Anthem of the Heart simulwatch [RS] (27- 31st August)

I've had this film on my PTW for ages, but keep forgetting to watch it. Don't think it ever got a UK release, so I'll have to search the seven seas for it.

It is excellent, I watched it on dailymotion a few years back, of all places.

Would love if it got a UK release, for sure. I'd buy it instantly.

Oh yeah @Neil.T, how could I forget: Rurouni Kenshin, all over the series, multiple moments. The soundtrack is one of my favorite in anime and the anime itself has some very good scene direction. I'm reminded of the firefly scene before Kenshin departs for Kyoto, for instance. Hiko defending the Aoi-Ya is like my favorite last minute save ever and let's not even get into Kenshin's childhood story.

Watsuki is a sack of excrement, but yeah, there are some really good moments in the series and the manga.
 
I wonder how collaborative it was, did Okada-san come up with the idea of a musical and then write the story within the story and then hand it over and say you pick the tunes and write the lyrics or was their some back and forth? Haven't looked through the book since I got it over 4 years ago!
Likewise. The main thing I remember about the interview part of it was that the director had to repeatedly hand the script back to Okada for rewrites because she'd gone typically emotionally overwrought.

I'd like to read that part again of the booklet, actually.

sometimes just a bit of good music well matched with implied sadness will get me going, it's silly.
There's really nothing silly about it, João: the creators have written these things the way they have to try to draw that kind of reaction from the viewer.

Looking through my MAL list, some examples of anime films that get that kind of response from me would include (in no particular order) Anthem of the Heart, A Silent Voice, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Giovanni's Island, Hal, Garden of Words, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, that one scene in Metropolis and, perhaps surprising, Appleseed Ex Machina in its English-dubbed form.

As for series, Angel Beats is punishing! 😭
There's also Homura's episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, parts of Steins;Gate and that one incredible bit in When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace, an otherwise completely unremarkable anime, where VA Saori Hayami lays down one of the most incredible performances I've ever heard:
Even devoid of context it's staggering.

Don't think it ever got a UK release, so I'll have to search the seven seas for it.
Hotarubi no Mori E didn't, unfortunately, no, so I ended up doing the same a few years back.

I admit that I did the same with Coicent, another early Scotland Loves Anime film that never got a UK release.
 
The main thing I remember about the interview part of it was that the director had to repeatedly hand the script back to Okada for rewrites because she'd gone typically emotionally overwrought.
Interesting! I will say the original anime they have done together, that I've seen (Anohana, this and MSG:IBO), are probably still my favourite Okada scripts. I guess he knows how to reign her in. There's actually a 4th I've never heard of till checking MAL, even though it came out after AOTH, Her Blue Sky. Another one to look up.
They also worked together on Toradora, but that was an adaptation. I guess that's where they met, looking at the dates.
 
Yeah, that's actually how it's viewed at large, I think. They seem to make a good combo.

I want to see Toradora and Anohana as well. I've got the former on DVD already but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I did Toradora last Christmas I think, was pretty good all in all!

Anohana I finished recently, it wasn't bad but it was nowhere near as sad as I was expecting it to be.
 
@Neil.T goddamn, she dismantled that kid, loved that clip. Oh, she also dismantled a good part of nerdy otaku types on the internet, ouch. Great voice acting.

About the silly bit, I realize that, I only meant in the sense that I thoroughly take the bait with no resistance, even when it's obviously dangling in front of me, that's why I find it silly on my part ahah.

Madoka and Steins Gate are great picks, I'm pretty sure I felt pretty sad more than a few times watching those. They've both got some tragic bits.

Of all the movies you mentioned, I've got like 4 that I own but have never watched. Feels like my backlog is infinite shrug

I'm eager to watch Toradora, it'll come some time after Clannad which I started a while back but haven't continued.
 
I almost dropped clannad first time around, but glad I didn't season 2 was well worth watching and wouldn't be quite the same without season 1.

Appreciate the input, thanks! I actually enjoyed the couple of eps I watched, seemingly not a whole of beating around the bush with the main pairing, funny moments, relatable characters who are not complete morons and that mistery hook... I'm eager to continue!
 
goddamn, she dismantled that kid, loved that clip. Oh, she also dismantled a good part of nerdy otaku types on the internet, ouch.
Yeah, some of the YouTube comments pointed out the very same. Clever stuff, and brilliantly delivered — in one continuous take as well, I believe.

