This is an anime that I wanted to like, but it quite clearly was too focused on itself to care how I felt about it.
That's a shame! I saw The Irregular at Magic High School on Netflix, but didn't add it to my queue...because the blurb made it sound too slice-of-life-y, oddly enough. :/
Arpeggio of Blue Steel is a fast and fun action-drama! More action than drama, which is just fine by me. :) It follows the adventures of Chihuya Gunzou, his crew, and various cyborg ship-avatars who help and hinder him as he struggles to give humanity a fighting chance to take back the seas from the mysterious Fleet of Fog, which had crushed all human naval power 17 years prior.
What I found unusual about this show is that all but one of the developed characters are cyborgs, and the one human character who does has some depth (Captain Gunzou) doesn't change during the first season at all. The show's drama is mostly about the cyborg ship-avatars 'evolving' through making contact with Gunzou and interacting with his other cyborg allies. All of the cyborgs apparently have 'emotional subroutines,' or some such, which can make them very very human.
Anyhow, lots of action as I already mentioned, and not a single slow episode! I think there's one well-justified flashback during the first episode, with the rest of season one happening entirely in the present tense. A medium amount of fanservice and a couple of highly suggestive comments about 'naval warfare,' but no watermelon boobs!
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Arpeggio of Blue Steel is a fast and fun action-drama! More action than drama, which is just fine by me. :) It follows the adventures of Chihuya Gunzou, his crew, and various cyborg ship-avatars who help and hinder him as he struggles to give humanity a fighting chance to take back the seas from the mysterious Fleet of Fog, which had crushed all human naval power 17 years prior.
What I found unusual about this show is that all but one of the developed characters are cyborgs, and the one human character who does has some depth (Captain Gunzou) doesn't change during the first season at all. The show's drama is mostly about the cyborg ship-avatars 'evolving' through making contact with Gunzou and interacting with his other cyborg allies. All of the cyborgs apparently have 'emotional subroutines,' or some such, which can make them very very human.
Anyhow, lots of action as I already mentioned! A medium amount of fanservice and a couple of highly suggestive comments about 'naval warfare,' but no watermelon boobs!
In minor point, they are more like AI's then cyborgs.(which implies they were once human) Mental Models is the term used in series.
The manga is much more interesting depth wise in addition to the vessel combats being more cat-and-mouse tactical(reminiscent of similar like the hunt for red october etc), but i happily enjoyed both. The crux of the AI development is that the more they try to understand humanity, the more their programming starts to diverge and personalize their traits. It's like each one develops a quirk that slants it's behavior going forwards.
Two thumbs up from me.
Just finished Tales of the Abyss. Got to say they did a really good job capturing the game in anime form and explaining a lot of the plotline and themes. I didn't even catch parts of it playing the game and it actually helped me appreciate it more after watching the anime. Very pleased overall!
Just finished Tales of the Abyss. Got to say they did a really good job capturing the game in anime form and explaining a lot of the plotline and themes. I didn't even catch parts of it playing the game and it actually helped me appreciate it more after watching the anime. Very pleased overall!
Where did you see it? I am an old school fan of the tales series.
I believe Tales of the Abyss is a Funimation title.
Wow this thread is huge. I was just wondering where I could get some anime recommendations. Especially fantasy-ish, sword and sorcery type ones. I've been playing Super Smash Bros on Wii U, the Fire Emblem characters are what sparked the anime itch I think.
My all-time favorite is probably Ninja Scroll and Samurai Champloo. I also like Claymores but it seemed to end without any resolution. Cowboy Bebop was cool too.
Wow this thread is huge. I was just wondering where I could get some anime recommendations. Especially fantasy-ish, sword and sorcery type ones. I've been playing Super Smash Bros on Wii U, the Fire Emblem characters are what sparked the anime itch I think.
My all-time favorite is probably Ninja Scroll and Samurai Champloo. I also like Claymores but it seemed to end without any resolution. Cowboy Bebop was cool too.
