Rate the last anime you watched out of 10
- Thread starter Aion
- Start date
Naruto Boxset Series 6 - 6/10
My biggest beef with Naruto boxsets is that they start close to the end of a story arc and end the same way. So you're just starting to watch the boxset and you have to get back in to where you left off when you last watched the previous boxset about 4/5 months ago. Now logic would dictate that I watch the last few episodes from the previous boxset just to get into this new boxset but I guess I'm just a little bit too eager or lazy or lacking-of-time, I'm not sure which. Anyway, a typical Naruto boxset, we're starting to go into the fillers now, which aren't all that bad. It's a fairly enjoyable set. By now, you know what you're getting with Naruto, a fairly fun but sometimes annoying series. Nothing major as far as storyline is concerned.
My biggest beef with Naruto boxsets is that they start close to the end of a story arc and end the same way. So you're just starting to watch the boxset and you have to get back in to where you left off when you last watched the previous boxset about 4/5 months ago. Now logic would dictate that I watch the last few episodes from the previous boxset just to get into this new boxset but I guess I'm just a little bit too eager or lazy or lacking-of-time, I'm not sure which. Anyway, a typical Naruto boxset, we're starting to go into the fillers now, which aren't all that bad. It's a fairly enjoyable set. By now, you know what you're getting with Naruto, a fairly fun but sometimes annoying series. Nothing major as far as storyline is concerned.
I know what you mean with the thing about the end of one arc at the start of a set, etc. I like to make sure I have the end of an arc before I watch the start. Currently stopped just after the episode where they try to remove Kakashi's mask back on disc 2 of boxset 8, & now I've got up to boxset 16 waiting for me on my shelf.
Ruin Explorers
6/10
The most generic show EVER. I am talking picture perfect generic D&D style fantasy show. Even the main villain looked EXACTLY like one I has seen somewhere else... sumin like Slayers...but not Slayers...I don't think. Completely average fantasy stuff throughout. Maybe if it has been longer than 4 OVA episodes, it may have been able to be a bit more fleshed out, but for what it was, completely average.
D.N.Angel
6/10
This show had quite alot of potential. Pretty good characters, reasonable base plotline and a whole load of fancy visuals and CG. Unfortunately, there were problems, show spoiling problems. Primarily, the fact that the characters did not react well to the events of the story and the story itself was quite simply not explained in a sufficient manner. Things were happening for no apparent reason and the characters just went along with it... It is hard to explain, but there was definitely something wrong the show.
The other problem layed in the MANY missed comedic moments, I had to make them up in my head when I saw them as they were not exploited at all. Finally was the (Eng dub wise) absolutely cringe-worthy voice (although I guess it was a reasonable portrayal) of Mio Hio, I died a little inside every time she spoke.
Kekko Kamen
8/10
Granted, the show obviously wasn't a high budget affair, but I don't really think much of a budget was necassary. But still...eheh...funny stuff. Prize of best dub performance I have heard in a while goes to Rob Mungle for his portrayal of The Toenail of Satan, epic win every time he came on, just epic. On a side note, I wish the show had been just a bit longer, not too much otherwise I fear it would turn into Ranma style repetition, but maybe a 12 odd episode series would have been good.
6/10
The most generic show EVER. I am talking picture perfect generic D&D style fantasy show. Even the main villain looked EXACTLY like one I has seen somewhere else... sumin like Slayers...but not Slayers...I don't think. Completely average fantasy stuff throughout. Maybe if it has been longer than 4 OVA episodes, it may have been able to be a bit more fleshed out, but for what it was, completely average.
D.N.Angel
6/10
This show had quite alot of potential. Pretty good characters, reasonable base plotline and a whole load of fancy visuals and CG. Unfortunately, there were problems, show spoiling problems. Primarily, the fact that the characters did not react well to the events of the story and the story itself was quite simply not explained in a sufficient manner. Things were happening for no apparent reason and the characters just went along with it... It is hard to explain, but there was definitely something wrong the show.
The other problem layed in the MANY missed comedic moments, I had to make them up in my head when I saw them as they were not exploited at all. Finally was the (Eng dub wise) absolutely cringe-worthy voice (although I guess it was a reasonable portrayal) of Mio Hio, I died a little inside every time she spoke.
Kekko Kamen
8/10
Granted, the show obviously wasn't a high budget affair, but I don't really think much of a budget was necassary. But still...eheh...funny stuff. Prize of best dub performance I have heard in a while goes to Rob Mungle for his portrayal of The Toenail of Satan, epic win every time he came on, just epic. On a side note, I wish the show had been just a bit longer, not too much otherwise I fear it would turn into Ranma style repetition, but maybe a 12 odd episode series would have been good.
Aion
Time-Traveller
Let's see...
Shonan Junai Gumi - 7.5-8/10
It covered the three best parts of the manga (thus far), including Ryuji's two romances. However, too much 'around the edges' content was cut, which meant there wasn't any build-up when dealing with one of the two and no closure with the other. Also, nearly all of the secondary character introductions and humorous standalone chapters got cut. One of the standalone chapters, involving Nagisa seeing Ryuji buying porn, happens to be one of my favourite chapters, so...