🙇
Astounding talent.
 
Yeah, some of the YouTube comments pointed out the very same. Clever stuff, and brilliantly delivered — in one continuous take as well, I believe.

🙇
Astounding talent.

TBH I hated that scene because she's every bit as full of rubbish and oblivious as the people she's criticising if she assumes that just because something is considered a sin by w/e religion/s that makes it bad. My bisexual ass has WORDS to say to her about that. And more generally about religious ideas of sex for pleasure being sinful. But this is the Anthem of the Heart Simulwatch thingy so I'll leave it at that lol. I tried watching Anthem of the Heart and couldn't finish it because I was sooo BORED. I vastly prefer Toradora and Anohana (and some of Okada's other work). But it's been interesting seeing other people more favourable opinions on it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. :) 👍
 
Ah man, been out of the loop and so much to catch up on. Don't even know where to begin with barakamon but hopefully will catch up on that this weekend.

So it's 💩/10 @João Gomes? 🤣

Edit - I really do want to do Ping Pong so maybe it could be the next Renegade Simulwatch after Shiki? It would probably mean waiting until next month however as Shiki will run until early October.

Edit 2 - I could not agree more I love detailed backgrounds, and I think it's why I love KyoAni and Shinkai stuff as much as I do, it's the general artwork and how amazing the scenery can look in them.
I'm definitely up for ping pong too! I think I may have suggested one, or both, of these recently, but a couple of anime I saw that have visual delights within are Iroduku: The World in Colors (streaming on Amazon prime, or at least it is in UK) and Psychic School Wars (amongst the last bunch screenanime had on). Both not amazing objectively, but which I did rather enjoy myself and certainly the visuals were great in both for a Shinkai & Kyoani fan.

And @João Gomes, what is this heresy I hear about A Silent Voice?!! Just kidding heh, but I'll add that really enjoyed it, in particular down to Yamada's excellent direction & the brilliantly matched score by Kensuke Ushio.

It's an outrage I say!
I'll get my pitchfork. But yeah, contrary to @D1tchd1gger, I'm in camp A Silent Voice in that I'd say Anthem wishes it was as good as that heh. But yeah while its manga has its positives, eg it does flesh out the heroine more, the atmosphere created in the movie can just not be matched by the manga for me.

I wonder how collaborative it was, did Okada-san come up with the idea of a musical and then write the story within the story and then hand it over and say you pick the tunes and write the lyrics or was their some back and forth?
I would have assumed that was predominantly down to the composer with his musical expertise. He did similar for Your Lie in April as in it's soundtrack he's sampled some classical pieces and created contemporary songs from them (all of which I thought were really good). *Edit: posted this accidentally before finishing after my daughter bounced over me and my phone... Anyhoo, I'm clearly not reading the posts properly but I was mainly referring to the point @Neil.T made about the combining of the different pieces of music for the play.
 
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Likewise. The main thing I remember about the interview part of it was that the director had to repeatedly hand the script back to Okada for rewrites because she'd gone typically emotionally overwrought.

I'd like to read that part again of the booklet, actually.


There's really nothing silly about it, João: the creators have written these things the way they have to try to draw that kind of reaction from the viewer.

Looking through my MAL list, some examples of anime films that get that kind of response from me would include (in no particular order) Anthem of the Heart, A Silent Voice, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Giovanni's Island, Hal, Garden of Words, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, that one scene in Metropolis and, perhaps surprising, Appleseed Ex Machina in its English-dubbed form.

As for series, Angel Beats is punishing! 😭
There's also Homura's episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, parts of Steins;Gate and that one incredible bit in When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace, an otherwise completely unremarkable anime, where VA Saori Hayami lays down one of the most incredible performances I've ever heard:
Even devoid of context it's staggering.


Hotarubi no Mori E didn't, unfortunately, no, so I ended up doing the same a few years back.

I admit that I did the same with Coicent, another early Scotland Loves Anime film that never got a UK release.
I need to come back to this post and the linked video at some point but will just add that I completely agree on Angel Beats. Love a good but of emotional manipulation by Maeda heh.
Yeah, that's actually how it's viewed at large, I think. They seem to make a good combo.

