The new, official, stand-alone anime thread!

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I didn't feel like digging up the old, gigantic post, so here you go. As I remember, there were quite a few posters here immersed in anime fandom, and I had a lot more fun discussing it here than at other message boards centered around the subject. Hopefully most of those guys are still hanging around. Anyway, knock yourselves out in the joy and mirth of anime; you know you want to.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Heh, i had been considering doingt he same thing, Ricky.

 

Oh, I finally got around to watching som of Serial Experiments Lain and I must say, that shit was fucked up. Those guys that followed her everywhere to that freaky incident at the night club just left me with a "Holy SHIT, what the FUCK was THAT?" reaction. I'm hoping to finish off the series within the next couple of weeks.

 

On the 08th MS Team movie "Miller's Report", the store I was getting it from fucked up and all, so i just asked for my money back because my local FYE beefed up their anime section, so I can get it from there(along with Slayers, Outlaw Star, and a lot of other shit they didn't have before. They even got Berserk and that one show you were talking about with the guy with that huge ass sword, too.

 

And finally, I'm going to be getting "Death & Rebirth" from Amazon.com sometime soon, as well.

 

[Guest pochorenella]

Alright! Nice to be back on this thread.

 

What I'd like to know is if anybody could do like a Ranking for the strongest, most powerful or whatever, MECHAS. I'm talking about guys like:

 

Mazinger

Great Mazinger

Mazinkeiser

Getter Robo

Giant Robo

Tetsujin

Red Baron (anybody know this one? It's fairly fun)

The Gundam family

 

Anyway, if somebody knows about this then let's hear it! My money's on Mazinkeiser (with the latest Getter Robo a close second.) Thanks, and get this thread rolling.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Heh, i had been considering doingt he same thing, Ricky.

 

Oh, I finally got around to watching som of Serial Experiments Lain and I must say, that shit was fucked up. Those guys that followed her everywhere to that freaky incident at the night club just left me with a "Holy SHIT, what the FUCK was THAT?" reaction. I'm hoping to finish off the series within the next couple of weeks.

 

On the 08th MS Team movie "Miller's Report", the store I was getting it from fucked up and all, so i just asked for my money back because my local FYE beefed up their anime section, so I can get it from there(along with Slayers, Outlaw Star, and a lot of other shit they didn't have before. They even got Berserk and that one show you were talking about with the guy with that huge ass sword, too.

 

And finally, I'm going to be getting "Death & Rebirth" from Amazon.com sometime soon, as well.

 

Yeah, Lane is some of the most sureal, bizarre, and down-right fucked up anime I've ever seen, and that really covers a lot of ground. It gets even more screwed up as the series continue, by the way. I'm sure you'll love it.

 

I've heard lots of great stuff about Slayers, but I've never seen it. I'm hoping to as soon as I get my pay check, which IS TAKING FOREVER TO PROCESS!!! AAAHHHH!!!! Anyway, Outlaw Star is just tons and tons of fun, and while the Cartoon Network version is actually aweome in how true it is to the origninial, you just have to get the DVD's to see how trully cool it. Plus, it's actually quite cheep if you go that route, way more so than on VHS. Berserk only has two volumes out, but I love it far. Maybe I'm just a mark for bloody angst in my fantasy series, but I can't get enough of it.

 

Oh Lord, on your way to seeing the End of Eva movie? I don't know when it'coming out, but Death and Rebirth leads right into it. Death is like a re-cap of the first 24 episodes, and Rebirth sets the scene for the End of Evangelion movie, that is the alternate ending to the tv series (it doesn't acknowledge episodes 25 and 26). Be warned, the alternate ending is just ridiculously wierd. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's one of those endings that you either love or hate. I have a feeling you'll love it (you dig Lain, after all) but I can't promise you anything other than it will be WIERD~!

 

Anyway, my latest obsession is this awesome little show called Love Hina. It's like Tenchi, accept not nearly as obnoxious, and way more interesting and hilarious when it counts. The characters all rock and aren't nearly as over-the-top as one would expect from the "guy living with lots of hot chicks" genre. Anyway, I would highly recommend it.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

What I'd like to know is if anybody could do like a Ranking for the strongest, most powerful or whatever, MECHAS. I'm talking about guys like:

 

Mazinger

Great Mazinger

Mazinkeiser

Getter Robo

Giant Robo

Tetsujin

Red Baron (anybody know this one? It's fairly fun)

The Gundam family

ROBOTECH~! gets no love? SACRILIDGE!!!!