I've read 8/15 volumes, with only two more available to be read, and only the final episode offered anything new. The first half was good - with a mini-skirt wearing teacher providing the... 'incentive' required for her male students to work harder. The second half, however, was rather cheesy, and there wasn't an ending. It makes me wonder if it was intentional for the series to end where it did...
On the whole, very enjoyable for a GTO fan, even with VHS-rips and Engrish subtitles covering the final episode. I'd buy it.
Le Portrait de Petit Cossette - 5/10
One reviewer on MAL rated it 10/10, commenting that the story could've been covered in five minutes. I say having to sit through a simple story stretched to over 100 minutes because of truly bizarre dream sequences involving torture, a loli and lots of blood makes it worthy of half of the score he awarded it. The story was just silly, it being about objects becoming possessed and holding a 250 year grudge.
Top wo Nerae! - 7.5-8/10
Involving yet basic - that best sums it up. Removing the time travel/age difference aspects, it's sort of like Blue Gender set in space instead of on earth. Quality entertainment and no more.
I didn't like how Noriko went from someone unable to operate a machine to someone who could beat the second best in her school after a few clips of her running were shown. It was like watching how the Rocky films would be without nearly all of the films focusing on the build-up to the fight; the training.
I also didn't like "onee-san" randomly expressing her lovefor her instructor and that then becoming a key plot point. No build-up, no involvement.
And, finally, the ending was too over the top for my tastes. Knowing how to remove a 'generator' without damaging it and how/where to insert it? Surviving a black hole, coming out right where the aliens would've liked to in the future?... Yeah.
It was enjoyable, and the time travel aspect added some much needed depth, but it wasn't jaw dropping. And, anyway, I'd seen 'Voices of a Distant Star' before watching.
Top wo Nerae! 2 - 4.5-5/10
Yeah, you use the earth as a cannonball, right after seeing throwing planets at the enemy did no good. No point wasting any other planets; the ones not needed by the human race, like.
The plot made no sense and was retarded. All it ever had going for it was looks and boobs. It was never even explained how Nono could possibly know the specifics of the main characters of the prequel, or why the Gunbusters had feelings that mattered.
A sequel in name only, and over-rated to the extreme. Do not want.
Piano no Mori - 8.5-9/10
A beautiful story. No planet moving here; just piano playing.
I didn't know what to expect going into it, but it kept me glued to the screen. The characterization was top notch, and I ended up caring for the lead duo as their differing reasons for playing the piano were explored. Hell, I even cared about the 'toilet girl' who needed to sit on a toilet and have Kai let her stroke his hair (like her dog) to relax before her performance. Even the minor characters came across as 'real'.
Who needs over the top stupidity when you can get down to earth goodness like this? If it ever gets released in the UK, it's a must buy for me. Another +1 for realism in anime from me.
Origin - Spirits of the Past: 4.5-5/10
I think this summary I typed up expresses how I feel about this Gonzo ****-up. (Basically, it's all looks and no substance. It doesn't even look THAT great.)
Summary:
Dragon-trees, created on the moon, destroy the moon, moving to earth after doing so and near enough wipe out mankind. After this, instead of killing everything, they let a few humans continue to live. The setting is a three-way town where a forest is on one side, forest hating mecha people are on the other and neutral people are in the middle. The main character goes super saiyan after awhile, becoming one with his inner tree in order to be able to beat gigantic robots with his fists, whilst doing backflips a lot. He saves the world by stopping a mechanical volcano from wiping out all life, almost turning into a tree as a result. Humans decide to live as one with the dragon-tree people. The end.
Naruto - Movie 4: 7/10
I liked it for the Sound Four-esque battles and childish humour - such as when Naruto covered himself in armour after it was predicted he'd die. What can I say... I'm a Narutard.
Naruto - Movie 5: 6/10
Flying ninja, using mecha wings and warships, 'Zero Tails' (how can a tailed beast have no tails!?), an 'I'm over 9000!!!' power-up, Naruto saving the day through pure willpower and Sasuke fan service. It's fair to say a lot was wrong with this movie.
It's a shame, actually, because I thought the filler character development was pretty good. Amaru was an instantly likeable character, and it was hard not to feel sorry for her. If only she wasn't in a filler movie and provided the motivation for Naruto to, illogically, hurt the 'ultimate being' after previously being unable to scratch him...
The sequence where Naruto got the **** kicked out of him was good, but ruined by it being too long and, all too predictably, Naruto over-coming the odds to somehow save the day.
...on the plus side, it had Naruto saying "Sasuke!" in a homosexual manner, as his voice actress likes doing. I hadn't heard that in awhile. Sasuke even ignored him, as ever.
