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Darker Than Black 1-6 (rewatch), 7-10

The measure of a quality series is when I enjoy a second viewing as much as the first. In the case of Darker Than Black, I actually enjoyed the first six episodes--which I'd watched previously--more the second time around for some reason. I love the atmosphere, and the writing is excellent.

The next two-part story, a film noir pastiche featuring a dopey detective and his loli otaku assistant, didn't hit the same heights, though I did enjoy it. While these episodes represent a marked shift in tone from the first six, which are largely serious, I didn't find it particularly jarring.

The final story presented me with the wonderous vision of Misaki in a Chinese dress. That alone would be worth the price of admission, but we also get a lot of insight into her character. And plenty of shots of her in a Chinese dress.
 
I finished Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 yesterday. It's quite a different beast to the other One Year War titles in scope, avoiding a few genre clichés (the main character never pilots a suit himself, for example) whilst retaining the elements of tension and devastation for which UC Gundam is renown.
I have no complaints to make as regards content. This show does a good job in developing its characters, and manages not to villainise its Zeon cast members or glorify any of the combat which occurs.
 
When They Cry 1-5

The middle three episodes on this first disc are some of the most tense, unsettling anime I've ever seen. That's not saying much, admittedly, since I could probably count on one hand the number of genuinely scary anime I've seen. But whatever--they are seriously, deliciously creepy.

Unfortunately they're bookended by two awful episodes that mainly consist of lame anime comedy with stock characters who are defined by quirks rather than actual personality. I can see the reasoning behind this apporach--to provide stark contrast--but I can't help but feel they tried too hard.

Nonetheless, I am eager to see what happens next, so it must have done more right than wrong.
 
fabricatedlunatic said:
The middle three episodes on this first disc are some of the most tense, unsettling anime I've ever seen. That's not saying much, admittedly, since I could probably count on one hand the number of genuinely scary anime I've seen. But whatever--they are seriously, deliciously creepy.

Unfortunately they're bookended by two awful episodes that mainly consist of lame anime comedy with stock characters who are defined by quirks rather than actual personality. I can see the reasoning behind this apporach--to provide stark contrast--but I can't help but feel they tried too hard.
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It gets much better. In time the characters all get their stories told in pretty good depth (there is more to them all than meets the eye). So yeah, I'd put those intitial comedy moments down as intended to creep the viewer out even more - The cutesy-ness stays around more than the comedy does. Comedy would just become inappropriate later on.

Contrasting like that is a brilliant device, but I'd still love to show the first episode to someone minus the prologue, and see the look of horror on their face at the end.
 
i love Higurashi, it's just misleading until about episode 2, then it gets sinister

you'll watch all of the first season and you'll be like "WTF!? that makes no SENSE!!!",it will all make sense in season 2 trust me

i agree with Ayase, the comedy does give it a nice contrast early on, hell, Elfen Lied had some of it's funny moments (like when Bando is just randomly shooting his gun in the air)
 
By the time I've ended S1 of Higurashi, I had to see the rest of it and dl'ed it as fast as my broadband allowed. After I've seen it all, it sky-rocketed to the top of my all time favourites.

The moment it gets released, I'll have grab it.
 
Eve No Jikan, episodes 5 and 6.

Finally finished this off. Lovely little series; I'm looking forward to seeing all the episodes put together as a feature-length piece. I imagine it'll be slightly more coherent that way, but it's still brilliant as-is. Also it was left nicely open for a sequel, can't wait.
 
Hell Girl 2 - 1-7

More of the same, in a good way. It's gone back to the 100% episodic formula shown in the first half of the original series, and it's entertained me so far. The punishment sequences have been as silly as ever, the studio not even having attempted to link the punishment to some of the sins, but they've been short and actual revenge stories have been mostly good. The second story - of a girl being pushed into using Hell Girl by her dead sister in order for her killer to pay - is the best so far.

It'll be interesting to see the direction the series goes in towards the end. Last time around a detective came into the picture to change the episodic format slightly, but that can't happen twice. Actually, I know it won't happen because Hell Girl's servants have took up investigating themselves in the second series, for no real reason. My rating will depend on changes made in the second half and if the ending is as strong as that of the first series, which I can't see it being in all honesty.

Negima!? - 5-7

It's a complete mess. Manga material is getting ignored or butchered, I don't know anything about the characters because none are getting time (unlike the 7/10 manga) and Negi - a ten year old - has already kissed four teenage girls. He did in the manga, too, but the studio behind this are rushing at 100 miles per hour towards the kisses and removing as much characterization as possible. For example, Nodoka's shy/anti-male thing gets ignored and she's simply shown to be a Negi fangirl/slut. And, in every episode, some filler about a chubacapra club gets put in, and isn't even close to being funny.

