Man in Black's Anime Corner - Column Discussion

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Man in Black's Anime Corner - Column Discussion

NymVette · Movie Producer

OK I read the first review without looking at the title, I did wonder where the Mecha's came into it.

Have now read the correct review and I must say your review has a bit of a negative slant at the end which puts me off a little even with you finishing with your stick with it comment at the end.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

It's an honest review. I can't like everything and even though I did enjoy this series, the truth is that is DOES follow every Anime cliche and its characters are direct lifts from other series. I defy you to find a review of GunXSword that doesn't make the same statement.

For an industry that churns out the vast quantities of material that it does and with a certain template that is easy to work from, it is inevitable that repeated story ideas, character designs and the such will become apparent. It's not a criticism per se rather a truthful observation.

NymVette · Movie Producer

I am not saying there was anything wrong with your review, I hope you didn't take it that way. I just mean't that after reading it I'm not going to go out of my way to watch that series as your review was a little negative about the series.

I see your point about repeated storylines, character designs, etc. I guess that is the old age arguement about quality over quantity. But then we can say the same about hollywood and doing the same thing and churning out similar plots, characters, etc with their movies.

Still that Black Cat review has sparked my interest in that one.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Well I supposed it could have read as negative but I felt it was more "constructive criticism". I would suggest that being negative would be me running the show down and giving it a low mark.

But you are right that it's not essential viewing, rather something fun if it's on sale for a £5 somewhere!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

New column up folks. Feedback welcome as usual!

NymVette · Movie Producer

Nice article, out of the ones you recommend 4 are already on my christmas list and one I already have, so we both must have quality tastes.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

January column now up with a look ahead at the new shows coming in 2008 HERE.

Please feel free to comment about what shows you are most looking forward to, etc.

NymVette · Movie Producer

oh cool, witchblade. I was shown comics of this ages ago and even have some myself. I was dissapointed with the witchblade TV series.

I think it is good they are not trying to continue the Sara Pezzini story and actually create their own new story around the witchblade with new characters.

I always thought this was suited for anime with the views of exposed skin on the leading ladies. It will seem werid seeing it in the anime style rather than the one I am used to, but I am looking forward to it.

-- Edited by NymVette at 14:43, 2008-01-01

Man In Black · Anime Mod

My review of Witchblade volume 1 should up very soon Eve.....

The first episode of Pumpkin Scissors was on the free DVD with NEO last month and it looked okay. I have yet to watch Hell Girl, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Devil May Cry but they all look good. Shakugan no Shana and Black Lagoon both look fun too.

The one I'm most interested in is Welcome To The NHK as I'm currently reading the Manga. It's quite amusing but very adult in content. I'm curious to see how they handle that side of things in the Anime.

And finally Death Note is an essential purchase!

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Death note is the best anime/manga there is in my opinion and i agree with Mib, essential! Im looking forward to the Devil May Cry anime since im a huge fan of the video games its based upon so that should be cool.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

New column for February up HERE

Possibly my most controversial one yet. All comments welcome!

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Nice column Mib, i know a couple of the characters you claim are annoying, yet i dont think so,they are all so cute in their own ways!

Man In Black · Anime Mod

So, which ones don't you agree with? Any you are shocked to see there? Who would you put there? Discuss!

NymVette · Movie Producer

I can't judge many of them, but I totally agree with you on Chiyo Mihama (Azumanga Daioh). She is supposed to be intelligent but is really annoying and doesn't realise the obvious right in front of her.

I have one you missed, the teacher Rebecca Miyamoto in Pani Poni Dash! Very similar to Chiyo in the fact she is supposed to be a very young girl who is very intelligent. So intelligent in this case she is only 11 but is a teacher.

For Yachiru Kusajishi (Bleach), I don't really mind her, but maybe I haven't seen enough episodes of Bleach to find her annoying yet and I can't comment on Nell-Tu as haven't seen this character yet.

I also agree with you on Gora (Innocent Venus), this series really confused me towards the end, but one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't stand Gora.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

In my view same as Nymvette, i like Yachiru, but the most annoying character in bleach is easily Ichigos father who is a total wally! Also almost every girl from the Sailor Moon series could be considered highley annoying,certainly for me, i cant stand Sailor Moon at all, but i have to put up with it for my sister who loves the show. Naruto gets a mention, i like the other characters like Sakura and his sensei but Naruto is...urgh..horrible and at times Kenji Harima in School Rumble and Tenma..but i like almost every anime character really, i dont find to many irritating :).

-- Edited by Totoro101 at 18:04, 2008-02-04

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Kenji Harima rules!! He's the funniest character in School Rumble. and the coolest too. Ichigo's father has a big surprise revelation coming in later episodes too.

I agree with Rebecca from PaniPoni Dash and Naruto (possibly the whole cast). I haven't checked out Sailor Moon and to be frank it's one title I've been avoiding.

I was also tempted to put Belldandy and Keiichi from Ah! My Goddess, Shinji and Asuka from EVA and Komachi from Samurai 7.

The list is potentially endless but I was limited for space so I had the ones that really get my goat.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

I like Harima but for some reason his antics annoy me sometimes trying to get the attention of Tenma, its funny but..just annoying, i cant put my finger why :). I look forward to find out about Ichigos dads revalation in the future.At the moment, in the earlier episodes he just seems utterly bonkers and a bit of a perv.Sailor Moon is a nightmare for any boy i think, Sailor moon espicially is really..urgh..but maybe its the horrendous american dubbing over it that makes her awful.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

New column up HERE!