Legend of Legendary Heroes is probably one of my favorite shows ever. The only problem is the lack of a second season with it ending on a cliff hanger. It is probably some of the best magic combat I can think of. -Available on Netflix - sub is good
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is pretty good. After the first few episodes it tones down a lot of the silly, so if that bugs you like it did me I recommend giving it a chance. -Available on Netflix, sub is terrible.
12 Kingdoms is very good if you can get past the first couple of episodes and to the point where the main character stops being useless. It is probably the only series I have ever seen that I wished went on forever. Unlike the typical never-ending stories that drone on by finding ways to introduce more powerful things or activating a reset, they instead change main characters for different arcs to tell various slightly interconnected stories of the world.
Shura no Toki is a fun historical fiction series that pits the main characters against famous samurai. I personally love the way that they don't dwell on any 1 story, as there are 3 different main characters each set in their own time period covered in the 26 episode series. It is about people who are already awesome fighting, instead of being a coming of age story.
Scrapped Princess is an interesting sword and sorcery series. I think my favorite scene is a wizard duel where the bad guy is outclassed and complaining about the main character's spells not having long verbal components.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is a really good series following a main character who uses a spear. The art is fantastic and the fight scenes seem real.
A little fanservice is fine, and I really don't care all that much about average breast sizes (then again, I'm black and live in Texas. My idea of "average" is a little skewed).
What gets me is when a show drowns itself in fanservice. When you're too busy trying to ignore it (or stare at it) to actually enjoy the story.
I don't see why they seem to think we need that much. Yes, she has a cute ass. It was cute when you showed it to me thirty seconds ago. And the twelve times last episode (looking at you, Vividred Operation).
I know anime isn't movies... but they are similar, especially the animated ones. So I will just drop this here to get you guys thinking. Why because isn't this all about the stories we are teaching our kids?
TED video on hidden meanings in kids movies
Just something to think about when you watch fan service; what message is this sending to our sons and daughters? What are they learning from this and countless other media sources?
Still it gets me wondering about shows like Kill la Kill. It is a story about growing up and fitting in in a way and I liked the story even if I didn't like the fan service... in fact I had to be convinced by my boyfriend to watch because of that nasty in your face fan service had convinced me it would be horrible. Was the fan service necessary? Couldn't the story have stood on it's own? Ok... they painted clothing as the bad guy and good guy of the show. But aside from the weird nudists was any of the rest necessary? Could the outfits have been more modest without loosing the "power" of the clothes themselves? I think maybe they could have... just things to think about.
I cannot fathom using a think of the children defense against R rated content. High School of the Dead is geared towards at minimum high schoolers - people who are probably already looking at porn regularly if they want to. Its not like the fan service is the only mature thing in the show. The main character murders his best friend in the first episode on screen.
That being said, Kill la Kill was a parody of other magical girl anime where the fan service was a good portion of the humor and a plot element. I think one of the things that really makes it work here and not elsewhere is that the characters reacted to the skimpy outfits knowing what they were. The show would not have worked without it.
Blade of the Immortal gets big points for THE most disturbing villain ever... *shudder*
Legend of Legendary Heroes is probably one of my favorite shows ever. The only problem is the lack of a second season with it ending on a cliff hanger. It is probably some of the best magic combat I can think of. -Available on Netflix - sub is goodMagi: The Labyrinth of Magic is pretty good. After the first few episodes it tones down a lot of the silly, so if that bugs you like it did me I recommend giving it a chance. -Available on Netflix, sub is terrible.
12 Kingdoms is very good if you can get past the first couple of episodes and to the point where the main character stops being useless. It is probably the only series I have ever seen that I wished went on forever. Unlike the typical never-ending stories that drone on by finding ways to introduce more powerful things or activating a reset, they instead change main characters for different arcs to tell various slightly interconnected stories of the world.
Shura no Toki is a fun historical fiction series that pits the main characters against famous samurai. I personally love the way that they don't dwell on any 1 story, as there are 3 different main characters each set in their own time period covered in the 26 episode series. It is about people who are already awesome fighting, instead of being a coming of age story.