 

Actually, I can understand why you'd want to leave it out because the Veritechs would probably get slaughtered against Getter Robos and/or the Gundam family(especially Wing).

 

Oh yeah, Ricky, the End of Eva movie comes out in September according to Amazon(and yes, I've pre-ordered it already), so I just can't wait.

 

One final note: With Slayers, like I said in the other thread, it's kinda like Tenchi, but it doesn't involve 6 girls trying to shag one guy. Slayers is pretty much a cross between Tenchi and Records of Lodoss War with the underlying theme being Lina's infactuation with Goullry(sp?). In fact, it has to deal with the climax of the second season, Slayers Next. I really think you'll like it, man.

[Guest pochorenella]

ROBOTECH~! gets no love? SACRILIDGE!!!!  

 

Actually, I can understand why you'd want to leave it out because the Veritechs would probably get slaughtered against Getter Robos and/or the Gundam family(especially Wing).

 

Sorry, I forgot about Robotech. They're one of my favorites as well, so throw them in the ring, too! Any other mecha I forgot too, for that matter.

[Guest starvenger]

I dunno, I'd probably group Robotech and Gundam separately, as those stories were more about the PEOPLE than the mecha. If it means anything though, the veritechs/hovertanks were probably about equivalent to the standard mobile suits in Gundam. It just so happened that some pilots were a helluva lot better than others.

 

Some mechas you forgot were Grendizer, Gaiking, Dangard Ace, Voltes and Voltron (GoLion and the Vehicle one... I forget the name).

 

Shin Getter Robo was pretty powerful - a lot more powerful than the Getter G. Grendizer was no slouch, either. I'd go with those two as the most powerful.

 

And I know that Transformers don't really count as mecha, but if they did, the Galactus of the TF universe, Unicron, would be most powerful by a landslide...

[Guest razazteca]

any fans of fighting anime out there?

 

Grappler Baki

Street Fighter II V

Fatal Fury

Fist of North Star

Saint whatever you know what it is

Ronin Warriors

DBZ

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

I'd kill for a Getter Robo / Getter Robo G DVD release. I was hoping that as ADV picked up and released Shin Getter they'd do the same for the other two. So far, no luck.

 

 

Damn!

 

(..and for the record, Shin Getter would whip the crap out of the Wing Gundams.)

[Guest RickyChosyu]

One final note: With Slayers, like I said in the other thread, it's kinda like Tenchi, but it doesn't involve 6 girls trying to shag one guy. Slayers is pretty much a cross between Tenchi and Records of Lodoss War with the underlying theme being Lina's infactuation with Goullry(sp?). In fact, it has to deal with the climax of the second season, Slayers Next. I really think you'll like it, man.

Yeah, that sounds awesome. I've always dug the Fantasy/RPG/Lodos War type stuff and I'm really enjoying the Tenchi-style anime right now, too (Love Hina and Ranma 1/2 RULE!!) so it sounds just right. The only problem is, I've been hoping to get the box set, but I need to wait a little longer for my blasted pay check. Bah.

 

Raza, I really dig the fighting anime. I've seen the two Fatal Furry movies, but never a series. It seemed more "I shoot crap at you from far away!" than "we fight until one of us is dead!" like all fighting anime should be. Like I said, I must pimp the Berserk in all it's goorish goodness, as well as Kenshin, which, despite a little too much of a focus on human ethics, has no problem with the blood and absolute death inflicted on the characters. Fuck that "KAMEHAMEHAAAA!!!!" shit, Shishio has a sword that lights on fire, and uses it to set off his GUN-POWER-LOADED GLOVE OF DEATH!!! That's bad-ass, right there.

 

By the way, has anyone checked out G Gundam yet? From what I've heard, most of the "Spin-off" series of Gundam (Wing included) aren't nearly up to par with the originial, but G sounded intriguing.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

I've checked out G Gundam, but my schedule has been so hectic lately that I haven't even watched two episodes in a row. It kinda feels like a Zoids clone, if you ask me with the whole competition aspect of it.

[Guest pochorenella]

any fans of fighting anime out there?

 

Grappler Baki

Street Fighter II V

Fatal Fury

Fist of North Star

Saint whatever you know what it is

Ronin Warriors

DBZ

 

Right here, man!

