Anime/Manga - Discuss Japanese cartoons and comics here; NO CULTURE WAR DOOMPOSTING!

[Moguro Fukuzou]

Finally finished up Strawberry Panic and I was definitely left satisfied with the ending since the last several episodes focused a lot more on main couple romance. I literally burst out laughing during the final episode when Shizuma slowly walks into the church interrupting the Etoile ceremony (very clearly symbolism for a wedding) declares her love for Nagisa before running off with her after Tamao realized she lost and gave Nagisa the final push to be with Shizuma. It was so over the top, just the whole episode, really made up for that weaker middle.

Nozomi Ent. to Release All of 'Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei' Anime Franchise

Company explains delay of release is due to lack of scripts in Japan

www.animenewsnetwork.com

fucking finally

That whole bit about them missing all the scripts and having to translate by ear literally sounds like a plotline that would happen in the show. Cursed anime the leads translators into despair just from working on it.

 

[Jonah Hill poster]

Happy 25th Anniversary to the magical girl that’s not named Urusei Yatsura or Sailor Moon – Cardcaptor Sakura!

It officially marks the first time this was made into a manga, and a year after the success, the inevitable anime version would be a hit. Nowadays, the omnibus editions are pretty expensive to get, but they do have the Collector’s Edition that came out a few years ago and it looks pretty good.

Either way, I’m glad I both read and watched this out of random. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the new spin off anime series based on the original anime, but I have to agree: Cardcaptor Sakura is still a great anime for its time in the late 1990’s.

The artwork is still inimitable:

 

[Overcast]

I remember really enjoying Sakura when I read the series back in high school.

That whole sub-plot with the teacher and one of Sakura's friends creeped me out though. Like, what the fuck was even the point of that?

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Yeah, outside of the teacher-student shit, it's otherwise an innocent series, and Sakura was someone I wanted to be more like growing up. I'll still forever hold the Ocean/Nelvana dub to my heart, though, in trying to make Sakura a tomboy, a decision which I don't think really hurt the series as much as fans claim. Kids' WB's shenanigans were the real culprit in tainting its reputation.

The manga was a bit of a wake-up call, personally, but it was still such an enjoyable read, and the artwork is always gorgeous. Interesting Sakura didn't wear as many frills and laces in the anime like she does in numerous artwork of her, though. Maybe that would've gotten me more interested in dressing more girly in attempt to be more like her.

 

[Atatata]

I remember really enjoying Sakura when I read the series back in high school.

That whole sub-plot with the teacher and one of Sakura's friends creeped me out though. Like, what the fuck was even the point of that?

Japanese women with a dilf fetish. If you look at a group picture of Clamp it makes perfect sense, old man lovers and fujoshi.

 

[PS1gamenwatch]

I remember really enjoying Sakura when I read the series back in high school.

That whole sub-plot with the teacher and one of Sakura's friends creeped me out though. Like, what the fuck was even the point of that?

They also put that one female teacher and Eriol that looks 10 years old together. And I think they did a similar thing in Rayearth.

 

[ZMOT]

I just don't understand why it's suddenly so fucked when the last two seasons were great and now that it's the final season, the most important, they are ruining it. Was even seeing complaints on Japanese twitter about all the cut content and I can only see it getting worse. Legitimately upset at one of my favorite series of all time getting such a butchered last season, I don't even know if they'll be able to turn it around.

wait, what? wasn't the whole point of the new adaption to stay as close to the source material as possible, especially since the author didn't like how the first was done?
they went all in doing like 70+ episodes, why suddenly rush it now?

Off the top of my head? Food Wars. Create nonsensical romance triangle plot, end it abruptly without answering key question but it's ok, we have an epilogue, only to half ass resolving the romance triangle subplot via long lost brother and then not really confirm/resolve the romance plot that was thrown together in the last arc, just awful.

wasn't that due to the author having a beef with the publisher and rather decided to trash the whole series? remember reading something like that.

the other part is the more popular something is, the more pressure exists to keep it going, even if it's long past it's expiration date (something very common for western tv series for example, but the effect is the same). then there's being an adaption of material which itself isn't finished, so depending how close they work with the author and how much he/she wants to spoil the novel/manga/etc, have to come up with their own shit (the GOT effect).

or you get stuff like oreimo where it's so irrationally retarded you have to believe someone was heavily drugged during it's inception, because otherwise it's just embarrassing.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IdSJVURhv2o

>someone else knows about senryuu shoujo


that's not even close to it's best scenes tho

Didn't really notice the nudity, it's such a good series. The gorey part of the sixth layer in the third movie was interesting and a natural part of the story.

to be fair, the heavy chibi style for the characters makes it easy to gloss over that.