Bleach: Memories of Nobody - 5/10
The art was nowhere near movie level, and the story was even worse. Too much time was spent on Ichigo wandering around aimlessly with a new, 'cute' character. And the comical, poorly designed group of villains no-one cared about added nothing but a few yawns toward the end.
The very end almost saved it... until Rukia came out with a line along the lines of, "You won't remember anything about this because it's a filler movie." What followed that was a scene after the credits that removed any power the ending had.
The worst of all the Bleach/Naruto movies.
Bleach - The Diamond Dust Rebellion: 7.5-8/10
A filler movie, featuring very good characterization. I kid you not.
Considering how limited the designers of these movies are, I found myself very impressed with the way Toshiro was fleshed out. His connection to the filler villain, and the ties that binded them, made it a fairly absorbing flick to sit through. Not a lot was ever shown about Toshiro in the story proper, so I had little trouble accepting his filler back-story.
Where as the previous film added nothing to the proper story or characters, this did. That makes it worthy of a decent score, if not for it simply being an entertaining ride.
Bleach - Fade to Black: 8/10
The best of the Bleach/Naruto movies released so far, in my opinion.
Like its prequel, it added development to an existing character, with the help of some new filler additions. While the development wasn't quite as good this time around, the other aspects combined to make it a better movie than what went before.
Remember the SS arc from the TV series; the best part of Bleach? This movie replayed some of it, with Ichigo once again being an invader of SS after everyone had lost all their memories of Rukia and, as a result, him. To see Ichigo once again fighting existing characters, with movie quality visuals and some amazing music, made this into a surprisingly great watch.
I had to ignore a few plot inconsistences that made the real plot appear very dumb. For example, Kisuke entered SS at will in the movie, with him saying he could've got around his ban any time if he so wished. Taking into consideration the fact he sent a team of weaklings to fight his battles for him previously, this was just a little dumb. But, once he started shooting red beams around, I forgave the writers. When watching these movies, you have to accept there will be some holes.
Anyway, it's a must watch for Bleach fans. Go watch it, if you haven't already.
Shonan Junai Gumi - 7.5-8/10
It covered the three best parts of the manga (thus far), including Ryuji's two romances. However, too much 'around the edges' content was cut, which meant there wasn't any build-up when dealing with one of the two and no closure with the other. Also, nearly all of the secondary character introductions and humorous standalone chapters got cut. One of the standalone chapters, involving Nagisa seeing Ryuji buying porn, happens to be one of my favourite chapters, so...
I've read 8/15 volumes, with only two more available to be read, and only the final episode offered anything new. The first half was good - with a mini-skirt wearing teacher providing the... 'incentive' required for her male students to work harder. The second half, however, was rather cheesy, and there wasn't an ending. It makes me wonder if it was intentional for the series to end where it did...
On the whole, very enjoyable for a GTO fan, even with VHS-rips and Engrish subtitles covering the final episode. I'd buy it.
Le Portrait de Petit Cossette - 5/10
One reviewer on MAL rated it 10/10, commenting that the story could've been covered in five minutes. I say having to sit through a simple story stretched to over 100 minutes because of truly bizarre dream sequences involving torture, a loli and lots of blood makes it worthy of half of the score he awarded it. The story was just silly, it being about objects becoming possessed and holding a 250 year grudge.
Top wo Nerae! - 7.5-8/10
Involving yet basic - that best sums it up. Removing the time travel/age difference aspects, it's sort of like Blue Gender set in space instead of on earth. Quality entertainment and no more.
I didn't like how Noriko went from someone unable to operate a machine to someone who could beat the second best in her school after a few clips of her running were shown. It was like watching how the Rocky films would be without nearly all of the films focusing on the build-up to the fight; the training.
I also didn't like "onee-san" randomly expressing her lovefor her instructor and that then becoming a key plot point. No build-up, no involvement.
And, finally, the ending was too over the top for my tastes. Knowing how to remove a 'generator' without damaging it and how/where to insert it? Surviving a black hole, coming out right where the aliens would've liked to in the future?... Yeah.
It was enjoyable, and the time travel aspect added some much needed depth, but it wasn't jaw dropping. And, anyway, I'd seen 'Voices of a Distant Star' before watching.
Top wo Nerae! 2 - 4.5-5/10
Yeah, you use the earth as a cannonball, right after seeing throwing planets at the enemy did no good. No point wasting any other planets; the ones not needed by the human race, like.
The plot made no sense and was retarded. All it ever had going for it was looks and boobs. It was never even explained how Nono could possibly know the specifics of the main characters of the prequel, or why the Gunbusters had feelings that mattered.
A sequel in name only, and over-rated to the extreme. Do not want.
Piano no Mori - 8.5-9/10
A beautiful story. No planet moving here; just piano playing.
I didn't know what to expect going into it, but it kept me glued to the screen. The characterization was top notch, and I ended up caring for the lead duo as their differing reasons for playing the piano were explored. Hell, I even cared about the 'toilet girl' who needed to sit on a toilet and have Kai let her stroke his hair (like her dog) to relax before her performance. Even the minor characters came across as 'real'.