 

Big, big fan of the Mighty DBZ (my all-time favorite) and Saint Seiya (Caballeros del Zodiaco for you spanish fans). Fist of the North Star actually bored me, and I've never seen the others you mention.

 

Shin Getter Robo was pretty powerful - a lot more powerful than the Getter G. Grendizer was no slouch, either. I'd go with those two as the most powerful

 

I get confused with all those Getter Robots, but the early ones that appeared alongside Grendeiser were pretty weak. When they transformed into Dragun (remember this one from the Shogun Warriors toy line?), Poseidon and the other one (can't remember its name) then they got interesting. And now the newer versions that people tell me kick total ass as far as being powerful goes. But let me dissagree with you on Grendizer. He actually comes from the same family as Mazinger, Great Mazinger, and later Mazinkeiser, but I find him the worst of them all, and I think Great Mazinger could take him down, and no doubt Mazinkeizer would destroy him as well.

 

I'm open to more opinions on this, so keep them coming.

[Guest starvenger]

>I get confused with all those Getter Robots, but the early ones that appeared alongside Grendeiser were pretty weak. When they transformed into Dragun (remember this one from the Shogun Warriors toy line?), Poseidon and the other one (can't remember its name) then they got interesting.

 

You're thinking about Getter Robo G, or Starvengers as they were known here in North America - which of course is where I get my username from. The three ships/formations were Dragun, Ryger/Aero and Poseiden. They kept the same configurations for Shin Getter Robo, but the robot was a lot more powerful.

 

Another Mecha I forgot to mention - Dancougar. That one was kinda odd in that they only used four mecha to make a combined super-robot...

[Guest pochorenella]

You're thinking about Getter Robo G, or Starvengers as they were known here in North America - which of course is where I get my username from. The three ships/formations were Dragun, Ryger/Aero and Poseiden. They kept the same configurations for Shin Getter Robo, but the robot was a lot more powerful

 

Thanks for clearing this up. Anyway, I still think the very earliest version for the Getter Robos were really unimpressive, but the newest incarnation are far more powerful. To be sincere, the newest Getter Robos loook kinda like Tetsujin 28 (or whatever his number is) with that fat-body look.

 

And can someone please tell me the name for the following mecha series: It was this guy that had a necklace with a robot's head, so he jumped in the air to strike his fists together and he actually transformed into the robot's head (the same head as the necklace), and a girl in a plane shot his arms, legs, and stuff so he could be assembled. It was a really cool series but I only got to see the ending once. I'm not gonna spoil it but if anybody knows what I'm talking about please post here. His spanish name was "Vengador"(Avenger) if I'm not mistaken. Thanks.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Woo hoo for the Anime thread reincarnation!

 

Right now, I'm going through the Trigun series and the first season of the Ruroni Kenshin TV series. Both recommended viewings so far.

 

Only seen a little of Love Hina, but I'm definitely a mark for the gal that looks like a hilarious amalgation of Tenchi Muyo's Mihoshi and Cowboy Bebop's Ed (and acts like one too!).

 

I'm also trying to delve into the more obscure titles of anime. If anybody's got suggestions, let me know.

[Guest razazteca]

damn are you telling me that Getter Robo G is Starvengers? I remember watching a movie of that when I was younger and marked out big time for it as it was far superior than the Voltron that I was used to.

 

As for Gundam G, its a good show with the political stuff not as important as they basically focus on the fighting of Gundams instead of the space govt vs earth govt crap.

 

Shinning Fingers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

anybody know the relation of Votoms to Gundam? I think its a spin off series that focus on the green Mechas of the enemys.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Woo hoo for the Anime thread reincarnation!

 

Right now, I'm going through the Trigun series and the first season of the Ruroni Kenshin TV series. Both recommended viewings so far.

 

Only seen a little of Love Hina, but I'm definitely a mark for the gal that looks like a hilarious amalgation of Tenchi Muyo's Mihoshi and Cowboy Bebop's Ed (and acts like one too!).

 

I'm also trying to delve into the more obscure titles of anime. If anybody's got suggestions, let me know.

Right on, brother.

 

Trigun absolutely kicks all kinds of ass, and it's apparent once you start getting further into Kenshin that the two series actually share quite a lot of things in common, as different as they are. Season 1 of Kenshin gets a little dreary about half-way through (especially the episodes centered around Yahiko; Yeesh), but it's COMPLETELY worth it, once you get to Season 2, which is just fucking awesome beyond all belief.