Scrapped Princess is an interesting sword and sorcery series. I think my favorite scene is a wizard duel where the bad guy is outclassed and complaining about the main character's spells not having long verbal components.
Moribito:...
Thanks! 12 Kingdoms looks PERFECT just what I was after. I tried the first two you mentioned just before posting here (netflix) but they weren't quite hitting the spot, not right away at least. 12 Kingdoms looks brilliant though. Really appreciate the suggestion.
12 Kingdoms is a brilliant series that unfortunately ends before finishing the full story. The ending is still pretty satisfying but apprently there is a lot more to tell.
The Novels are being published in North America though so if you finish the series and still want more I suggest going to look for them.
oh and try Guin Saga. Royal twins flee the destruction of their kingdom and encounter a mighty warrior with the head of a leopard and no memory of his past.
Guin Saga is on my list to check out. Hmm I might switch to it, 12 Kingdoms is throwing me a curveball starting out with this modern mundane school situation? But I have a feeling it will get good, the animation style is great.
Edit: woop yup it just got cool
Guin Saga is on my list to check out. Hmm I might switch to it, 12 Kingdoms is throwing me a curveball starting out with this modern mundane school situation? But I have a feeling it will get good, the animation style is great.
Edit: woop yup it just got cool
Giant Bird?
Yup!
Wow this thread is huge. I was just wondering where I could get some anime recommendations. Especially fantasy-ish, sword and sorcery type ones. I've been playing Super Smash Bros on Wii U, the Fire Emblem characters are what sparked the anime itch I think.
My all-time favorite is probably Ninja Scroll and Samurai Champloo. I also like Claymores but it seemed to end without any resolution. Cowboy Bebop was cool too.
Have you watched Tales of the Abyss?
Nope I didn't know about that one. It looks perfect too.
I'm going to finish 12 Kingdoms. Then Guin Saga. Then Tales of the Abyss.
Thanks guys this is awesome.
Arpeggio of Blue Steel is a fast and fun action-drama! More action than drama, which is just fine by me. :) It follows the adventures of Chihuya Gunzou, his crew, and various cyborg ship-avatars who help and hinder him as he struggles to give humanity a fighting chance to take back the seas from the mysterious Fleet of Fog, which had crushed all human naval power 17 years prior.
What I found unusual about this show is that all but one of the developed characters are cyborgs, and the one human character who does has some depth (Captain Gunzou) doesn't change during the first season at all. The show's drama is mostly about the cyborg ship-avatars 'evolving' through making contact with Gunzou and interacting with his other cyborg allies. All of the cyborgs apparently have 'emotional subroutines,' or some such, which can make them very very human.
Anyhow, lots of action as I already mentioned! A medium amount of fanservice and a couple of highly suggestive comments about 'naval warfare,' but no watermelon boobs!
In minor point, they are more like AI's then cyborgs.(which implies they were once human) Mental Models is the term used in series.
The manga is much more interesting depth wise in addition to the vessel combats being more cat-and-mouse tactical(reminiscent of similar like the hunt for red october etc), but i happily enjoyed both. The crux of the AI development is that the more they try to understand humanity, the more their programming starts to diverge and personalize their traits. It's like each one develops a quirk that slants it's behavior going forwards.
Two thumbs up from me.
Thanks to both of you for Arpeggio of Blue Steel. I'm seven episodes in and enjoying it. The mental models reminds me of an old 1950ish sci-fi novel, Across Time by David Grinell. The ship in it, Master Cruiser 12-12-12, had a human appearing control panel / avatar. The "Ever Perfect Lieutenant" or EPL through which a 20th century officer exercised control of mankinds final and ultimate physical warship... I don't think the EPL ever wore underwear like the Fleet of Fogs MMs though. Well, probably not. It was a PG rated novel :)
I also highly recommend Moribito Grimmy. Truly an amazing tale.
