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What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga)
What have you been watching and reading this week? You don't need to give us a whole essay if you don't want to, but please write something! Feel free to talk about something you saw that was cool, something that was bad, ask for recommendations, or anything else you can think of.
If you want to, feel free to find the thing you're talking about and link to its pages on Anilist, MAL, or any other database you use!
I watched Terror in Resonance. Fantastic. People might complain that it didn't go the direction they wanted it to, and that it didn't explain certain character's motivations as well as it could have.
I hear, and I don't care. Wow, I loved it. I view it as a version of Death Note I like. It looks good. It sounds good. The dub was meh, I thought the characters were fantastic for how much plot was present. Plus, they didn't wimp out of their beliefs at the end. I liked this in Weathering with You as well. Anime does not set up character/moral evolution well. I think their primary innovation was making the plot mirror the character's development closely (shonen especially, Miyazaki mentioned that character change is more western). By resisting the temptation to include the backstory, I think the show became better for it. Also, I'll have to look at the director's other stuff. I knew he did Bebop, but apparently I should watch everything he's done.
I liked Terror in Resonance but it felt like an opportunity missed. It's a deceptively thought-provoking show with some real poignant moments down the stretch... yet I can't help but think it's about an episode's worth of key character development scenes away from plausibility. Watanabe is absolutely worth checking out further though. Space Dandy didn't appeal to me and I'm perhaps too disdainful of pop music to truly appreciate Carole & Tuesday, but a Kids On The Slope/Samurai Champloo/Cowboy Bebop series trinity is about as good as you'll get from any director in the medium.
What do you think the additional episode could have provided to make it clearer?
If you can answer that, then I believe that the show didn't need the extra stuff. However, specifically with number 5, I believe that the ball was dropped a bit. The last portion of character wasn't very clear, and I can't construct a realistic motivation for her.
I think character-wise Terror in Resonance comes out ahead of Cowboy Bebop. However, it shows its cracks more readily. Cowboy Bebop operates under very stereotyped characters, which simplifies the amount of time they can devote to character, by opening up more space for cool animation, and a much more developed sense of style and musicality. Those are it's strengths, and because Terror in Resonance has really good animation and music, but not great of either, other flaws stand out more bright. I'll have to watch the rest of his stuff, but I believe that Watanabe may be trying to work more on character. I've found his female characters weak, but once I see Carole and Tuesday, I guess I'll know whether he's trying to actively improve on those fronts like I suspect.
I watched TiR maybe in 2017, which is too long ago to remember specifics, but I do remember thinking it needed more along the lines of fleshing out the characters' motivations and backstory. Not a dedicated episode, but in terms of runtime an episode or perhaps two more would have likely covered it. When I finished watching I actually wondered whether or not the budget got hamstrung by low ratings or something and they had to salvage it, but that's probably unlikely as a noitaminA show.
I totally disagree with your character comparison to Cowboy Bebop. CB may have intentionally tropey characters at first glance, but it humanizes and individualizes them fantastically well (though a fair amount of it is done subtly enough to overlook, to be fair). I can't remember very much about any of TiR's characters beyond the broad strokes, and I doubt they made a whole lot of impact on very many people.
I don't think I've ever heard an anime be called subtle. CB is certainly more efficient, and makes effectively uses the silent/mysterious protagonist (what The Mandelorian was going for I believe), but I believe TiR indicates growth on Watanabe's part, moving to a serialized format, even if it has more noticeable flaws.
Edit: Also, I've been on hiatus with Legend of the Galactic Heroes (original version) since
Spoiler
Yang diedThere are a few shows that are... absolutely not many, but there are a few. I'd say there's a healthy number of films that fit as well.
At the risk of being branded the resident snob, if you've noticed me post in here before this you'll know I'm not exactly an anime fan.
I don't understand why you make that connection, but I'm guessing it has to do with your opinion of CB. You might find it relevant that the other two Watanabe shows I recommended came between Bebop and Terror, of which KotS was also serialized.
IMO it's never again as good, but whether or not it's worth dropping is up to how much you've liked it so far. Personally I was slightly disappointed by the end but I didn't wish I'd stopped.
Edit: I went back to your 'why do you watch anime' thread; I get you now.
I'm bookmarking this discussion until I've seen more of his filmography. I need to make sure that he's going where I think he's going.
With other directors, like Yuasa, I feel more qualified to make statements about their creative direction.
I started watching two shows last week: Hidamari no Ki/Tree In The Sun and Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199/Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199.
I am 11 episodes into Tree In The Sun, and I really like it so far. It's so refreshing to watch an anime series that perfectly nails a mature emotional tone. It has a sense of humor, but it's not a comedy; it doesn't flinch away from era-appropriate violence and rape, but it's not gritty. It's categorized as a slice-of-life show but I think a more appropriate description would be something like range-of-life. Even as it's centered on two main characters, it has more of a big-picture perspective and is less concerned with daily minutiae than typical SoL dramas. The first 10 episodes span something like two years, after all. The soundtrack is understated and provides a subtly apt backdrop for the story beats as well.
I'm also 11 episodes into Yamato 2199, and it's a little light on substance overall but it's fun. After watching LotGH last year and being mainly disappointed with the battle scenes, I'm finding the action sequences in this are scratching that itch tremendously well. It feels very well-directed and -edited too; without having seen the original series, I get the impression that it's summarizing the source material quite skilfully.