Who needs over the top stupidity when you can get down to earth goodness like this? If it ever gets released in the UK, it's a must buy for me. Another +1 for realism in anime from me.
Origin - Spirits of the Past: 4.5-5/10
I think this summary I typed up expresses how I feel about this Gonzo ****-up. (Basically, it's all looks and no substance. It doesn't even look THAT great.)
Summary:
Dragon-trees, created on the moon, destroy the moon, moving to earth after doing so and near enough wipe out mankind. After this, instead of killing everything, they let a few humans continue to live. The setting is a three-way town where a forest is on one side, forest hating mecha people are on the other and neutral people are in the middle. The main character goes super saiyan after awhile, becoming one with his inner tree in order to be able to beat gigantic robots with his fists, whilst doing backflips a lot. He saves the world by stopping a mechanical volcano from wiping out all life, almost turning into a tree as a result. Humans decide to live as one with the dragon-tree people. The end.
Naruto - Movie 4: 7/10
I liked it for the Sound Four-esque battles and childish humour - such as when Naruto covered himself in armour after it was predicted he'd die. What can I say... I'm a Narutard.
Naruto - Movie 5: 6/10
Flying ninja, using mecha wings and warships, 'Zero Tails' (how can a tailed beast have no tails!?), an 'I'm over 9000!!!' power-up, Naruto saving the day through pure willpower and Sasuke fan service. It's fair to say a lot was wrong with this movie.
It's a shame, actually, because I thought the filler character development was pretty good. Amaru was an instantly likeable character, and it was hard not to feel sorry for her. If only she wasn't in a filler movie and provided the motivation for Naruto to, illogically, hurt the 'ultimate being' after previously being unable to scratch him...
The sequence where Naruto got the **** kicked out of him was good, but ruined by it being too long and, all too predictably, Naruto over-coming the odds to somehow save the day.
...on the plus side, it had Naruto saying "Sasuke!" in a homosexual manner, as his voice actress likes doing. I hadn't heard that in awhile. Sasuke even ignored him, as ever.
Bleach: Memories of Nobody - 5/10
The art was nowhere near movie level, and the story was even worse. Too much time was spent on Ichigo wandering around aimlessly with a new, 'cute' character. And the comical, poorly designed group of villains no-one cared about added nothing but a few yawns toward the end.
The very end almost saved it... until Rukia came out with a line along the lines of, "You won't remember anything about this because it's a filler movie." What followed that was a scene after the credits that removed any power the ending had.
The worst of all the Bleach/Naruto movies.
Bleach - The Diamond Dust Rebellion: 7.5-8/10
A filler movie, featuring very good characterization. I kid you not.
Considering how limited the designers of these movies are, I found myself very impressed with the way Toshiro was fleshed out. His connection to the filler villain, and the ties that binded them, made it a fairly absorbing flick to sit through. Not a lot was ever shown about Toshiro in the story proper, so I had little trouble accepting his filler back-story.
Where as the previous film added nothing to the proper story or characters, this did. That makes it worthy of a decent score, if not for it simply being an entertaining ride.
Bleach - Fade to Black: 8/10
The best of the Bleach/Naruto movies released so far, in my opinion.
Like its prequel, it added development to an existing character, with the help of some new filler additions. While the development wasn't quite as good this time around, the other aspects combined to make it a better movie than what went before.
Remember the SS arc from the TV series; the best part of Bleach? This movie replayed some of it, with Ichigo once again being an invader of SS after everyone had lost all their memories of Rukia and, as a result, him. To see Ichigo once again fighting existing characters, with movie quality visuals and some amazing music, made this into a surprisingly great watch.
I had to ignore a few plot inconsistences that made the real plot appear very dumb. For example, Kisuke entered SS at will in the movie, with him saying he could've got around his ban any time if he so wished. Taking into consideration the fact he sent a team of weaklings to fight his battles for him previously, this was just a little dumb. But, once he started shooting red beams around, I forgave the writers. When watching these movies, you have to accept there will be some holes.
Anyway, it's a must watch for Bleach fans. Go watch it, if you haven't already.
chaos
The Boss
that just made me want to see it =)megagold5 said:
@ Aion - looks like you've been busy lately.
Is there a english DVD release of Shonan Junai Gumi anywhere? You mentioned the VHS rips with engrish subtitles, which made me wonder...
Piano no Mori - I've never heard of this before, but your recommendation and the MAL synopsis seriously got me interested. Is there any release for it?
I did enjoy both Gunbuster / Diebuster. The thing is, Diebuster is not to be taken seriously at any point, I also think that it makes the story comes full circle. On the other hand looks and boobs might be all it takes for me to like something.
chaos
The Boss
Why research?Lupus said:
All you should need to enjoy diebuster (or gunbuster II) should be watching gunbuster - this is not necessarily the case.
