- Joined
- May 31, 2020
Anime/Manga - Discuss Japanese cartoons and comics here; NO CULTURE WAR DOOMPOSTING!
- Thread starter Niachu
- Start date
-
Want to keep track of this thread?
Accounts can bookmark posts, watch threads for updates, and jump back to where you stopped reading.
Create account
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2022
Fun Fact: Satsuki was in Angel Blade.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2022
Ok so starting from the VERY BEGINNING :
The 1969 pilot film is kinda fun, but it's basically an ad to sell the concept to the studios, so not much there.
Part I is OLD, and you can really feel it at times. It's a slow-paced, episodic TV show, that kinda sits midway through the manga and the later series in terms of tone, with some occasionally darker moments although it is mostly comedic ; a lot of the plots are adapted from chapters of the manga, modified a little (mostly for the best). It's obvious that they REALLY don't know what tone to settle for, so sometimes the transition from adult to childish can be pretty jaring, although midway through Miyazaki takes over and it's mostly good-hearted fun. Not excellent, but worth watching.
This series also is fairly unique for having a different composer, which gives it a really unique style that is a bit difficult to explain.
Part II is... well first of all really fucking long, there's like 150 episodes. It's not really good, the animation hasn't improved, and it's as always mostly comedic with much less "adult" moments. What imo mostly makes it worth it is the English dub ; only ~80 episodes are translated but it's fucking hilarious (the actors also returned to dub other parts later, but really toned it down sadly), although if you're looking for something serious it's probably better to ignore it. A lot of plots are once again taken from chapters of the manga, but are simplified for TV, and of course most of the racier elements are taken out.
I have NOT watched Part III, sadly. From what i've heard
Part IV is where modern Lupin begins. It's... okay, has some really solid episodes and some stinkers, although imo the overarching plot is a little uninteresting. The animation quality and especially the background art are significantly better when compared to the OG series, which makes it a lot less grating in the long run.
Decent i guess, and not a bad introduction overall.
Really weird though to see the main cast retain a 60's style while new characters all are much more modern-looking.
Part V is probably the best of the modern series. Manages to actually be a little more mature from time to time (still no tits), has an okay plot but does meander around and the ending is pretty eh. Still decent animation, LOT of shitty nostalgia bait (which kinda works, if you put aside the anachronisms that it creates and the whole multiple Lupins thing). Was probably the closest to making me think they would actually had a character to Lupin's gang, which is almost impressive even if i'm kinda retarded.
Part VI, as you've probably guessed, is a fucking drag. Both plots are bad, there's a lot of CGI for no reasons and in general it's a real letdown.
There's ANOTHER spin-off series called Lupin Zero, based on the chapters that showed Lupin as a kid, but this one is an absolute stinker. The manga itself was pretty inconsistent about that stuff (even retconning itself more than once i think), but this series both contradicts the manga AND makes no sense chronologically, on top of also completely ditching what was known to have been the planned plot for Lupin's beginnings.
Not worth it in the slightest ; if you want, i could explain further the backstory issues but it would take some time.
As for the movies, most of them are eh. I've marked down the ones i remembered here :
The Miyazaki movies are the The Fuma Conspiracy and The Castle of Cagliostro.
Fuma is decent ; it's Miyazaki's Lupin, so toned down and kid friendly but it makes for a decent character. This one's also Goemon-focused, funnily enough
Castle of Cagliostro is ABSOLUTE KINO and undisputedly the peak of the entire franchise. Once again the characters are quite unlike their usual selves, but the movie is still excellent and i highly recommend you watch it. It's nicely animated, looks gorgeous and even has the decency of taking inspiration from Maurice Leblanc's original work, although it is quite different.
The Mystery of Mamo is okay. Mostly comedic so don't expect a really serious story, although it does have some good moments (the intro is really good, for example) and oddly almost turns into sci-fi in a very interesting sequence at the end.
It tries the hardest to ape Monkey Punch's style (with varying degrees of success, Fujiko has her 80's design for some reason) but is today mostly remembered for the whole cloning thing, which was used for a while to explain the anachronisms as the series went on.
Island of Assassins is good, it's classic retro 90's stuff. Takes itself seriously enough, has a somewhat interesting plot and doesn't pull punches, really refreshing when compared to the usual animated stuff.
Animation is decent too.
Dead or Alive is meh. Some decent stuff, the sci-fi aspect is probably the highlight of the movie but despite some interesting ideas the plot is boring and predictable. Despite Monkey Punch's participation (which can be felt with some scenes that feel like they come straight from the manga), it ain't even memorable enough for me to remember much of it.
ALL the tv specials with NO EXCEPTION are dogshit. The Detective Conan crossovers are pretty shit too, and although i have not seen them i have heard from a very reliable source that the Cat's Eyes ones aren't good either.
