General anime thoughts/discussion thread.

[NoSurprises]

Tried watching Gunbuster a number of years ago, but I couldn't get into it

HOW

HOW

I swear there's another version of this track because I get a slightly different tune in my head when I imagine it, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Have I just imagined my own remix?

There's loads of different versions of it used throughout the series, and diebuster! (I bought the 100 track soundtrack like a crazy person...)

Spoilers!

Also in agreement that Gunbuster is one of, if not the best thing ever. Though I can understand how it doesn't appeal to everyone, it is pretty old and space opera(y).

 

[Joshawott]

I'm totally loving Shirobako right now - although I have to admit I'm kind of surprised (and admire) that they didn't try and introduce a romance subplot or something.

There was the first ending theme with Mimuji and Roro, if that counts .

For some reason I always thought there'd be an ep where Miyamori got drunk and ended up getting off with Taoru or something (ergh)

How would they find the time to go on dates with their busy schedules?
(Also, Taro would totally get with Erika. We all know she secretly goes doki-doki over him).

 

[Lutga]

Maybe Diesel-San and Hiraoka. No, that'd just be plain wrong...

 

[Joshawott]

Maybe Diesel-San and Hiraoka. No, that'd just be plain wrong...

I've seen "fan art" of Diesal-san and Kinoshita, which is worse.
Far worse.

I've also seen Kinoshita and Honda...
*cowers in a ball in the corner*

 

[Rui]

Heey, Kinoshita is cute! Much better him than someone like Tarou or Hiraoka ;p

R

(This thread is now the shipping thread which AF17 tried to create a while back.)

 

[ayase]

I swear there's another version of this track because I get a slightly different tune in my head when I imagine it, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Have I just imagined my own remix?

There's loads of different versions of it used throughout the series, and diebuster! (I bought the 100 track soundtrack like a crazy person...)

Shows how long it must have been since I last watched it properly. I've found it now, it's the tune that runs from 0:21 to 1:00 on the video below - If you have the soundtrack and could tell me what this version's called I'd be most grateful. Best version.

 

[ilmaestro]

Shirobako is the stone cold nuts, literally the only show I've stayed up to date on for the last six months.

Shipping Miyamori x Yano since a few weeks ago, since that seems to be the relevant discussion. >_>

 

[Joshawott]

Shirobako is the stone cold nuts, literally the only show I've stayed up to date on for the last six months.

Shipping Miyamori x Yano since a few weeks ago, since that seems to be the relevant discussion. >_>

I'm pretty sure that Yano has a soft spot for Tarou.

 

[Lutga]

It really did amaze me how Shirobako managed to get it so right week on week when some of the other shows of the season lost their way halfway through. It deserves even more praise than it's already got, and hopefully a future English release will open it up to even more people.

Also, the music in the final episode? Absolutely brilliant.

 

[Lutga]

Nisekoimonogatari. Has been doing the rounds on Twitter yesterday/today - clearly an April Fools (I think???) - but man, I'd paid serious money if it was real:

 

[Rosencrantz]

Nisekoimonogatari. Has been doing the rounds on Twitter yesterday/today - clearly an April Fools (I think???) - but man, I'd paid serious money if it was real:

Bit of a Modoka vibe from that writing aswell, definitely an April fools but maybe shaft want to make even more money and it'll become a thing?

 

[NormanicGrav]

It's April Fools sadly, but probably one of the best out there. The character at the end of the PV trailer is actually from Nishio Ishin's next work.

The other April Fool jokes that got some high reception were Mushishi with a sci-fi movie and A Certain Magical Index.

 

[Lutga]

This Shirobako one was pretty good too - another one to add to the 'wish this was real' list:

 

[ilmaestro]

clearly an April Fools (I think???)

Oh man, I wish I knew you irl to play some April Fools on.

 

[Vashdaman]

With all the great inspirational shonen sports anime that exist for nearly every sport imaginable, how is Japan not number one in the world for all those sports? I'll never understand how, for example, Andy Murray can beat a tennis player that was raised on Prince of Tennis. It almost has me thinking that untold amounts of belief, spirit, perseverance, and friendship just isn't enough...