I don't think that you should do that to make a show good. Of course there are exceptions, such as Welcome to the NHK, where a certain knowledge of otaku culture in general is needed, but these are exceptions rather than the rules.
Aion
Time-Traveller
Yeah, I've been watching lots of movies and OVAs of late.
No, SJG isn't out outside of Japan. I'm guessing, since only VHS-rips have been fansubbed, it hasn't even been released on DVD.
You can download it from here: [mod: link delete]
No-one important will care about it being linked to.
Piano Forest hasn't got a release outside of Japan yet, no.
This is what I downloaded: [mod: link delete]
Again, no-one will care until it's released in English. And even then, we're not American, and it doesn't strike me as something that's got a chance of getting a UK release anytime soon.
And, yes, the similarities between the TTGL and Gunbuster 2 endings were noted by me. The thing is, the awful last stretch of TTGL almost made me rate it 7/10, despite me enjoying what came before.
No, SJG isn't out outside of Japan. I'm guessing, since only VHS-rips have been fansubbed, it hasn't even been released on DVD.
You can download it from here: [mod: link delete]
No-one important will care about it being linked to.
Piano Forest hasn't got a release outside of Japan yet, no.
This is what I downloaded: [mod: link delete]
Again, no-one will care until it's released in English. And even then, we're not American, and it doesn't strike me as something that's got a chance of getting a UK release anytime soon.
And, yes, the similarities between the TTGL and Gunbuster 2 endings were noted by me. The thing is, the awful last stretch of TTGL almost made me rate it 7/10, despite me enjoying what came before.
chaos
The Boss
@Aion - Thanks for the links, but we can't keep them here.
@Lupus - my point was that as the other show is not a sequel to the previous, why should you have to research to enjoy it?
Knowing GiTS and watching Matrix complement each other, but both should be possible to watch individially. But complaining about having to watch Matrix 1 to get something out of Matrix 2 is not so reasonable. Even though it's almost impossible to get anything out of Matrix 2....
@Lupus - my point was that as the other show is not a sequel to the previous, why should you have to research to enjoy it?
Knowing GiTS and watching Matrix complement each other, but both should be possible to watch individially. But complaining about having to watch Matrix 1 to get something out of Matrix 2 is not so reasonable. Even though it's almost impossible to get anything out of Matrix 2....
hopeful_monster
Thousand Master
Divergent Eve- 7.5
Really hate giving half marks, but this one managed to get one. Mainly as managed to completely get me to completely off guard. Was expecting some very light fan-service, but managed to get instead a rather dark science fiction ova. With breasts. Huge breasts. Huge comedy breasts that serve no purpose (even as fan-service it fails). Hence the half point. With out it may have got a 8, but the english VA's are kinda ... off slightly. Not bad as such, and off. And of course CGI is somewhat dated, the mecha don't seem that bad, but the Ghoul look shoddy. Definitely worth a watch especially since you can pick it up about a tenner
Mezzo DSA- 7
Another from ADV's Fan service range, but one with suprising devoid of fanservice compared to some of the other. The odd nude android, and the ever present skin tight orange jumpsuit. I was very surprised to find out it was a direct sequel to Mezzo Forte, and even referenced it and even used clips. A very competent action series some nice touches, but nothing spectacular.
Gravion/ Gravion Zwei - 6
Yet more fan service, but with a mecha feel. Pretty, but overly relying on T&A, panty shots and maids. The plot (if you can call it that), comes apart at even the lightest touch, as do the tropes and cliches it murders left and right. Enjoyable as a bit of a piss take of these thing, but don't think it was supposed to be one
Ghost Hunt 8
A rewatch, but bought and watched the Dub, rather than the sub. Still as fun the second time round, but lost alot of the scariness as you already knew what was going to happen. Stlll fun and the dub was solid.
Genshiken- 6
Aka Japanese Otaku 101. Taking a look at all the elements of Japanese anime nerd culture one episode at a time. The problem was the 'lead' was a characterless everyman, and the most interesting one wasn't an otaku
Really hate giving half marks, but this one managed to get one. Mainly as managed to completely get me to completely off guard. Was expecting some very light fan-service, but managed to get instead a rather dark science fiction ova. With breasts. Huge breasts. Huge comedy breasts that serve no purpose (even as fan-service it fails). Hence the half point. With out it may have got a 8, but the english VA's are kinda ... off slightly. Not bad as such, and off. And of course CGI is somewhat dated, the mecha don't seem that bad, but the Ghoul look shoddy. Definitely worth a watch especially since you can pick it up about a tenner
Mezzo DSA- 7
Another from ADV's Fan service range, but one with suprising devoid of fanservice compared to some of the other. The odd nude android, and the ever present skin tight orange jumpsuit. I was very surprised to find out it was a direct sequel to Mezzo Forte, and even referenced it and even used clips. A very competent action series some nice touches, but nothing spectacular.
