for the first five minutes or so, it really seemed like J.C. Staff were back to rub salt, pepper, vinegar and other assorted condiments into the still-fresh wound.
My favourite bit!
for the first five minutes or so, it really seemed like J.C. Staff were back to rub salt, pepper, vinegar and other assorted condiments into the still-fresh wound.
Samurai 7
About half way through episode 1 I could tell this was a mid noughties anime (its 2004 btw). Shows like GitS:SAC, Noein, Death Note, Claymore, Ergo Proxy, Darker Than Black, Texhnolyze and Elfen Lied (all from 02-07) are what got me into anime. And although these shows can be wildly different they are still unmistakably from the same era. Even though I was watching this for the first time it still gave me a slightly nostalgic feeling and I loved it.
I was expecting it to be a pure period piece given the title so when it opened with a massive CGI flying mech war I was somewhat taken aback. But the decision to blend a Sengoku era aesthetic with sci fi dystopia and steam punk elements was a brilliant one. And the CGI mechs in a hand drawn world really worked for this show. Also seeing the samurai take down giant mechs with only a sword was immensely satisfying.
I believe the story is based on the old Seven Samurai film (though I haven't seen it) and the 26 episode series splits into 3 main arcs with gives the whole story a nice flow and gives time to get to know its large cast which is varied and interesting. The art and designs are great. The dub was great. The series told a full story with a satisfying ending.
Theres something about the way noughties animes are told that has always resonated with me and kept me fully engaged. Also a lot of my favourite looking animes come from this era. And Samurai 7 is another one. 7/7
Just to say in response to @Lordhippos review of Gate that I really enjoyed it. This mostly stemmed from the fact it would be obvious to have the fantasy magic army decimate the modern one and I enjoyed the reversal of that idea.
Sad to say MAPPA couldn't be more different from ufotable and KyoAni if they tried. While ufotable and KyoAni are great studios that push for great working conditions and schedules, MAPPA is the perfect example of everything wrong with the industry at the moment. While the end result can still look great for the consumer, they're definitely not the same studio they were five years ago. This is a pretty informative video on their history.Studios like MAPPA, KyoAni, Ufotable almost always do good work!
Sad to say MAPPA couldn't be more different from ufotable and KyoAni if they tried. While ufotable and KyoAni are great studios that push for great working conditions and schedules, MAPPA is the perfect example of everything wrong with the industry at the moment. While the end result can still look great for the consumer, they're definitely not the same studio they were five years ago. This is a pretty informative video on their history.
Yeah at the current rate the industry is going I'm expecting the bubble to burst at some point. The amount of anime being produced is far more than the amount of animators in Japan can handle. It's gotten to the point where the industry would collapse without Twitter as last minute animators and people with good connections are commonly contacted through the site. The industry makes more money than ever with about 50% of it coming from the US and China and yet animators pay hasn't changed one bit.Yeah I meant in regards to the end result at least, I agree they probably take on too much at once and that can lead to bad conditions and extra stress. I've seen quite a few posts about poor salaries for animators in Japan and it kind of makes me sad, especially when they have a global market of people willing to pay for good anime to be made.
I hope things do change going forwards, because being a good animator/artist is a real talent, and a lot people couldn't do it, it should be a well paid job really!
Yeah at the current rate the industry is going I'm expecting the bubble to burst at some point. The amount of anime being produced is far more than the amount of animators in Japan can handle. It's gotten to the point where the industry would collapse without Twitter as last minute animators and people with good connections are commonly contacted through the site. The industry makes more money than ever with about 50% of it coming from the US and China and yet animators pay hasn't changed one bit.
I just want people to make their funny cartoons in peace.
It's Japan it's the "done thing" to do overtime and not take holidays, so being militant about this stuff is probably a bit of a no-no as well. It's not just the anime industry where stuff like this happens. It tells you something that there's actually a word for dying of over working:Has there been any attempt by animators at unionising?
Unfortunately the same could be said for most industries these days... The shop-floor workers' being ground to dust so the execs can buy another gilded toilet.So executives are making more money from anime and the industry is expanding, but conditions are only getting worse for animators?
Unfortunately the same could be said for most industries these days... The shop-floor workers' being ground to dust so the execs can buy another gilded toilet.
Heh the irony of the priveleged. Such has always been the case with humanity I guess, just that with modern tech and rights nowadays us plebs can publicly rant about it without being locked up (in some countries anyway, though you always the risk of getting novichoked...)On top of the blatant injustice who even would want a gilded toilet I mean it's just gonna get poop on it anyway
Quite late reply but it really sounds like it’s time you watched Slayers, Neil.it punches well above its weight with its clever stupidity and great tongue-in-cheek send-up of classic RPG games.
Wow, all this effusive praise for Dragon Half has just prompted my to order it on CEX. Price has gone up by a shocking £1! I'm blaming your review @Neil.T...Fantastic. My hope for that post was that it might encourage even one extra person to watch Dragon Half, so objective achieved!
I promise you there's lots more for you to enjoy besides what's described above. Would love to hear your thoughts on it at some future point, dude.
I like how this thread allows room for a bit of extra depth and detail in discussion like that.
@WMD mentioned Negima before, but that seems harder to source in UK and I need to order Sakamote at some point (hoping to in a sale if possible).
Ah good to know, thank you. So that seems to be season 2 then if I'm not mistaken?Just in case theres 2 different series. One is Negima! and the other is Negima!? They both start at the same point but tell different stories. The one with the ? Is the great one.
I'm pretty sure both only ever had dvd releases here and that was a while ago. I think the only way to get it new atm is the USA blu ray versions.
Where to even start with slayers?!Quite late reply but it really sounds like it’s time you watched Slayers, Neil.
Ah right, I didn't realise they were completely different productions, thanks for the info.The first Negima! was made by Xebec, and released in the UK by Revelation Films for Funimation on six single volumes. It sucks most of the story out to leave a pervy harem comedy. Think Love Hina but not as good.
Negima!? was made by Shaft and is an early Akiyuki Simbo joint, and it too jettisons the story to go for a freaky animation style and plenty of visual gags.
Personally I prefer the pervy harem comedy, but I'm probably the exception to the rule.