"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." — James D. Nicoll
Seriously, they can't make a series about a Jewish/Muslim/Hindu guy that fights demons/vampires?
There's one where Buddhists fight undead by using their own undead. And one where some guys in turbans fight aliens with blowdryers while the main characters are fishing.
Edit: Oh, and I think the organization in Blue Exorcist had some multi-faith elements too.
If you're looking to branch out a bit more into stories that are still mature and unique, but not necessarily containing a lot of action or overly manly protagonists then I have a few series you might find worth watching.
I have trouble with anime that's mostly about sitting around and talking. It makes me feel like the animators were either on a tight budget, or just lazy (or both).
Seriously, they can't make a series about a Jewish/Muslim/Hindu guy that fights demons/vampires?
There's one where Buddhists fight undead by using their own undead. And one where some guys in turbans fight aliens with blowdryers while the main characters are fishing.
Edit: Oh, and I think the organization in Blue Exorcist had some multi-faith elements too.
Edited, Aug 15th 2012 10:26pm by Poldaran
Blue Exorcist is pretty good, though they really did the anime way to early on, given how relatively new blue exorcist is for a monthly release manga. They do combine several faiths (ie: those you'd find in japan) and make it seem like the exorcists are working behind the scenes, and are in charge of all the major religions in the world.
Demea wrote:
Allegory wrote:
If you're looking to branch out a bit more into stories that are still mature and unique, but not necessarily containing a lot of action or overly manly protagonists then I have a few series you might find worth watching.
I have trouble with anime that's mostly about sitting around and talking. It makes me feel like the animators were either on a tight budget, or just lazy (or both).
I'm the same way, a story needs to be really interesting to get me to be willing to sit down for half an hour to watch someone else sitting down for half an hour.
Well, 2 episodes into Jormungand, and it seems like something demea might enjoy, though I'm not sure it'll be his new favorite.
It's about an arms merchant much like black lagoon. Definitely a lot of action, as there have been two "fights" per episode so far. Dialogue is fast paced and reasonable interesting. Drawbacks seem to be that the characters seem to have multiple personality disorder with how quickly the tone shift from heavy to light, and certain situations--while not quite plot holes--could benefit from further explanation.
You wouldn't visit Disneyland to ride on Jormungand, but you'd get in line for it if you're already there.
Fate/Zero finished. Thoroughly enjoyed that one, although it did bring to mind again the strange fascination the Japanese seem to have with Christianity. Seriously, they can't make a series about a Jewish/Muslim/Hindu guy that fights demons/vampires?
It's due to way Christianity was introduced to Japan, I believe.
Shinto buddhism sorta coexisted with spirtual prescences barring small scale exorcisms/appeasement/etc, whereas zealous Christian missionaries sorta sought out any 'demonic presences' to destroy it in order to galvanize people toward their conversion efforts. That, and christian missionaries came along with the introduction of firearms to japan, which is probably why you get so many interpretations of the 'christian vampire hunters with guns' theme.
Well, I think you can more simply say that that Christian has high recognition in Japan. You can use it as a setting and people will have a general idea of what is going on, just like using Egyptian or Greek mythology.
It has some additional special properties in that it is a western mythology, and therefore a little more exotic and also a current mythology with existing believers and organizations, unlike many other ancient mythologies.
Finished Jormungand, and it turned out better than I expected. Overall I'd rate it 7/10. It was researched enough that it had a fair sense of realism, and was nice to see the copious use of snipers. While the audience will build sympathy for the characters, it's only through familiarity. The show never pretends they're any better than the people they kill.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood done. That one was right up my alley. Out of curiosity, what are the differences between FA:B and the vanilla, non-secondary-titled Fullmetal Alchemist?
Durarara!! is up next so Allegory will stop bringing it up.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood done. That one was right up my alley. Out of curiosity, what are the differences between FA:B and the vanilla, non-secondary-titled Fullmetal Alchemist?
For the first 15 or so episodes, not very much, but after that the storylines diverge wildly. It's pretty much a completely different series with the same characters. The first series (Fullmetal Alchemist) was in production at the same time as the manga, so instead of waiting for manga to finish, they just went ahead and wrote an ending to the anime. Once, the manga was finished they went back and redid the anime and added "Brotherhood" to the title. Personally, I rather enjoyed both series, I would have a hard time picking a favorite. One thing I'll mention, after the first anime was finished, they made a movie (Conqueror of Shamballa) that more or less sh*t all over the ending of the series, I didn't care for it at all.
For anyone watching Sword Art Online (I'm just gonna use this thread, rather than the other one, since that one's deader), thoughts? I'm watching it having read most of the source novels, and I'm really loving it, but... it really, really feels so rushed. It's like they're trying to cram too much into a single episode, and it's causing them to cut out a lot of the novel's charms. Up until Lizbet's episode it was fine, but the two before it felt really unnecessary, because unless they're told in one of the last three books I've yet to read, as flash backs, due to how the story with Sword Art Online itself is only in the first book and a collection of oneshots that make up the second book, they're just pointless filler, because every episode since then has felt so rushed... I can sort of see what they're aiming towards, but that event works way better as a forgotten memory coming back tothe surface, so I really hope they don't do it.... One of the things I really love about the books, though, is how the author uses perspective. Kirito always narrates his own story in the first person, explaining things about the game to the reader, like he's remembering it to tell someone. Chapters that focus on Lizbet are in the first person, too. Chapters focused on Asuna and everyone else are told in third person. Maybe it's just because I'm an MMO geek, but their are some pretty important plot points and characterization moments made clear by how the author explains different things about the game(s), and that the anime doesn't even gloss over them, but completely ignores them, really bothers me.
