaki-munching Horie Yui doll, but beyond that, it was a nice trip down memory lane. Of course, as was the case with Air, the original background music and original OP+ED from the game are utilized. I have a minor complaint with regard to the the TV-size arrangement of “Last Regrets”, however: the way the drums kick in at the very end makes little sense musically. They should have either brought them in earlier or not brought them in at all.

As for the animation… well, I shouldn’t really have to say anything about that. It’s KyoAni. It’s Kanon. Draw your own conclusions.

42 days and counting…