A little fanservice is fine, and I really don't care all that much about average breast sizes (then again, I'm black and live in Texas. My idea of "average" is a little skewed).
What gets me is when a show drowns itself in fanservice. When you're too busy trying to ignore it (or stare at it) to actually enjoy the story.
I don't see why they seem to think we need that much. Yes, she has a cute ass. It was cute when you showed it to me thirty seconds ago. And the twelve times last episode (looking at you, Vividred Operation).
I know anime isn't movies... but they are similar, especially the animated ones. So I will just drop this here to get you guys thinking. Why because isn't this all about the stories we are teaching our kids?
TED video on hidden meanings in kids movies
Just something to think about when you watch fan service; what message is this sending to our sons and daughters? What are they learning from this and countless other media sources?
I cannot fathom using a think of the children defense against R rated content. High School of the Dead is geared towards at minimum high schoolers - people who are probably already looking at porn regularly if they want to. Its not like the fan service is the only mature thing in the show. The main character murders his best friend in the first episode on screen.
That being said, Kill la Kill was a parody of other magical girl anime where the fan service was a good portion of the humor and a plot element. I think one of the things that really makes it work here and not elsewhere is that the characters reacted to the skimpy outfits knowing what they were. The show would not have worked without it.
You are kidding yourself if you think children don't ignore show ratings and try to watch as much R rated content as they can get away with... something FAR easier to do when you have unrestricted internet access. And these things sure do seem damaging to children. Certainly NOT to be celebrated. As an example: When your little ones hear you bragging about how much fan service you watch those little ones will sneak behind your back (if they have to) and watch all those same titles. Then they will brag to all their friends at school about those same titles... and the problem escalates.
If enough people speak out against this then maybe people won't brag about it and the producers will start using less fan service.
I also highly recommend Moribito Grimmy. Truly an amazing tale.
oh yes absolutly watch Moribito
and then when they finish the live action version watch that as well
I also highly recommend Moribito Grimmy. Truly an amazing tale.
May have to give it a watch then.
You are kidding yourself if you think children don't ignore show ratings and try to watch as much R rated content as they can get away with... something FAR easier to do when you have unrestricted internet...A little fanservice is fine, and I really don't care all that much about average breast sizes (then again, I'm black and live in Texas. My idea of "average" is a little skewed).
What gets me is when a show drowns itself in fanservice. When you're too busy trying to ignore it (or stare at it) to actually enjoy the story.
I don't see why they seem to think we need that much. Yes, she has a cute ass. It was cute when you showed it to me thirty seconds ago. And the twelve times last episode (looking at you, Vividred Operation).
I know anime isn't movies... but they are similar, especially the animated ones. So I will just drop this here to get you guys thinking. Why because isn't this all about the stories we are teaching our kids?
TED video on hidden meanings in kids movies
Just something to think about when you watch fan service; what message is this sending to our sons and daughters? What are they learning from this and countless other media sources?
I cannot fathom using a think of the children defense against R rated content. High School of the Dead is geared towards at minimum high schoolers - people who are probably already looking at porn regularly if they want to. Its not like the fan service is the only mature thing in the show. The main character murders his best friend in the first episode on screen.
That being said, Kill la Kill was a parody of other magical girl anime where the fan service was a good portion of the humor and a plot element. I think one of the things that really makes it work here and not elsewhere is that the characters reacted to the skimpy outfits knowing what they were. The show would not have worked without it.
Young folk have been doing this since time before time. Nothing new in the slightest, and rapping the knuckles of producers means nothing to the sheer inventiveness of hormonal and curious teens.
As a part of my new year's resolution/annual tradition, I'm watching lots of stuff.
Watching Macross on DVD...not sure where you could find it streaming, maybe it's on crunchyroll, but it's as amazing as ever. Will finish original series, move on to Macross Plus, then Seven, then Frontier, then Southern Cross, then Mospeada.