Gravion/ Gravion Zwei - 6
Yet more fan service, but with a mecha feel. Pretty, but overly relying on T&A, panty shots and maids. The plot (if you can call it that), comes apart at even the lightest touch, as do the tropes and cliches it murders left and right. Enjoyable as a bit of a piss take of these thing, but don't think it was supposed to be one
Ghost Hunt 8
A rewatch, but bought and watched the Dub, rather than the sub. Still as fun the second time round, but lost alot of the scariness as you already knew what was going to happen. Stlll fun and the dub was solid.
Genshiken- 6
Aka Japanese Otaku 101. Taking a look at all the elements of Japanese anime nerd culture one episode at a time. The problem was the 'lead' was a characterless everyman, and the most interesting one wasn't an otaku
ilmaestro
State Alchemist
I can't even see where Aion has written about Diebuster?
edit: lol, it's in the middle of that massive post, whoops. Was looking for something on its own.
edit2: yeah, I don't see a massive problem with Aion disliking it. Maybe he might go back now and try to see why it was made the way it was made, but you shouldn't have to do so beforehand.
edit: lol, it's in the middle of that massive post, whoops. Was looking for something on its own.
edit2: yeah, I don't see a massive problem with Aion disliking it. Maybe he might go back now and try to see why it was made the way it was made, but you shouldn't have to do so beforehand.
sanji no 1
Vampire Ninja
Devil May Cry
4/10
Boring as hell! Stopped watching after first disc....so im not gonna finish it.
Dragonball z season 4
9/10
Dragonball z never dissapoints.
4/10
Boring as hell! Stopped watching after first disc....so im not gonna finish it.
Dragonball z season 4
9/10
Dragonball z never dissapoints.
Oh wait, I wasn't talking about DieBuster in the research part, lol. Well... whatever, doesn't matter anyway. Can't take Aion seriously when he gives 8/10 to a Bleach movie.
Also, Gundam WING 5/10. First 24 episodes are 6/10 after that it's a 4/10, it balances out nicely.
Also, Gundam WING 5/10. First 24 episodes are 6/10 after that it's a 4/10, it balances out nicely.
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Aion
Time-Traveller
Unless you can tell me how a Bleach filler movie could be a lot better than the third flick, then I can't take you seriously, either. (Not that I ever did, anyway...)
Nice visuals, an excellent soundtrack (still listening to it now) and a sort of re-mixed version of the SS arc. There was even some decent character development. Really, what more do you want from a popular shounen film?
Nice visuals, an excellent soundtrack (still listening to it now) and a sort of re-mixed version of the SS arc. There was even some decent character development. Really, what more do you want from a popular shounen film?
Aion said:
Whilst Bleach is a 9-10/10 affair, the third film was still nothing special in my opinion. I mean it was great and all, but nothing especially stood out to me...Although seeing some Skikai action (well a tiny bit....kinda) from captains that don't normally do anything was nice, me still wants Bankai from them though. On a different note, what was up with playing the Kon being left all alone scene twice?....
Aion
Time-Traveller
Black Jack OVA Series
Every once in awhile, I stumble across an anime which manages to surprise me. Knowing nothing about what I'm going to watch in advance, I start viewing, ending up with this rare sense of...joy; as if I've unearthed a buried treasure. Whilst watching this OVA, based on the work of Osamu Tezuka, I ended up feeling this way.
I'm not experienced with Tezuka’s work. So far, I've only watched three or so anime adaptations of his numerous manga titles. However, going on what I've read, this OVA is darker, and far more realistic in its approach than the source material. The character designs, for example, are said to have been altered from cartoonish to a grittier style. But, in the end, different or not, I doubt it'll matter to most reading this; most, like myself, not knowing a lot about it prior to viewing.
:: Story :: -- 9/10
The story is about a man known by the name of 'Black Jack'. He's an unlicensed doctor, said to be the best in the world, who will do almost any job asked of him... for a price. With a black cape he keeps wrapped around himself even in the heat of the desert, he travels the world, being paid crazy amounts of money to find the cure for various diseases and illnesses that normal doctors can find no remedy for. No-one knows much about him, only a basic description: he has a surgical scar on his face, a mixture of black and white hair and, as his name suggests, he wears black.
The best way for me to explain the series to someone totally in the dark is to use Mushishi; a very popular, totally episodic title, with very little development for its lead and few recurring characters. Like the lead of Mushishi, Black Jack is always on the move, attempting solve mysteries in order to save the lives of his patients. Each episode focuses on a different problem, and Black Jack often finds himself in a race against time to save lives. There's isn't much in the way of greenery, the stories mostly taking place inside towns, and there isn't any relaxing music that soothes the soul, but the basic premise of both titles are very, very similar. There are even a number of supernatural cases included, meaning there's no realism/supernatural divide separating the two. Black Jack does try to stick closer to reality, with its lead using the power of science rather than information about supernatural life-forms, though.