Green Vs. Red is insanely raped, i fucking hate it. The plot begins as insanely interesting and actually takes cues from plans for the ORIGINAL Lupin III series (before Part I), on top of proposing a genuinely fascinating explanation for Lupin's apparent immortality, but midway through becomes a total shitfest and introduces random nonsense stuff like a giant mech. Also Jigen turns into some sort of werewolf-like thing at some point.
Avoid it like the plague. I can't say much more about it without completely spoiling the movie.
As for the madhouse, it's a mixed bag.
They sell their stuff as a more mature version closer to the manga, but if anything it's really just an edgier version of the regukar anime. I could go into details for the character stuff if you want.
There's :
A woman named Fujiko Mine is absolute dogshit. Has some moments, but overally it's ugly and uninteresting and the whole overarching plot is REALLY SHIT. Teases you a backstory for Fujiko only to go "nah lol actually there's nothing", plus there's some annoying ass twink whose name i can't remember that served as an acolyte for Zenigata.
I guess the only redeeming factor is that tonally it's closer to the manga ? It's nowhere near as funny though.
Goemon's Blood Spray is eh, a bit too shonen-ish at times but it does give their version of anime Goemon a time in the spotlight. Zenigata gets some time too.
Unlike the series, this movie (and the others) does have a higher budget, so we can see a bit more of that fancy animation Madhouse is known for which is fucking nice.
Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone has some caveats, like the weird Fujiko subplot, but overall is the best of the 3, managing to be both mature and kinda fun at the same time.
Fujiko Mine's Lie is okay, a little more meandering but it has a nice plot and dips a little into the supernatural, in a way that is relatively in line with the original manga.
Zenigata and the Two Lupins is slop. Has some moments, but the plot is fairly predictable and has some eye-rolling moments. Can't get over their reliance on pastiches of real countries though, that's some pussy ass shit.
Only interesting thing about it is that it's really just a teaser for their next movie, which seems to be focused on Lupin and is... a remake of the Mystery of Mamo ? What ?!
Lemme know if i missed anything. Been a while since i watched them.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2022
imo Green Jacket's real draw is how different the mood is.
It takes its time a lot more, and Takeo Yamashita's soundtrack really goes well with it. As much as i like Yuji Ohno's work, it doesn't work as well when trying to sell the more mature aspects of the character, especially since Yamashita had like at least 3 different themes for him :
- His main theme, which you can hear in the intro for the first episodes, used here and there for more comedic moments.
- Afro Lupin 68's, used in the second intro for the character and in some scenes, which is more of an action theme ; it's really repetitive but the "fixed" version released in 2001 is a lot better.
- The ending theme, which is also used during some serious scenes and really encapsulates the mood of the series.
The scene in like episode 11 or 12 where he shoots the guy during the boat chase is a really good example of this : it gets really quiet, then there's this slow, moody and whistled version of the ending theme that plays, and bang, he guns the guy down. It's difficult to explain but it works so much better at building up tension than the modern stuff.
Sadly all of this gets ditched when Miyazaki takes over, and it's just samba from now on.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2023
It's been a while, but I think the first season of Lupin III is pretty decent, and I liked some of the "darker" stuff.
wtfNeedSignUp
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2019
They had a full season to do all the Upper Frauds backstories and instead it was 4 hours of sucking the main character's dick. And it's not even mid fight, it was once in the middle so main character can get YET ANOTHER super power, and then another near the end so the villain can have his excessively tragic backstory and kill himself. It's such terrible pacing and writing.
I'M IN DESPAIR! ZOOMERS SHITTY TASTE HAD MADE ME DESPAIR!
BingBongDingDong
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2022
I'm kinda surprised this show has any hype after the manga ended so terribly. I'm curious if the anime has adapted/changed anything for the better but by the free posts taking about it here it sounds like it's just as poop as the manga. It's a shame when the anime has the chance to improve upon disappointment and instead the zips autistically adapt it for better or worse.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2021
Appreciate the recommendations. Adding them to the list.
Psycho-Pass is good so far. Very good. Excited to see how the story evolves. I can appreciate how each episode is formulaic to some degree while also sprinkling in a twist for each criminal the protagonist chase. The VRchat killer is my favorite episode yet.
Could sperg on about the worldbuilding too. Jesus, 5 year olds getting locked up because their scanner color is not pink enough.
Going to assume a plot point that may emerge later. Akane will use her inate skills in psychology or whatever to lower all the hounds psycho-pass thus rendering them free citizens again.
Psycho-Pass is good so far. Very good. Excited to see how the story evolves. I can appreciate how each episode is formulaic to some degree while also sprinkling in a twist for each criminal the protagonist chase. The VRchat killer is my favorite episode yet.
Could sperg on about the worldbuilding too. Jesus, 5 year olds getting locked up because their scanner color is not pink enough.