Watching the original Gundam movies. Just finished the first one yesterday, will watch all of them, then move on to the Z movies, then whatever I have of Gundam Unicorn. May just rent the remainder from X-box to complete the series. Also may just do that chronological run I've been thinking about want watch Apocalypse 0079 followed by the Gravity Front, followed by 08 MS team, War in the Pocket, Stardust Memory, Z Gundam Movies, F91, and THEN Unicorn. Hmm..
Also, watched the first Devil Hunter Yohko last night. First legit anime I ever saw. It's aged, but it's still a truly beloved favorite. Do not watch this, Aranna- it's pure 90's fan service/sex comedy in parts, at least until movies 5 and 6 where it toned down a bit into cheesecakey territory.
Duly noted Freehold DM, I shall avoid Devil Hunter Yohko.
Even worse for the "fanservice is bad" argument, if you thwack the producers who do the most of it enough to get them to remove their fanservice, you open up their market niches to new companies. The only thing that would "work" would be a full-scale War on Porn, which I doubt would benefit mankind more than say, the War on Drugs has.
I disagree completely Sissyl. Look how far gay rights came in such a short time when they changed tactics to instead showcasing how horribly they are being treated. What was it something like 75-80% of America was anti-gay just 10 years ago... now that they started just using a message of "look at the horrible way people treat us" that has dropped to I think the number was less than 40% anti-gay. The way to get something changed IS SOCIAL PRESSURE. I figure in another 10 years people will wonder what all that gay fuss was about, as long as they keep up the social pressure.
If people start socially speaking out against fan service in enough numbers than companies WILL listen and for the simple fear of bad press stop making it.
The market is too big and too lucrative. Social pressure doesn't change anything for what people don't announce they are doing, ergo, the customers will keep getting the stuff, and the producers will keep making it. Or, at least, SOME producers will. And as for gay rights, the major change to my thinking is that there are a serious number of people who are openly gay, many with a very high profile. That made homosexuals "people" instead of "a problem". We react to seeing the face of someone. Without a face, it allows us to remain abstract.
I disagree completely Sissyl. Look how far gay rights came in such a short time when they changed tactics to instead showcasing how horribly they are being treated. What was it something like 75-80% of America was anti-gay just 10 years ago... now that they started just using a message of "look at the horrible way people treat us" that has dropped to I think the number was less than 40% anti-gay. The way to get something changed IS SOCIAL PRESSURE. I figure in another 10 years people will wonder what all that gay fuss was about, as long as they keep up the social pressure.
If people start socially speaking out against fan service in enough numbers than companies WILL listen and for the simple fear of bad press stop making it.
Sorry Aranna, but it's just not happening. You are trying to stand in the path of a hormonal flood and offering to replace it with...what? Shame in one's sexuality? A lot of sex comedies were created in direct opposition to such things. Not accusing you, mind, but you aren't offering much other than a "sex is bad" perspective.
You haven't been reading well Freehold DM... I am saying please stop with the objectification of women... I am saying nothing at all about sex being bad. Fan service reduces us to sex toys in the eyes of boys, I would rather be seen as a whole person.
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So they shouldn't be watching fanservice anime, they should be having sex instead?
...
Really that's what you got from that?!
So they shouldn't be watching fanservice anime, they should be having sex instead?
:D
...
Really that's what you got from that?!
Greatest. Thread. Ever.
It is a harsh realization for many that human sexuality takes oh so many forms... and the porn that doesn't speak to your own forms is boring at best, horrible and dangerous at worst. Thus, it falls on all of us to be tolerant of the erotic tastes of others and hopefully receive the same respect.
It is a harsh realization for many that human sexuality takes oh so many forms... and the porn that doesn't speak to your own forms is boring at best, horrible and dangerous at worst. Thus, it falls on all of us to be tolerant of the erotic tastes of others and hopefully receive the same respect.
Really? So sexism is fine as long as some people like it? Should the world apply this same logic of yours to other isms? Perhaps shows that use blacks as nothing more than negative stereotypes are good wholesome fun... as long as some people like that stuff, others should just be more tolerant of the racists tastes is what your saying.