 

[Lutga]

So there are officially Shirobako 'hug' pillows now. > http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2 ... -previewed

I always find ones like this a bit uneasy because they're so out of character for how the person is in the show, it just a bit... tasteless, you know?

 

[Professor Irony]

With all the great inspirational shonen sports anime that exist for nearly every sport imaginable, how is Japan not number one in the world for all those sports? I'll never understand how, for example, Andy Murray can beat a tennis player that was raised on Prince of Tennis. It almost has me thinking that untold amounts of belief, spirit, perseverance, and friendship just isn't enough...

The scouter suggests Murray's tennis level is over a certain number.

 

[ayase]

So there are officially Shirobako 'hug' pillows now. > http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2 ... -previewed

I always find ones like this a bit uneasy because they're so out of character for how the person is in the show, it just a bit... tasteless, you know?

If you think that's bad, you should see what's printed at Comiket :3
But really, I don't think they are that far off the mark. Aoi seems like more of a bottom than a top.

I haven't personally seen Shirobako, but does the show offer any indication of how the characters would be in bed? Is it ever possible to know, given that people can lead very different private to public lives?

I can't help but wonder (as I do with many instances people term "objectification" which often seems to stand in for "sexiness" as there is no hateful or demeaning intention) why people find reminders that everyone has a sexual side so uncomfortable. "This character wasn't sexualised in the show" they say, "Why are they showing them behaving in sexual ways now?" - It seems as if a lot of people think sex or even the act of being sexy is somehow demeaning or displaying a negative aspect of their character, which seems bizarre (this isn't necessarily directed at you Lutga, more some of the comments on that article). And now I'm reminded of that discussion I had with Chaz years ago about unisex public toilets. Fun times.

 

[Lutga]

Interesting point - definitely food for thought.

I suppose what I was getting at - and maybe this is totally overthinking it - but with a hug pillow or something, that sexualisation is presented without context. And if the character was never presented in a sexualised way within the show itself, what you're essentially left with is this aspect of what makes them up as a person essentially floating free - there for everyone to see - but cut off from the rest of the persona established in the show.

In this sense too - I suppose I'm making a weird distinction between the official cannon (of which I suppose we have to include stuff like a hug pillow, as I can only guess it's officially licensed) and the whole ream of fan-fiction/doujins/just sheer imagination that is out there and is a fan's right to create.

I suppose to me, it's just feels weird seeing a character in a situation - sexual or otherwise - without the context there to back it up. I adore anime for its characterisation - but when you have things like this, it just essentially reduces them to a soulless doll that you can stick in any situation you want.

Or maybe it really is just a hug pillow and I'm way overthinking this...

 

[ayase]

To be fair Lutga, I could also be expending far too much effort in attempting to justify that which doesn't (or at least shouldn't) really need to be justified - Personal preference. However freedom of expression does seem to be under attack from a growing number of sources these days, not least our own government who while hypocritically declaring "Je suis Charlie" and the freedom to cause offence was busy banning pornography featuring acts between consenting adults they personally found offensive. So here's some more possibly needless expansion.

Someone can enjoy a sexy picture on different levels - if it's a person (or a character) they're familiar with and who's personality they like, they can probably enjoy it on a deeper level. But I don't think there's anything wrong with simply finding a someone physically attractive and enjoying it purely on an aesthetic level either. The latter may well be viewed by some as objectification, but I don't necessarily think anything bad is going on unless it's demeaning or hateful and that's largely down to what goes on in the viewer's head, not on the screen or the page. Is there any context to a sexy pic of a real person either? And is that context being interpreted correctly by the person viewing it? In the case of the government, the answer was no because they were unable to comprehend that people would willingly consent to or enjoy certain sex acts they saw as degrading.

I think the central question for me is "Is it okay for people to enjoy sexy pictures of people / fictional characters they find attractive in situations they find appealing?" and the answer to that question for me will always be "Yes" regardless of how uncomfortable it might make other people. Because imo people's discomfort, people's offence (especially when discussing fiction) is their problem to deal with and no-one else's. Yet the offended people seem very quick to shift the problem from themselves onto those responsible for whatever offended them, as though their opinion is the only one that matters.