I want to see Toradora and Anohana as well. I've got the former on DVD already but haven't gotten around to it yet.
I loooooove Toradora, one of my all time favourites. The characters are all just so well realised in that and all of them very lovable with all their issues and foibles. I enjoyed Anohana a fair bit as well (I clearly am an emotional masochist...).
I almost dropped clannad first time around, but glad I didn't season 2 was well worth watching and wouldn't be quite the same without season 1.
Yeah, I really didn't appreciate Clannad half as much until after season 2; though I did enjoy the first season, I too just wasn't born away by that on its own.
 
The World in Colors (streaming on Amazon prime, or at least it is in UK) and Psychic School Wars

Thanks I'll add them, can't promise I'll get around to them soon, but I will give them both a shot :)

I need to come back to this post and the linked video at some point but will just add that I completely agree on Angel Beats

I haven't seen Angel Beats yet, worth a watch? I'm OK with infinite sadness but I can't really re-watch really sad anime. Once is enough :)
 
I haven't seen Angel Beats yet, worth a watch?
Your mileage may vary and everything but, for me at least, Angel Beats is totally worth a watch. The series really earns its emotional moments; it sets things up so well that when it decides to pull the trigger, the effect is emotionally very hard.

As examples, I've never gotten through the end credits of episodes 10 without tears, and episode 13, the final episode, is just absolutely 😭.

The comedy's good too, though, and this is another reason the series works so well. It's well balanced.
 
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I've got the CE (which is lovely) and I will give it another chance, if nothing else to articulate my thoughts on it better, at the very least!
Heheh don't worry about it dude. I remember on my first watch I was actually a bit underwhelmed as well, but like so many other series/movies was driven to watch again & that's when it really clicked for me. One of the best things about Yamada's direction, and therefore this movie, is how understated it is but always so very full of heart. On the back of that, I kick myself for not having watched Liz & the Bluebird yet, mainly down to not having anything (still! But soon to be remedied? Deja vu here...) to play my imported US disc.

I haven't seen Angel Beats yet, worth a watch? I'm OK with infinite sadness but I can't really re-watch really sad anime. Once is enough :)
I'd definitely recommend it and as @Neil.T mentioned, it's not just about the depressing aspects as, in my humble opinion, it probably has the best anime comedy I've seen coupled with some serious matters (nor dissimilar to our current watch of Barakamon).

Sorry for taking the thread off-topic!
 
Your mileage may vary and everything but, for me at least, Angel Beats is totally worth a watch

I'll add it, I have also added plastic memories. both fairly short so no harm in trying them.

I'd definitely recommend it and as @Neil.T mentioned, it's not just about the depressing aspects as, in my humble opinion, it probably has the best anime comedy I've seen coupled with some serious matters (nor dissimilar to our current watch of Barakamon).

Sorry for taking the thread off-topic!

Sounds good, worth a shot.

Don't worry about going off topic here, I am the biggest hypocrite ever if I call people up on it!

Also the watch has ended, so all good :)
 
Your mileage may vary and everything but, for me at least, Angel Beats is totally worth a watch. The series really earns its emotional moments; it sets things up so well that when it decides to pull the trigger, the effect is emotionally very hard.
I'd definitely recommend it and as @Neil.T mentioned, it's not just about the depressing aspects as, in my humble opinion, it probably has the best anime comedy I've seen coupled with some serious matters (nor dissimilar to our current watch of Barakamon).

So I finally got around to watch this after this conversation we all had a month ago, and... I love it 🥰 . It's a solid show, as you said, at times funny, at times emotional. Ending was very sad 😢

Next on my sad list is Plastic Memories.

The OP from Angel Beats is pretty cool too :)

 
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So I finally got around to watch this after this conversation we all had a month ago, and... I love it 🥰 . It's a solid show, as you said, at times funny, at times emotional. Ending was very sad 😢

Next on my sad list is Plastic Memories.

The OP from Angel Beats is pretty cool too :)

Glad you enjoyed it, I definitely rate it amongst my favourites and I love opening and closing credits, especially how the latter vary with the story's progression. I love the piano work in the opener and the music built around it and have enjoyed the music of that duo previously also but sadly the composer passed away last year at a fairly young age: ANANT-GARDE EYES Composer, Pianist Ai Kamachi Passes Away at 48
 
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