Sexism? I thought we were talking about objectification and erotic material...
Objectification is a big part of sexism. Women treated as objects not people.
So because objectification is a part of sexism, and sexism is bad, then all objectification is bad per definition?
Would blacks want to be thought of as not real people, just property?
Would gays like to be thought of as nothing more than a disease?
Girls are no different.
Do people, men and women, like to be thought of as sexual objects in certain situations? Do people, men and women, like to see people who match their sexual preferences in objectifying situations? I would say yes to both. Objectification is a word to describe relating to someone without knowing them as a person - does that NEED to be a terrible thing? No. Idols, performers, models, TV presenters, athletes, politicians... there are so many situations where someone is judged on other merits than who they are as a person.
Where you get the parts about blacks and gays, I dunno.
It is a harsh realization for many that human sexuality takes oh so many forms... and the porn that doesn't speak to your own forms is boring at best, horrible and dangerous at worst. Thus, it falls on all of us to be tolerant of the erotic tastes of others and hopefully receive the same respect.Really? So sexism is fine as long as some people like it? Should the world apply this same logic of yours to other isms? Perhaps shows that use blacks as nothing more than negative stereotypes are good wholesome fun... as long as some people like that stuff, others should just be more tolerant of the racists tastes is what your saying.
sexism is not okay. However, you are putting forth a rather extreme situation where anything and everything titillating is distasteful where it isn't wrong because it's sexist. Is there any healthy sexual expression here or is it all bad? There has to be something other than mass consensual asceticism or being insulting/insulted.
Ok Moribito added to my list.
As for the fan service/erotic stuff, it doesn't offend me but it doesn't seem to add much either.
If a story has powerful thought provoking messages about life like this 12 Kingdoms series seems to have, I am just glad it doesn't seem to have too much content that would make it inappropriate for young people.
I love Devil Hunter Yoko except for the last one, didn't like the new character designs.
I really wish they would release Project A-ko, Vampire Hunter D(both), Devil Hunter Yoko, Cutey Honey(90's OAV), Dragon Half, Ranma 1/2 Movies, Urusei Yatsura Movies, Robot Carnival, El Hazard, and a lot of other 80's and 90's anime on blu ray.
Pah. DVD is good enough.
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I'm surprised how difficult it seems for some anime fans to see why fanservice might be really objectionable to women. Does sex sell? Absolutely. Will fanservice ever totally disappear? No more than racism, homophobia, or boy bands will completely disappear.
But that doesn't mean we throw up our hands, and say "Oh f#*! it, bring back the Backstreet Boys!" Because here's the thing: fanservice creates a very subtle but very real effect on women and especially girls. You can say 'Well if a girl doesn't like fanservice, there are other things to watch,' but the fact is that girls will end up watching some of it anyway. Aranna watches fanservice because some fanservicey shows have other redeeming qualities; other girls and women get peer pressured or 'I want to watch what my male friends, bf, husband, big brother, or daddy are watching!' into watching animes with fanservice. (As has been pointed out, an R rating is no real obstacle for a determined child or teen.)
And what's the effect of a girl and even a woman watching fanservice? A small but insistent voice in the back of her head telling her 'You only have small-to-regular boobs, you ain't nothing!' 'Your ankles are bigger than your wrists, you ain't nothing!' 'Your waist is too big for a man to wrap his hands completely around, you ain't nothing!' And so on. It's like how stereotypes like 'black people are stupid' and 'gay people are sex-obsessed perverts' create a kind of background mental chatter. Consciously, a person knows that it's absurd and irrational; but people aren't rational. That mental chatter is enough to undercut or even crush many people's self-respect, which results in all sorts of issues.
I'm not saying that fanservice is the worst thing since Hitler, or that it's not a byproduct of human nature. I'm saying that the world will be a better place when more anime (and other entertainment) learns what 'everything in moderation' means.