In the first half, the focus is heavily on realism. There's a story involving the effects drugs have on people and how they destroy lives; there's a story about a clearly-not-renamed-version-of-America attempting to re-capture the leader of a smaller nation out of greed; there's a story about an actress being unable to eat, edging ever closer to starvation and, finally, there's a story about a young man trying to uncover the mystery behind his dreams, which result in him having spasms and bleeding from an old bullet wound. The first episode involves a supernatural illness, but the majority of the content in episodes 2-5 doesn’t stray too far from what can be viewed as believable.
However, the second half differs greatly, and it came close to making me lower my rating slightly. I won't go through them all, but one episode I can use as an example is the sixth. It involves a box full of money arriving two years late at the residence of Black Jack and a rather bizarre dream sequence playing out, where Black Jack goes back in time and has to try to figure out why a princess is suffering as if a serpent is wrapped around her, with her also going into rages where she attacks others. After what came before, it struck me as being out of place, although the later episodes made it fit in better. Honestly, I didn't get as much enjoyment out of episodes 6-9 as I did out of 1-5, and only the moving and very involving final episode about a 'mermaid' compares to the earlier episodes in my mind.
I wouldn't go as far as to say Black Jack is a tale of two halves. The second half did have some interesting episodes, nearly all of them being entertaining, and the final episode allowed the series to end on a high. I will, however, say that, depending on if you enjoy realistic or supernatural elements more, you'll probably end up preferring one half of the series over the other.
:: Characterization :: -- 8.5/10
The characterization is the main plus or negative, depending on your perspective, though. Black Jack, and his youthful looking and immature assistant, Pinoko, receive no real development throughout the series. Black Jack always attempts to distance himself emotionally from his patients and, while he does sometimes end up becoming close with a number of the females involved in each story (even sleeping in the same bed as one of them), the relationships never advance to a point where you learn more about Black Jack. He's quiet, he's kinder than his the fees he asks for suggests and he's a God with a scalpel - that's all you'll ever learn about him from this OVA. Nothing is shown of his past, and you aren't even told why he lives with the ever colourful Pinoko; a character that wasn't needed and often got in the way with her light-hearted scenes, especially in the last half.
The flipside of this coin is that all of the main characters in each of the stories get fleshed out significantly. More often than not, I was able to sympathize with their struggles... or, at the very least, I was able to understand enough to care. Using the characterization in episode four as an example, a woman was shown to gradually deteriorate until she was close to being a skeleton. From time to time, she dreamed about her childhood days spent with her friend; when they both shared childish dreams. As she neared death, despite her will to live, she wanted her pain to end, and to 'see' her friend once again. Because of the slow pacing and powerful images shown, it was impossible for me not to become emotionally involved, and I felt similarly about a number of the other characters.
While I would've loved to learn more about Black Jack and Pinoko, I don't think it damaged what is a totally episodic title. If anything, knowing little about Black Jack made him more of an enigma; adding to his appeal.
:: Art / Animation + Sound :: -- 7/10 & 6/10
By far, the visuals and sound are the most disappointing aspects of the series. I like the gritty art style, I like the detailed and bloody surgery scenes, I like the dull colour usage and the voice acting is perfectly acceptable. The problems lie with the animation and soundtrack. There's very little animation of note included, sometimes still-shots being used. The openings and endings are both very disappointing, the opening in particular because it flashes between poor quality (video) artwork for around three minutes. And the soundtrack is totally unmemorable, me not even noticing when there wasn't any music during the many parts with only voice acting and sound effects. While far from horrible, this isn't something to go into for eye and ear pleasing material.
:: Overall :: -- 8.5/10-9/10
To sum it up, Black Jack is an excellent, slightly under-rated and VERY under-watched anime. I highly recommend it to fans of Mushishi's story-telling style, or to anyone looking for something not reliant on moe to appeal. Without wanting to sound pretentious, Black Jack is an anime aimed at adults; aimed at those who can look underneath and appreciate stories not needing to be pushed along with constant, attention grabbing plot twists. Unless you believe you need 2000+ flashiness, do yourself a favour and look back in time; you never know, you might just see what I saw when I watched it.
Every once in awhile, I stumble across an anime which manages to surprise me. Knowing nothing about what I'm going to watch in advance, I start viewing, ending up with this rare sense of...joy; as if I've unearthed a buried treasure. Whilst watching this OVA, based on the work of Osamu Tezuka, I ended up feeling this way.
I'm not experienced with Tezuka’s work. So far, I've only watched three or so anime adaptations of his numerous manga titles. However, going on what I've read, this OVA is darker, and far more realistic in its approach than the source material. The character designs, for example, are said to have been altered from cartoonish to a grittier style. But, in the end, different or not, I doubt it'll matter to most reading this; most, like myself, not knowing a lot about it prior to viewing.
:: Story :: -- 9/10
The story is about a man known by the name of 'Black Jack'. He's an unlicensed doctor, said to be the best in the world, who will do almost any job asked of him... for a price. With a black cape he keeps wrapped around himself even in the heat of the desert, he travels the world, being paid crazy amounts of money to find the cure for various diseases and illnesses that normal doctors can find no remedy for. No-one knows much about him, only a basic description: he has a surgical scar on his face, a mixture of black and white hair and, as his name suggests, he wears black.