 

[Slimy Time]

wasn't that due to the author having a beef with the publisher and rather decided to trash the whole series? remember reading something like that.

the other part is the more popular it is, the more pressure exists to keep it going, even if it's long past it's expiration date (something very common for western tv series for example, but the effect is the same). then there's being an adaption of material which itself isn't finished, so depending how close they work with the author and how much he/she wants to spoil the novel/manga/etc, have to come up with their own shit (the GOT effect).

or you get stuff like oreimo where it's so irrationally retarded you have to believe someone was heavily drugged during it's inception, because otherwise it's just embarrassing.

Not sure, wouldn't be surprising. What is known is the main woman they had for advising on culinary techniques was on maternity leave so they were essentially driving blind in the last season, which is why he went from "high end techniques that are difficult to pull off/within the realm of possibility" (soba making, salt crust baking, exotic ingredients" to quite literally "FUCKING CHAINSAW THAT STEAK NIGGA".

The other one that I remember for having a bad ending was Gantz. After much foreshadowing/hints, ragnarok comes, an invasion of an alien species of 4 eyed giant men and women (think AoT, but with guns, lasers and other shit). Eventually humanity manages to win, main protagonist has a fight with the alien's best warrior on threat of crashing the mothership into Earth and blowing it up and wins. Everyone still alive gets teleported out before the final fight, main hero and his friend essentially fall back to earth, land in the ocean and wash up on shore with everyone chanting their name. End story, that's it. All the characters who survived? Who gives a shit what happened to them. Did humanity rebuild? Who cares. Is the Gantz system still engaged? Not important.

It's a real shame, which is why I kinda now gravitate to manga (and tv shows) that know they have a finite time and don't drag the story out or just trash with no investment (generic isekai shit that I can drop easily for example). It's this long, it's an experience, you read it, enjoy it and that's it. There is none of that extra bullshit that has a crap payoff because the author doesn't know what they want to do.

 

[Trashfire Garbagefuck]

Not sure, wouldn't be surprising. What is known is the main woman they had for advising on culinary techniques was on maternity leave so they were essentially driving blind in the last season, which is why he went from "high end techniques that are difficult to pull off/within the realm of possibility" (soba making, salt crust baking, exotic ingredients" to quite literally "FUCKING CHAINSAW THAT STEAK NIGGA".

The other one that I remember for having a bad ending was Gantz. After much foreshadowing/hints, ragnarok comes, an invasion of an alien species of 4 eyed giant men and women (think AoT, but with guns, lasers and other shit). Eventually humanity manages to win, main protagonist has a fight with the alien's best warrior on threat of crashing the mothership into Earth and blowing it up and wins. Everyone still alive gets teleported out before the final fight, main hero and his friend essentially fall back to earth, land in the ocean and wash up on shore with everyone chanting their name. End story, that's it. All the characters who survived? Who gives a shit what happened to them. Did humanity rebuild? Who cares. Is the Gantz system still engaged? Not important.

It's a real shame, which is why I kinda now gravitate to manga (and tv shows) that know they have a finite time and don't drag the story out or just trash with no investment (generic isekai shit that I can drop easily for example). It's this long, it's an experience, you read it, enjoy it and that's it. There is none of that extra bullshit that has a crap payoff because the author doesn't know what they want to do.

I think the Gantz system would be inactive wouldn't it? It was only there to respond to aliens. Without them invading anymore it wouldn't do anything. I definitely would have liked an epilogue after they escaped the ship seeing the other characters get on with their lives, maybe muscle rider adopts that kid, maybe we see a little bit of the inevitable rebuilding effort and some side characters helping out, but we already know more or less what was gonna happen with what we were told so I was satisfied with what we got. Except the vampires. We never got any follow up on them, and it's not like the author forgot either he shows one towards the end of the series he just decided not to deal with it which was annoying. But even with one aborted minor plotline and a complete lack of falling action after the climax, I can't say it's anywhere near as bad as what I've heard of Food Wars. He even fixed that with his next series, Inuyashiki has a proper epilogue after the big finale.

