High Guardian Spice - Tumblr: The CalArt Anime

[Ponderous Pillock]

I don't know. I somehow have my doubts. It's an old song, made by white men.

I mean...what sort of music do these kinds of people even listen to? Can't everything out there be racist or sexist or something?

If you go check out their original poster on Newgrounds they made back in 2014 they go "GET IT? GET IT?" to the list of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, who're introduced in that order. You could jumble up the order if you wanted to "not" make a reference.

So yes, it's really that dismally hacky.

 

[Cubanodun]

Let's be honest here: the Crunchyroll tweet in which they announced the show just reached 9600 likes (and only had less than half of them the same day it got announced) meanwhile her tweet has more than 14.ooo likes already. Do you honestly think that the show has so many defensive fanboys already or is it just the outrage mob of twitter that always comes in defense of anything at the slightest hint of soggy knee/rayceesm/etcetera and doesn't even care about the backstory or is not even interested in crunchyroll or anime? It's the same thing as the Cyberpunk tweet and all those furries suddenly coming out of the woodwork claiming to be the biggest fans of the game since day 1.

Like one of my FGO buddies say "is not about social justice and equality, is about feeling superior to your oppressor and be seeing as a savior, in their cases EVERYONE is a oppressor so being a SJW is pretty much you hating everyone"

 

[ZehnBoat]

I don't know. I somehow have my doubts. It's an old song, made by white men.

it's made by white men so therefore it must be appropriated and used in NEW PROGRESSIVE MEDIA!!!

 

[One Man Bland]

You know, when RWBY was announced and had the same generic premise, it at least made up for it with interesting character designs and good fight scenes.

HGS has got Kate "I don't like putting conflict in fiction" Leth on the writing staff though, so that puts the likelihood of there being anything that could qualify as fight scenes - much less good ones - pretty low.

 

[SteelPlatedHeart]

 

[BubbleButt]

Could also just be a reference to Scarborough Fair.

It definitely is but that doesn't make it any less stupid

 

[One Man Bland]

As much as folks like Metokur are saying "the hordes are at the gates" there's a fair few bastions to counter any SJW nonsensical narrative about anime's "problematic" ideas.

• The main producers of this medium don't give a fuck about the ideology and will just carry on doing shit their way, knowing there's an audience.
  
  
• Linking in to said content producers, this is probably why Ellation has had to go into the business of making HGS themselves. No Japanese studio wants to take the hit making some garbage that might threaten domestic contracts.
  
  
• You have lots of strong female leads in various shows, usually with more coming out all the time; Hanebado! Angolomois, My Hero Academia, Stein's Gate 0 and AoT Season 3 all featuring strong female characters, casts and leads just off the top of my head for the current season alone.
  
  
• CR, for now, will continue to fund the Jap anime studios properly.
  
  
• CR has also, via the press release, launched into full blown damage control with the promise to migrate to the HTML5 player within the next few months and to assure people that the core mission has not changed. It mus retain the hardcore anime fans and it nearly managed to piss them all off in one fell swoop with a shitty trailer.
  
  
• The Anime News Websites seemed lukewarm at best with most sites I've seen (like the one I had to find the synopsis from) simply releasing a bland press release clearly handed to them by Ellation themselves.
  
  
• The Anime News video and review guys however, have called it the pile of crap it is and it's nigh on universal as a result.
  
  
• CR's a fucking minnow in this pond compared to the other two players in the West. Namely Netflix, who's own orders for originals is larger than Domestic TV networks are offering, and Netflix is also willing to take creative risks compared to the TV networks to get the best results. Amazon is not far behind, nabbing interesting shows of their own and commissioning stuff as well. Both the bigger budget producers have also already learnt their lesson from the SJW menace, and have stopped pushing for so many stupid fucking projects like "Dear White People".

Really the only thing that CR could possibly do that would be stupider at this point is if they decided to put their most popular shows behind a bigger pay wall that included High Guardian Spice in the same pay tier to try and strong arm their customers into watching it.

 

[Tanti-Fanti]

This project looks lifeless. What I mean is that even in anime-inspired projects in the West, you can tell that the people behind them gave a damn about the show they were working on. They knew the hallmarks of what made an anime. And for how cringy they were, I felt the passion with their projects. For example, Avatar the Last Airbender is commonly debated as whether it's an anime or not because of how similar it has qualities to them. But that's only because the people who created the show were inspired by East-Asian cultures and wanted to make something because they loved it. Let's break down High Guardian Spice.