Going to assume a plot point that may emerge later. Akane will use her inate skills in psychology or whatever to lower all the hounds psycho-pass thus rendering them free citizens again.
Newcomer 42
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2025
Supposedly, anything after the first season is not worth it, but I haven't watched it yet.
Then you have the psychos who pass the test. *yeah*
I've started Apothecary Tales to give me a breather from VOTOMS, only watched first two episodes so far. So far, it's fun and different from the usual, although I read that it gets boring and repetitive over time.
The Lаughing Man
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2025
You'll find out that after the 11th episode, they struggled to move the plot around the twists that happen later.
They literally dedicate an entire episode to the most blandest character.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2017
Jesus, Psycho-Pass was the anime that made me go "Gen Urobuchi is a hack", like it has smart writing, but it wasn't smart with its execution. Got really frustrating by the second half of the show, and the murders are so over-the-top and feel so inconsequential that I can't take them seriously.
Then again, I wonder if it's because I saw GitS: SAC and Se7en first before Psycho-Pass.
Then again, I wonder if it's because I saw GitS: SAC and Se7en first before Psycho-Pass.
God of Nothing
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2016
Oh, I'm going to absolutely make you seethe then.
Urobutcher uses the same ending plot-twist speech in every one of his shows. Angra Mainyu to Kiritsugu, the enemy AI to whatever the fuck his name is in Gargantua, the puppet thing to Madoka, and the Sybil system or whatever to the bland femprotag bitch.
Nigger can only tell one story and end it the same way
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2017
I never watched his stuff back-to-back, so I never caught on to that, but I’m totally not surprised by this.
Look, if an eroge is what makes you famous, that may be a sign you should be writing for visual novels instead of TV anime. Sometimes you just gotta stick to a niche.
God of Nothing
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2016
fucking nasu
but yeah
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2017
Another example, Jun Maeda can write lovely stories using the same formula (so I'm not fully against sticking to a formula you're good at), but it works best in the visual novel format. His attempts to write original TV anime have been disastrous because he cannot fight for two-cour or more.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2024
This show only has Good animation. That’s it every other part of it sucks. Mugen Train was arguably the best arc and even still it fucking sucks when you realize the rest of Hashira’s are a bunch of BUM ass Niggas who don’t just Jump the Fucking demons in BROAD DAYLIGHT. The fights are boring, Tanjiro is a Gary Stu who gets saved by the plot and nothing happens in a majority of episodes. Not to mention the story BREAKS ITS OWN FUCKING RULES, for the sake of “plot”
wtfNeedSignUp
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2019
I talked about it several times in the Visual Novel thread that his gacha game has only one story to tell, which is the character having a dead mother/female friend/grandpa. The only justification is due to plot spoilers and that chinks would lose their shit if a single character is implied to hole romantic feelings towards another man (yet lesbianism is somehow okay). At least the plot finally kicks off.
Like how cutting their heads doesn't work? Bullshit for no real reason since fights are already too long. It shares the same issue of Attack on Titan where actually doing smart tactics will break the plot so every person tries to 1v1 demons with bullshit Jojo esque power only to fail until Tanjiro kill steals. A sane setting will have the Slayer corps constantly ganking the demon at dawn and burning down any place they are at and waiting for the charred demon to go outside.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2024
The first time it happens with the spider-nigga, it makes sense, I can buy it. I was even willing to accept it in Mugen Train. Then they had to go and make up some bullshit rules about the two demon sibilings. And then every other upper moon had some gay ass win condition. You would expect that the Hashira’s, who have dedicated their whole lives to wasting these niggas, would at least know or have a hint that the Upper Moons can’t be killed normally and would warn others about it.
Tanjiro’s speech at the upper moon is cool at the end of Mugen Train until you realize, wait, WHY aren’t they doing that. You can say some bullshit like honor or something, but nigga, THEY EAT PEOPLE. That’s why all the Hashira’s are a bunch of lazy ass bum’s who constantly get down scaled so Tanjiro can cry about a demons backstory. It took them ragebaiting Fraudzan in order for them to finally realize that ganking them is the best course of action.
I disagree with the take in Attack on Titan because the characters were running on limited information so it makes some sense. The only time it really bothers me is when Marley didn’t immediately assume that they had possession of the Colossal and Female Titan. Like, imagine if the US left a nuke in Afghanistan and gets shocked when they drop it on Israel.
Edit: the part where it was revealed that Tanjiro’s sister, (I forgot her name because she’s so fucking boring) magically could survive in the sunlight pissed me off, even though when I first started I was expecting that to be her blood demon art.
Last edited:
Lone Star
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2021
If I recall, isn't it so the MC woman like, just doesn't have her mental gauge thing go down? I remember seeing the premise and thought it'd be interesting if she had to keep fighting to compose herself and keep the meter from going too low, but apparently she's just like...fine with everything? Was pretty disappointed in that.