 

[Gar For Archer]

I think the Gantz system would be inactive wouldn't it? It was only there to respond to aliens. Without them invading anymore it wouldn't do anything. I definitely would have liked an epilogue after they escaped the ship seeing the other characters get on with their lives, maybe muscle rider adopts that kid, maybe we see a little bit of the inevitable rebuilding effort and some side characters helping out, but we already know more or less what was gonna happen with what we were told so I was satisfied with what we got. Except the vampires. We never got any follow up on them, and it's not like the author forgot either he shows one towards the end of the series he just decided not to deal with it which was annoying. But even with one aborted minor plotline and a complete lack of falling action after the climax, I can't say it's anywhere near as bad as what I've heard of Food Wars. He even fixed that with his next series, Inuyashiki has a proper epilogue after the big finale.

IMO, the vampires should’ve been directly responsible for leading the giants to earth. In fact, this is totally what I thought was GOING to happen, since both groups seem to have a taste for human blood/flesh - I assumed the vampires were the result of alien technology sent over to prepare the earth for the takeover. But nah, they literally just disappear. Would’ve been cool if they were a doomsday cult that summons the giants, instead of the giants just randomly showing up one day.

I thought the ending was kinda dumb, but given that the REST of Gantz is also like 90% complete batshit insanity, it’s not like it was ruining an otherwise good story or anything. My main issue with it is that the fights just start getting stupidly long after a while. I was checked out halfway through the Osaka arc.

 

[Slimy Time]

I think the Gantz system would be inactive wouldn't it? It was only there to respond to aliens. Without them invading anymore it wouldn't do anything. I definitely would have liked an epilogue after they escaped the ship seeing the other characters get on with their lives, maybe muscle rider adopts that kid, maybe we see a little bit of the inevitable rebuilding effort and some side characters helping out, but we already know more or less what was gonna happen with what we were told so I was satisfied with what we got. Except the vampires. We never got any follow up on them, and it's not like the author forgot either he shows one towards the end of the series he just decided not to deal with it which was annoying. But even with one aborted minor plotline and a complete lack of falling action after the climax, I can't say it's anywhere near as bad as what I've heard of Food Wars. He even fixed that with his next series, Inuyashiki has a proper epilogue after the big finale.

Completely forgot about the vampire subplot and how the protagonist's brother was one of them, but then got killed by them. Yeah, that subplot just disappeared.

 

[Moguro Fukuzou]

wait, what? wasn't the whole point of the new adaption to stay as close to the source material as possible, especially since the author didn't like how the first was done?
they went all in doing like 70+ episodes, why suddenly rush it now?

The most common theory is that the studio didn't think there was enough material left to do a full two cours so they've decided to squeeze it all into one. That or their budget is running out, covid might have also played a part. It does seem really weird though since I'd have assumed if they knew they'd be doing a full adaption they would have roughly mapped out the episodes in advance for all the seasons, which felt like the case for the first two seasons, but for some reason the third season feels like they didn't. I'm wondering if something happened behind the scenes that's causing this.

 

[Michael Wade]

I actually really loved the ending for the original Gantz. it was big dumb stupid independence day levels of cheese. But damit they fucking earned it.

Gantz has probably one of the single best story's ive read that goes from "Hopelessly dark horror you read for tits and gore" to "FUCK YEAH LETS SAVE THE EARTH AND MY GIRLFRIEND" Seeing the main guy become genuinely more moral as it went on, was uplifting to me despite all the batshit insanity.

Vampires were definitely underutilized though.


How is the sequel by the way? I haven't looked anything up on it.

 

[Gar For Archer]

I actually really loved the ending for the original Gantz. it was big dumb stupid independence day levels of cheese. But damit they fucking earned it.

Gantz has probably one of the single best story's ive read that goes from "Hopelessly dark horror you read for tits and gore" to "FUCK YEAH LETS SAVE THE EARTH AND MY GIRLFRIEND" Seeing the main guy become genuinely more moral as it went on, was uplifting to me despite all the batshit insanity.

Vampires were definitely underutilized though.


How is the sequel by the way? I haven't looked anything up on it.

.......there’s a sequel?

 

[Trashfire Garbagefuck]

.......there’s a sequel?

Not exactly, just an alternate story called Gantz G (got canceled and you can really tell where it starts speeding up too much to end before that happens), and either another alternate story or a prequel set in Edo Japan called Gantz E. I'm behind on that one and it's still going, but what I read was good. No clue if it's gonna end well or get cancelled before it even can.

Seeing the main guy become genuinely more moral as it went on, was uplifting to me despite all the batshit insanity.

I like how he basically has to be traumatized into being a good person, and even hearing about the person he forgot he was back in jr high from his old best friend doesn't change him right away. There's a surprising amount of heart to that series amidst all the crazy monster fights.

 

[Slimy Time]

I actually really loved the ending for the original Gantz. it was big dumb stupid independence day levels of cheese. But damit they fucking earned it.