Edit: another thing about Hidamari no Ki that I forgot to mention is the art style, and the character designs in particular. It's great to have realistic-looking outfits and hair and still be able to tell characters' faces apart. I guess it's no surprise the source manga came out in the '80s, because I still like the look and feel of a lot of the animation that came out in that era, before the industry went moe-overboard.
Watched Season 3 of Aggretsuko, and the premise is starting to age considerably with Retsuko joining an idol group as part of a side hustle/outlet for her rage, and it goes pretty off the rails for a Sanrio show. I really don't know what Retsuko wants as compared to the first two seasons, and Haida holding a candle for her when she's already said, "I'm not really interested because you don't know me" is irritating. Maybe it's true to life, but at the same time it feeling like the show just has emotions with no idea or thesis with how to deal with them, and I'd like it to be a little more explicit in a theme that wasn't "capitalism grinds us all into dust."
There's a lot of people dissapointed in it, but I like it. I can't say it's good, but the action scenes are really cool, and I love them.
Yeah, first episode was fantastic, and I've been pleasantly surprised by how high quality the animation has been so far. It makes me more optimistic about SAO s4, since I wasn't convinced mappa could equal wit.
Slowly catching up on Millionaire Detective, and it has really hooked me recently. But also unfortunately I didn't get to watch the latest episode of Teen Romantic Comedy due to sub issues. The normal sub group I use hasn't released the latest subs yet, so I'm waiting on that. Gonna sit down soon and watch a movie or two, so look forward to some reviews on a movie. I also may or may not have a review of Black Lagoon's OVA soon, not sure if I'm going to write on up or not yet.
2020 Summer Week 9
Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! Ep 9
I love the mother misunderstanding this show. And honestly it is improved 100x by the voice actor they have doing the mother. Saori Hayami is just so good at doing that motherly and airheaded voice that I just love. Originally fell in love with her after that old Supernatural Battles Become Common show.
Unfortunately, we are quickly approaching the end of this show. I wonder where they are going to end the season at.
The Millionaire Detective - Balance: UNLIMITED Ep 4
Oh my, this is by far the best episode for me yet. We got to see a completely different side to the characters in this side story style episode. Plus, the two of them just casually interacting and hanging out is such great character growth. Though I do wonder about the reason Daisuke left the house, was it really all over some natto? Also, I would love to learn more about Suzue and that whole family. Feel like there is a ton of story not yet told about them.
The Millionaire Detective - Balance: UNLIMITED Ep 5
Now this is getting interesting. I’m in this for the long run now, I want to see this end. Previously I was just vaguely interested in the random interactions between this filthy rich dude and the strait-laced cop in this buddy cop show. But now we have some actual story and questions I want answers to. Stuff like how powerful and complicated is the Kanbe family, I’m starting to think that Daisuke is the black sheep and doing this to try and prove something to the rest of the family. But more interesting for me is Chosuke, the way he was looking at the jammer and bomb felt odd and incredibly off. I feel like he knows far more and is far more important than I original figured this side character would be, specially with the way Daisuke was watching him at the end.
2010 Summer Week 9
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Ep 8
I wasn’t expecting to have an entire flashback episode about this guy’s history. And I’m wondering what this leads to, are we going to get some massive character development through this conversation. Or is this whole thing just pure world building and get left at that. Regardless, I kinda liked the episode and want to see more.
Amagami SS Ep 8
And with this that this second arc ends with the second girl, and I kinda like this ending more than the first arcs. While the first ended pretty suddenly with that whole sexual encounter thing going on. This felt like a slightly more, just the beginning of the relationship thing going on. But once again I feel like it was rather rushed. They had that whole introduction of the mother dating the other guy, and I figured that would be some super major part of the arc. But it contributed to one event and that was it.
I really want to read the VN I think and see how long each girl’s arcs are in that. Because I can’t help but feel like they are cutting out massive parts of each arc to try and fit more girls into the season.
Cat Planet Cuties Ep 8
The love triangle in this show just doesn’t work well for me at all. I don’t see any possible way that all of this will be resolved at all. Not to mention I still feel like Eris is gonna end up winning in the end regardless.
Also, the odd story progression just puts me off this show as it goes on. The dog people still haven’t been really explained at all. Just kinda exists and trying to be a threat, but not really doing anything major enough to matter. Meanwhile the original story that started off with the whole aliens coming to the planet, hasn’t gone anywhere at all. Eris, the original focus of the show hasn’t even had a quarter of the screen time of anybody else recently. It all just feels oddly unfocused and confused as to the story it wants to tell.
Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail Ep 5
And with that this OVA is finished up, and I have finally finished all of Black Lagoon’s anime. In some ways I feel like this didn’t change the characters all that much, at least the main cast I really care about. Sure, it had massive changes for the Lovelance clan, but I wanted more kinda. Revi and Rock and the rest of the mercenary group have largely stayed the same. We got Rock really showing his skills at putting together a massive complicated plan, but we saw some of that previously already. And in the end he says he didn’t even achieve any of his goals.
Overall, I guess this was a perfectly fine OVA. Better than most if I’m being honest. It wasn’t just a couple stupid fan service episodes like most, and instead had an actual story and consequences. So I guess it gets extra points for that.
Solo Levelling is great, and I've been reading it weekly for about a year or so now. It is a little generic to start, but I thoroughly enjoy each chapter, even if each ends on a cliffhanger.