Comments and discussion welcome.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

See now I really liked this one. I wasn't aware that so many of these titles had been done live action too. The Death Note looked extremely cool. Is that an actual shot form the movie? If so the effects are great.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Darth Mattitude wrote:

See now I really liked this one.

Meaning you hated the previous ones? cry

The Death Note looked extremely cool. Is that an actual shot form the movie? If so the effects are great.
It is indeed. The effects concerning the Shinigami are probably the best thing about the Death Note films to be honest. Ryuk in particular (the one in the picture) is very well done and actually comes across better than some of the human cast! biggrin

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Love it Mib.Im a big fan of the live action films of animes and i have possibly everyone of them you have a short review about plus others you havent included such as Nana,Dororo,Sayuuki,Hana Yori Dango,Hana Kimi,Devilman ect ect,theres tons of them out there and all differ in quality.I loved the Death note films myself and looking forward to the L spin off story when im over the in japan.They seem quite popular amongst japanese and most them are excellent adaptations from the Mangas i think.Nice column!

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Man In Black wrote:

Darth Mattitude wrote:

See now I really liked this one.

Meaning you hated the previous ones?

The Death Note looked extremely cool. Is that an actual shot form the movie? If so the effects are great.
It is indeed. The effects concerning the Shinigami are probably the best thing about the Death Note films to be honest. Ryuk in particular (the one in the picture) is very well done and actually comes across better than some of the human cast!

See now this is borderline paranoia. No I like all of your columns but this one more than most. In fact it made me want to comment about the column.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

New column up HERE.

It's about the fan subs vs DVD argument and is so big I had to split it into 2 parts.

Comments, feedback and such in this thread please.

-- Edited by Man In Black at 17:01, 2008-04-07

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Nobody have any comments on this month's column then?

NymVette · Movie Producer

It is an interesting topic, but not one that I know much about as I don't watch any fan subs. All my anime have come from TV or buying DVD's.

I think the point about comparing it with the music industry and them making illegal downloads as a scapegoat is a good point.

Since I have got into anime I have spoken to friends about it and apart from one or two most have said something like 'whats anime, some kind of kids cartoons?' After showing them either elfen lied, bleach or GITS their opinion changed and they actually showed an interest in it. So I think part of the problem with the Anime industry is to do with peoples awareness of it. If they did more to promote themselves and the 2 UK anime channels (unfortunatly now only 1) is a good start to getting anime out to the masses, then they would do much better.

I have noticed that Anime Central not only is more like a normal channel with proper adverts now, but it also advertises itself on other channels as I saw an advert for Anime Central on one of the music channels on sky. So there is progress.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Second part of the fan subs vs DVD column is now up.

Comments welcome.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

New column for June now up HERE

Comments welcome.

NymVette · Movie Producer

Interesting arguement in your column.

My opinion is that they all have their place in anime, the traditional drawn 2D anime will always have a place with the artistry and skill involved.

Also I think that the mixed drawn and CGI add a new dimension to anime which looks cool and allows them to be created quicker than the all drawn anime, but I wouldn't want to see all anime going down this path.

Finally I also think full CGI also have a place, I have seen the Animatrix and Final Fantasy Spirits Within and was amazed by how good they looked. I just wish I could produce CGI to even 10% of that standard.

I think each will coexist together and anime will be better for having such variety.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Good article Mib.I have to admit im a big fan of CGI and in movies and anime, but only if its nessesary.Nymvettes spot on ^-^ so i dont really know what to say hehe but for me,theres nothing better then a traditional animated anime movie/series.As much as i love the newer stuff which has CGi included,it is kind of like a gimmick that trys to impress visually and focuses on the animation quality which sometimes makes the story suffer,if that makes sense? Spirited Away,Howls moving castle and that ilk are fantastic movies but they havent the same magic or beauty as ghibilis earliest works like Totoro and Laputa,movies that have fantastic stories and beautiful animation without the need of computer animation.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Thanks guys.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

July column now up HERE.

Comments and discussion welcome!

NymVette · Movie Producer

an interesting article and something we have discussed before.

I was sad to see the back of Anime Network as it introduced me to many new Anime series. I am also dissapointed with Anime Central, I was really enjoying the shows it was airing until it started all this repeating which I can't really see the point of them doing, why don't they just close it down now. I am annoyed that Anime Central got up to a good point in Bleach and then has stopped showing it, now I have to wait for the DVD's to come out!

Both channels have opened me up to new series and have caused me to buy anime DVDs.

I didn't realise so much anime aired on channels you wouldn't expect it, the problem is this means I am less likely to watch the anime on those channels. I do hope something comes along to show Anime, I don't mind if it is not a dedicated Anime channel, just a channel that has an anime section will do.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Just to let everyone know, Anime Corner is going on a short hiatus effective immediately. It will be back but after 16 months I think we all need a break.

Normal service will be resumed once some extraneous issues have been dealt with. Anime DVD reviews will continue as normal.

Thanks for your support of the column thus far.

MIB

NymVette · Movie Producer

Glad the reviews are still on going I need them to point me in the right direction of what to watch next.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Thanks Eve. Hopefully the August releases should be up soon.