Gantz has probably one of the single best story's ive read that goes from "Hopelessly dark horror you read for tits and gore" to "FUCK YEAH LETS SAVE THE EARTH AND MY GIRLFRIEND" Seeing the main guy become genuinely more moral as it went on, was uplifting to me despite all the batshit insanity.

Vampires were definitely underutilized though.


How is the sequel by the way? I haven't looked anything up on it.

The "sequel" that I'm reading now is Gantz, but in samurai Japan. That's it so far. They had aliens based on Sasaki Kojuro and Miyamoto Musashi but in terms of the characters there is not much to go on atm. Might need to reread the beginning chapters to remind myself of who people are. Good news about it being samurai Japan is the characters are quick to fight instead of this "argh, run away".

 

[ZMOT]

The most common theory is that the studio didn't think there was enough material left to do a full two cours so they've decided to squeeze it all into one.

that might be it then. remember checking out a while back and, assuming it would be another 3 seasons of 2 cours, it roughly matched the manga in pacing. having to trim it down in one it's inevitable that they have to compress it, but it's a real shame since that will probably the last adaption for a long while, so might as well do it properly.

curious what the author has to say about it since she apparently didn't like the first one, so there's even more precedent to do it right this time.
let's hope japan gets pissed about it enough too that they amend it later via some extra OVA episodes or something, unless they don't mangle the plot too much.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

I got reminded of it during watching Vivy (the new arc shows a lot of promise) but the topic of robot waifus reminded me of the anime Plastic Memories. The show's plot is in a not so distant futures where humanity developed androids.... and they have a life expectancy of the average iphone and needs to be rebooted at the factory at the end of that lifespan since they will otherwise develop a memory leak that will turn them crazy and dangerous. The hero has started working at a company who deals with retrieving the androids before they hurt anyone, which is pretty depressing when you have cases of people taking the androids as lovers or surrogate children/parents.
I haven't watched since it aired, but I like the show's twist on having the humans outlive the androids rather than the usual opposite that happens in media (and it's probably the more likely take on what will happen once we'll have somewhat organic looking androids) and I remember liking the cast and the different plots through the series.

And you can't talk about the show without mentioning the jump in the first episode:

 

[Moguro Fukuzou]

let's hope japan gets pissed about it enough too that they amend it later via some extra OVA episodes or something, unless they don't mangle the plot too much.

If certain things are removed, things that people are starting to worry are very likely on the chopping block, there is going to be pissed off fans both in the west and in Japan. I could see them releasing some stuff as extra OVA, but as you said that'll only work if they don't mangle the plot in the attempts to end it in one cour.

Final season just seems to have had weird focus issues with far too much focus on Akito (in that it's excessive feeling) and side characters where, at least in my opinion, they should have focused back on Tohru. It just feels like she's been largely absent from this season even though in the manga the final stretch is mainly where she faces the most development due to Kyo becoming more important to her than her mother and reaching her mental breaking point. This entire season has been missing the under current of Tohru's mental struggle brought on by Yuki mentioning how "The box can't stay shut forever," making her realize her own situation of repressed feelings and the fact that she was slowly forgetting her mother (along with her belief she was a bad person over hating her father). Their inclusion of her problems briefly in the latest episode felt rushed, probably because they skipped a bunch and excluded Tohru's internal thoughts.

I still hold out faint hope for it to end fine, but if they actually cut what I think they're going to cut I'm going to erupt into MATI over the show.

 

[Wingnut]

I got reminded of it during watching Vivy (the new arc shows a lot of promise) but the topic of robot waifus reminded me of the anime Plastic Memories. The show's plot is in a not so distant futures where humanity developed androids.... and they have a life expectancy of the average iphone and needs to be rebooted at the factory at the end of that lifespan since they will otherwise develop a memory leak that will turn them crazy and dangerous. The hero has started working at a company who deals with retrieving the androids before they hurt anyone, which is pretty depressing when you have cases of people taking the androids as lovers or surrogate children/parents.
I haven't watched since it aired, but I like the show's twist on having the humans outlive the androids rather than the usual opposite that happens in media (and it's probably the more likely take on what will happen once we'll have somewhat organic looking androids) and I remember liking the cast and the different plots through the series.

And you can't talk about the show without mentioning the jump in the first episode:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=PG4BIKM4OMs

I really liked Plastic Memories, and it does a good job of gut punching you with some of the stories. It's a shame it got an Aniplex western release so the blu-rays are outrageously expensive if you want to go the legal route.