I'll watch all the episodes I have on DVD and drop it. It's an awful adaptation of what is only a decent manga. The first anime was much more enjoyable because it followed the manga; not discarding attempts at fleshing out the cast. Its remake is silly without being funny, and there's nothing to like about the cast.
 
Just got to ep 10 of Area 88.
The series is ok, but its not setting my world on fire. Im a big jet and flight sim fan, so all the planes is nice, but the story is a little plodding at times.
 
Negima!? - 8-10 (dropped)

As much as it pains me to admit, Ryo was right - it's utter ****; not even worthy of £9 for 13 episodes. One of the worst titles I've seen, in fact.

Mind numbing best sums it up. I didn't know why Negi was kissing a teenage girl every episode because the focus kept changing every few seconds at random - as if Negima was a series of shorts. With all characterization removed and lots of 'funny' chubacabra dialogue in its place, the only reason I kept watching was to watch all 13 episodes. And, in the end, I gave up, not able to handle enough hour of sleep inducing rubbish.

I also disliked the visuals. The shaky cam effect seen so often in American TV series gets used a lot Negima!? - not just for moments of extreme tension - and it's annoying as hell. On top of that, despite the pleasing at first glance art and colour range, the picture was zoomed in on too often and kept flashing between faces/backgrounds fast, leaving me unsure what I'd seen a few times. It was doubly annoying due to the amount of random background text.

If you find the idea of seeing characters with no depth kiss a ten year old boy in near enough every episode and fail at humour constantly, give it a go. Me? I rate it 4/10; one of my lowest ratings.
 
Bubblegum Crisis, episodes 7 and 8.

Another pretty short series finished. Really enjoyed this one too, though it took me long enough to get round to watching the last couple of episode. I've gotten fully used to older art styles now too, and I'm looking forward to checking out some more older stuff.
 
Started watching Neon Genesis Evangelion (I'm on the second disc) and I'm up to the part where Asuka has just been introduced and fights off the underwater angel by sinking two boats into it.

Have to say I'm far from impressed with it. The premise is simply ridiculous and seems to play second fiddle to the whiny teenage problem stories. The 'Carry On' style comedy just isn't funny and the directors keep finding excuses to shoehorn in shots of the girls in various states of undress. It's actually cringingly bad in places. And I've gone straight to the subs as the dubbed version sounded like Pokemon or something. Eurgh.

I can see why 15 year old boys might like it, but I Knew I should have got the Paranoia Agent box set instead. Bah!
 
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GunxSword 1-4 was lucky enough to find the first DVD going quite cheap whilst in town, so picked it up, and it was a nice start to the series. I can see bits and pieces that are a bit so-so, but its overall decent enough. Not seen enough to give it a rating, so i'll wait and see what i think of the next volume or two are like before i really judge it. Like the opening though, but that could be because thats what plays when Dann of Thursday destroys literally everything on Super Robot Taisen K.
 
GunXSword really kicks off during the third volume. The first half is mainly episodic, though they cleverly introduce characters and plot threads that become relevant later, but a strong narrative arc begins in the middle and goes right through to the fantastic end.

...

Yes, I am a fan.
 
Kaede said:
Started watching Neon Genesis Evangelion (I'm on the second disc) and I'm up to the part where Asuka has just been introduced and fights off the underwater angel by sinking two boats into it.

Have to say I'm far from impressed with it. The premise is simply ridiculous and seems to play second fiddle to the whiny teenage problem stories. The 'Carry On' style comedy just isn't funny and the directors keep finding excuses to shoehorn in shots of the girls in various states of undress. It's actually cringingly bad in places. And I've gone straight to the subs as the dubbed version sounded like Pokemon or something. Eurgh.
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Question!

Although all good and mostly true (I enjoyed the dub, but found the Japanese version better, a rare thing for me) why did you have an avatar of Mari if you've never seen it before? Well... unless you've seen it before, but from your impressions it seems you never have.

Oh and...

Fanservice, thy name is Evangelion.

EDIT: Your avatar is awesome btw.
 
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Don't worry Kaede. You've been watching the Monster of the Week section of Eva thus far. In upcoming episodes you may well develop a better appreciation of the show, or at least come to know the more ubiquitous criticisms made against it.
 
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