The best way for me to explain the series to someone totally in the dark is to use Mushishi; a very popular, totally episodic title, with very little development for its lead and few recurring characters. Like the lead of Mushishi, Black Jack is always on the move, attempting solve mysteries in order to save the lives of his patients. Each episode focuses on a different problem, and Black Jack often finds himself in a race against time to save lives. There's isn't much in the way of greenery, the stories mostly taking place inside towns, and there isn't any relaxing music that soothes the soul, but the basic premise of both titles are very, very similar. There are even a number of supernatural cases included, meaning there's no realism/supernatural divide separating the two. Black Jack does try to stick closer to reality, with its lead using the power of science rather than information about supernatural life-forms, though.
In the first half, the focus is heavily on realism. There's a story involving the effects drugs have on people and how they destroy lives; there's a story about a clearly-not-renamed-version-of-America attempting to re-capture the leader of a smaller nation out of greed; there's a story about an actress being unable to eat, edging ever closer to starvation and, finally, there's a story about a young man trying to uncover the mystery behind his dreams, which result in him having spasms and bleeding from an old bullet wound. The first episode involves a supernatural illness, but the majority of the content in episodes 2-5 doesn’t stray too far from what can be viewed as believable.
However, the second half differs greatly, and it came close to making me lower my rating slightly. I won't go through them all, but one episode I can use as an example is the sixth. It involves a box full of money arriving two years late at the residence of Black Jack and a rather bizarre dream sequence playing out, where Black Jack goes back in time and has to try to figure out why a princess is suffering as if a serpent is wrapped around her, with her also going into rages where she attacks others. After what came before, it struck me as being out of place, although the later episodes made it fit in better. Honestly, I didn't get as much enjoyment out of episodes 6-9 as I did out of 1-5, and only the moving and very involving final episode about a 'mermaid' compares to the earlier episodes in my mind.
I wouldn't go as far as to say Black Jack is a tale of two halves. The second half did have some interesting episodes, nearly all of them being entertaining, and the final episode allowed the series to end on a high. I will, however, say that, depending on if you enjoy realistic or supernatural elements more, you'll probably end up preferring one half of the series over the other.
:: Characterization :: -- 8.5/10
The characterization is the main plus or negative, depending on your perspective, though. Black Jack, and his youthful looking and immature assistant, Pinoko, receive no real development throughout the series. Black Jack always attempts to distance himself emotionally from his patients and, while he does sometimes end up becoming close with a number of the females involved in each story (even sleeping in the same bed as one of them), the relationships never advance to a point where you learn more about Black Jack. He's quiet, he's kinder than his the fees he asks for suggests and he's a God with a scalpel - that's all you'll ever learn about him from this OVA. Nothing is shown of his past, and you aren't even told why he lives with the ever colourful Pinoko; a character that wasn't needed and often got in the way with her light-hearted scenes, especially in the last half.
The flipside of this coin is that all of the main characters in each of the stories get fleshed out significantly. More often than not, I was able to sympathize with their struggles... or, at the very least, I was able to understand enough to care. Using the characterization in episode four as an example, a woman was shown to gradually deteriorate until she was close to being a skeleton. From time to time, she dreamed about her childhood days spent with her friend; when they both shared childish dreams. As she neared death, despite her will to live, she wanted her pain to end, and to 'see' her friend once again. Because of the slow pacing and powerful images shown, it was impossible for me not to become emotionally involved, and I felt similarly about a number of the other characters.
While I would've loved to learn more about Black Jack and Pinoko, I don't think it damaged what is a totally episodic title. If anything, knowing little about Black Jack made him more of an enigma; adding to his appeal.
:: Art / Animation + Sound :: -- 7/10 & 6/10
By far, the visuals and sound are the most disappointing aspects of the series. I like the gritty art style, I like the detailed and bloody surgery scenes, I like the dull colour usage and the voice acting is perfectly acceptable. The problems lie with the animation and soundtrack. There's very little animation of note included, sometimes still-shots being used. The openings and endings are both very disappointing, the opening in particular because it flashes between poor quality (video) artwork for around three minutes. And the soundtrack is totally unmemorable, me not even noticing when there wasn't any music during the many parts with only voice acting and sound effects. While far from horrible, this isn't something to go into for eye and ear pleasing material.
:: Overall :: -- 8.5/10-9/10
To sum it up, Black Jack is an excellent, slightly under-rated and VERY under-watched anime. I highly recommend it to fans of Mushishi's story-telling style, or to anyone looking for something not reliant on moe to appeal. Without wanting to sound pretentious, Black Jack is an anime aimed at adults; aimed at those who can look underneath and appreciate stories not needing to be pushed along with constant, attention grabbing plot twists. Unless you believe you need 2000+ flashiness, do yourself a favour and look back in time; you never know, you might just see what I saw when I watched it.