 

As for Hina, you're thinking of Koalla/Koarra Su. She's one of my favorites as well, and I can definately see your comparisons to Ed and Mihoshi. The way she thinks absolutely everything is edible just cracks me up. Though, I have to say, my favorite bit-character in that series is Motoko, the stoic, ass-kicking sword-fighting chick that finds increasingly pain-full ways to kick the shit out of poor Keitaro in every episode. She actually becomes a very well-developed character, and, like the rest, manages to add humor and drama to the series. I would highly recomend that series to anyone.

 

As for obscure titles, I recently picked up the DVD of Roujin Z which was written by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame. It's a satire on the Japanese problem of dealing with the elderly, which is quite an issue when you consider how over-populated they are. It deals with a elderly man who's chosen as a test-subject for a new all-purpose computer-programed hospital bed that has just about every needed comodity and can take care of an elderly person for life. Of course, the thing screws up and the man's previous nurse sets out to try and save him, and it gets wierder from there. I know the premise sounds quite odd, but it's very enjoyable and I might say I like it even more than Akira, as it's not as blatantly compressed as that was.

[Guest Doomsault]

Thanks for bringing this back, I was tired of trying to keep the other one alive.

 

Has anyone seen Escaflowne? I've heard a few things about it but nothing to sway me to completely buy it or not. Someone convince me either way.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

Escaflowne?

 

I've seen the series all the way through..and it's a must-see type of thing.

 

The movie you'll either love, or hate.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

As for Hina, you're thinking of Koalla/Koarra Su. She's one of my favorites as well, and I can definately see your comparisons to Ed and Mihoshi. The way she thinks absolutely everything is edible just cracks me up.

 

It's probably not be the exact quote but: "Mass Suicide. Is that edible?" Completely split my sides laughing at that line.

 

As for obscure titles, I recently picked up the DVD of Roujin Z which was written by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame.

 

Saw it way back when it was seen on Sci-Fi Channel's Saturday Anime (R.I.P.) Like you said, Ricky, it's a fun movie to watch, and it has some good political points about the elderly in Japan.

 

I was thinking more of the lines of obscure anime TV shows. My friend just lent me a copy of "I My Me! Strawberry Eggs" which just recently got released stateside by Pioneer. A show about a guy that gets a job as a teacher, but in order to do so has to dress up like a woman since the principal is an extreme feminist. Very scary listening to him speak normally in his female attire (He wears a choker that somehow raises the pitch of his voice to feminine levels. Hey, it's anime.) It's also rather frightening to see the difference between his male and female forms (No cold and hot water curses here!) Anyway,here's a link for Strawberry Eggs.

 

I'd talk about "Excel Saga" but I'll save that for another posting.

[Guest What?]

Right now, my sister and her boyfriend are watching Princess Mononoke (sp?) and even my sister likes it!

 

 

 

Anyway, my personal favorite Anime is, and always will be, Cowboy Bebop. That show is the shit.

 

Does anyone know if there's gonna be a....shit...Ricky, what did you call it? APV or something? Like a movie of the show...I dunno....is there going to be a CB movie?

 

 

What's going down?

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

APV? Oh... you mean an OVA.

 

Answer would be "No." The events in the last episode would make sure of that, unless they wanted to do an OVA dealing with Spike's beginnings.

 

And there has been a Bebop movie. It's called "Knockin' On Heaven's Door".

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Get Escaflowne. Like Diablo said, it's a total must-see. The one anime to combine pretty much every aspect and genre of anime into one package and do it well. The art and animation, the way it manages to make the Mecha seem mythological and originial at the same time, the sympathetic characters, just everything works on so many levles. It really feels like you've stepped into a new world with Hitomi. Awesome, awesome series. You won't be dissapointed.

 

I HATE HATE HATE the movie! Stay away from it if you haven't seen the series. Even if you have, just GAH!! It's one of those movies that you need to have seen the series it's based on to know what the fuck is going on, but it's way too different from the series to be enjoyable, because they take everything that was GOOD about the series and just fuck it up. Therefore, it's pretty much lost on everyone. Basically, stay far, far away. The series is God-like, and the movie is, well, not. Like, no where close.