Like Asuna's cooking. That she has cooking Mastered is a big deal, because it takes a long time to Master (max level) a skill, and most people on the only have combat and survival oriented skills chosen to have any levels in, let alone mastery, meaning that people with high level cooking are incredibly rare. Asuna, despite being on the front lines, fighting the strongest monsters in the game, and continually fighting the very dangerous boss monsters, instead, chose to master a skill that serves no purpose in combat and only allows her to make food that tastes good. In SAO, the players do need to eat, but only because their brain is tricked into thinking it's hungry, so if they don't eat some virtual bread or something, which they can get cheaply at npc vendors, they'll be uncomfortable. They won't starve, though. It says a lot about Asuna's character that she's willing to forgo a skill that could help her survival in order to master a skill that only helps her comfort level (and the comfort level of others). Kirito actually teases her for it in the novel prior to actually tasting her food.
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Theytak, Siren Server, FFXI [Retired] Amerida Baker, Balmung Server, FFXIV LOLGAXE IS MY ETERNAL RIVAL!
Reiterpallasch wrote:
Glitterhands wrote:
Am I the only one who clicked on this thread expecting actual baby photos [of Jinte]? o.O
Except if it were baby photos, it would be like looking at before and afters of Michael Jackson. Only instead of turning into a white guy, he changes into a chick!
Also, I just read your second spoiler and they totally mention the deal about cooking and how surprising it is that she leveled it.
idk, it didn't really have the same weight.
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Theytak, Siren Server, FFXI [Retired] Amerida Baker, Balmung Server, FFXIV LOLGAXE IS MY ETERNAL RIVAL!
Reiterpallasch wrote:
Glitterhands wrote:
Am I the only one who clicked on this thread expecting actual baby photos [of Jinte]? o.O
Except if it were baby photos, it would be like looking at before and afters of Michael Jackson. Only instead of turning into a white guy, he changes into a chick!
Oh, and the Fall shows start up at the beginning of next month. Might be time for a new thread for those.
Done. I was thinking of doing it about a week ago, but decided it was too early. I'm anxious though, because I haven't been particularly interested in anything from the summer season.
Eh, I just wish SAO was a real game- without the whole logging out and death problems.
Yea, I'd definitely play it, if I could. ALO too.
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Theytak, Siren Server, FFXI [Retired] Amerida Baker, Balmung Server, FFXIV LOLGAXE IS MY ETERNAL RIVAL!
Reiterpallasch wrote:
Glitterhands wrote:
Am I the only one who clicked on this thread expecting actual baby photos [of Jinte]? o.O
Except if it were baby photos, it would be like looking at before and afters of Michael Jackson. Only instead of turning into a white guy, he changes into a chick!
Also, I just read your second spoiler and they totally mention the deal about cooking and how surprising it is that she leveled it.
idk, it didn't really have the same weight.
Some things like that are to be expected. I just hope they continue the series long enough to get to the other two MMOs.
A comment on Youtube led me to some very minor digging, and it does sound like it's going at least 25 episodes(at the very least Wikipedia lists it at 25 episodes). Said comment said they'd be going on to ALO, with no mention of GGO.
Also, I just read your second spoiler and they totally mention the deal about cooking and how surprising it is that she leveled it.
idk, it didn't really have the same weight.
Some things like that are to be expected. I just hope they continue the series long enough to get to the other two MMOs.
A comment on Youtube led me to some very minor digging, and it does sound like it's going at least 25 episodes(at the very least Wikipedia lists it at 25 episodes). Said comment said they'd be going on to ALO, with no mention of GGO.
I can understand that, the story felt complete when I finished the second half of ALO's arc, but really, I enjoyed GGO's arc too, and Mother's Rosario is just... well... I can't say anything without spoiling everything, but I really loved it.
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Theytak, Siren Server, FFXI [Retired] Amerida Baker, Balmung Server, FFXIV LOLGAXE IS MY ETERNAL RIVAL!
Reiterpallasch wrote:
Glitterhands wrote:
Am I the only one who clicked on this thread expecting actual baby photos [of Jinte]? o.O
Except if it were baby photos, it would be like looking at before and afters of Michael Jackson. Only instead of turning into a white guy, he changes into a chick!
SAO: Maybe it's explained better in the manga, but what just happened? or more correctly: how much of that was a dream? My memory is too short to handle dreams that cover more than a single episode.
Was any of it a dreaM? I thought it was real. I also thought it was super rushed though, so I understand your confusion. I'm definitely committed to reading the LN now.