 

Nagata Lock, I had forgotten about that one. My favorite is when they think Naru and Keitaro have eloped and Su just has to ask "Are elopes good to eat?" I love that show. I've heard Excel Saga is loads of fun, too.

 

Yeah, there's a Bebop movie coming out pretty soon. It's called "Knocking on Heaven's door" and it ROCKS. Definitely should check that out sometime, man. It's like any episode of the TV series, but with more time to develope the drama. Basically, it's really fuckin good.

[Guest Crucifixio Jones]

I just had to dig up the old thread for nostalgia's sake...no reason it should die. It was 5 pages of true GOODNESS. It deserves to be linked to this thread. Visit it often:

 

http://www.thesmartmarks.com/forums/index....24f2d3c9f705f04

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Already picked up Cowboy Bebop: KoHD through "that magical Asian market" and it rocks despite the subtitles sucking major ass, so I'll pick up the legit copy when it comes stateside.

 

I also concur with RickyChosyu with the statement that the Escaflowne movie is pretty bad, but that's what happens when you try to condense an entire series into a movie. I think the only movie that does it right is Galaxy Express and that's pretty incredible considering how long that is.

 

Excel Saga is definitely a pick up for the sheer comedy aspect of it if you've seen alot of anime since it spoofs alot of anime titles, genres and then some. Not too solid with its plot, but it's understandable since they show itself doesn't take itself too seriously. A very innovative extra in the "Pop Up Video" mode, which is helpful to understand jokes that'd probably go over you head without it.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Not only did they try to condense it into one movie, they tried to change everything about it to the point that it was barely recognizable! Hitomi as a manic-depresive, suicidal teen? Van as a Batosai-style killing machine? Folken as a psychotic dictator who wants to take over Gaea? Merlena as a WARIOR PRINCESS??? Plus, it's so friggin confusing the way everything happens, that there's no way someone who had never seen the series could know what was happening. And, as you can tell, any fan of the series would be appalled at how different everything is.

 

Yeah, I've heard Excell Saga is a total spoof anime, which sounds intriguing. I'm afraid I wouldn't get all the jokes, though, because I really haven't seen enough genre of anime to understand all of them, I think. Still, sounds very fun.

[Guest SpiritualRemains]

Excel Saga is one of my favorite series right now, just because of the total insanity of everything that happens. A lot of the jokes I didn't notice or understand until the DVD release, and I only saw the first four episodes before then anyways. Course, the dub ruined part of episodes 2 and 3...

 

Other favorites of mine at the moment: Vandread, Hand Maid May, and Ah! My Goddess. I've also seen a little of Urusei Yatsura and want to see more, but I don't have enough money.

 

SR

NoWebAds.com

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Yeah, I heard about quite a few funny gags on that show, and I'd definitely like to check it out.

 

I really like what I've seen of Ah! My Goddess. I've read a little of the manga, too, and it's really great. Just a really charming show with a good mix of comedy and romance. I want to finish the series and then see the movie, if possible. Money is an issue for me as well...

[Guest CED Ordonez]

OK, I'm going through the Ruroni Kenshin TV series right now and I just viewed my trusty Netflix rental queue and it tells me that the Samurai X movie is coming up shortly. If I'm counting my cards right, I'm only up to episode 12 or so in the first season of the TV series. Any opinions of whether I should bump back my Samurai X viewing until I finish some more of the TV series? Or should I dive into the OVA series first?

[Guest RickyChosyu]

The Samurai X movie has no semblance of fitting in with the TV series storyline, so therefore all you need to enjoy it fully is a familiarity with all of the characters involved. This includes Hajime Saito, who doesn't show up until the end of Season 1/beginning of Season 2, so I would wait until that point to watch the movie.

 

The Samurai X OVA series is a different story. You see, the events covered in the OVA are played upon heavilly in Season 2 and Season 3. It's basically a re-telling of Kenshin's past that was usually covered in the TV series via flashback. I saw the OVA before I even got to Season 2, and I found that it gave me a better reference point for understanding the events as they were covered in the TV series. You might not like doing that, though, since the shock value of learning about the events in Kenshin's past from the TV series will be lessened, because you've already seen them happen. Basically, it's a matter of wanting some important details of Kenshin's past spoiled for you before the TV series intends for you to know about them. If you're ok with that, then go ahead and watch the OVA. It's definitely a step away from the TV series, but I really, really enjoyed it.