It doesn't feel like the creators even care about their show. Tell me what the show is about? A magic school? What separates it from the rest of the crowd? What makes your content interesting? You can't just throw a concept at your audience and expect them to eat it up! If you can't show in 2-3 trailer why people should care about your content, then you need to go back to drawing board and think about your ideas more thoroughly. Ironically, these people are copying the worst aspects of the anime industry. They're applying an overused style (only in this case worse) with very little details, a tired concept, and mixed them together hoping that people would eat them up.

But they aren't. And I'm glad people aren't liking this. You can't just go and say you're "so diverse" and constantly proceed to prove that you aren't. This isn't a show made to entertain or to even create something possibly enjoyable. It's made out of spite. And I can't see the passion with this project. People are right when they say this isn't an anime. Very little of it even looks inspired by anime.

Where are the hallmarks of anime? The big eyes, the tiny head? The weird body proportions/facial expressions? The wacky Japanese-inspired concepts? Even the worst of anime-inspired works got that right. I can't see anything here but a generic American cartoon trying to ride off the popularity of another medium.

 

[Cubanodun]

Really the only thing that CR could possibly do that would be stupider at this point is if they decided to put their most popular shows behind a bigger pay wall that included High Guardian Spice in the same pay tier to try and strong arm their customers into watching it.

Then people will pirate it more harder just to spite them, i have a see a couple of trolls that are willing to put joke subtitles just for the heck of it, i cant wait

 

[Hecate]

(Why are these supposed strong feminists ALWAYS subs?)

Because being a dom is hard work and requires a good sense of responsibility (at least if you wanna be a good one)

And we all know how much these "strong" feminists absolutely despise working and being held accountable for fucking up

 

[SnowBall]

I predict this show is going to be dead on arrival. I don't think I have seen anyone hyped for it and considering how fast the hate for this will spread, this will just end up like Gen Zed.

I hate to say anything positive about Gen Zed but at least its trailer showed dialogue and scenes from the "show" itself (or what would have become of it) as well as a story synopsis. HGS didn't even bother to do that.

 

[Iwasamwillbe]

It ain't fucking anime if it isn't from Japan. It can be emulating anime, but if can never truly be it.
(Tbh, sounds like cultural appropriation to me)

Not really, since animanga is really just a spectrum of diverse art styles, sometimes in motion.

I think that the very own concept of anything that is referred to as """western anime/manga""" is autistic and weeaboo as hell.

It's akin to saying "Russian Western Animation"; a complete contradiction in terms.

Both the bigger budget producers have also already learnt their lesson from the SJW menace, and have stopped pushing for so many stupid fucking projects like "Dear White People".

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_white_people/

100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes...

Only 65& from the audience...

 

[Jack Awful]

I'm not a misogynist, but the fact that companies have to enforce a gender quota because in a pure meritocracy most female applicants would be passed over in favor of more qualified men and that any criticism of a woman's work is considered "misogyny" instead of addressing its faults reveals that the working world doesn't think women can stand on their own merits...

 

[Sinner's Sandwich]

I'm surprised at how low the view count is. Even controversial shit like BF5 get a ton of views, but it seems like no one really knows about this and the people who do know about it hate it.

Because the creators aren't fat dangerhairs with problem glasses. People who look like this are despised because they stand for sjwism.

 

[Ponderous Pillock]

I'm surprised at how low the view count is. Even controversial shit like BF5 get a ton of views, but it seems like no one really knows about this and the people who do know about it hate it.

BF5 also has a massive marketing budget, appears on people's facebook feeds and thanks to the behaviour of Patrick Soderland, tanking against the very fucking tired looking Call of Duty Franchise who've been using the same engine now for twelve damn years. It's also up against Grand Theft Rustling Red Dead Redemption 2, when Rockstar's last release had smaller producers "delaying" release dates to flee from it.

CR's youtube channel is mostly watched by people who use the service, meaning they are very "switched on" to the dealings and things it pushes, so suddenly seeing something very not anime appear on their anime platform... well, folks weren't going to be happy.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dear_white_people/

100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes...

Only 65& from the audience...

It's also as high as it is because of the brigades that Rotten Tomatoes later had to stop.

This project looks lifeless. What I mean is that even in anime-inspired projects in the West, you can tell that the people behind them gave a damn about the show they were working on. They knew the hallmarks of what made an anime. And for how cringy they were, I felt the passion with their projects. For example, Avatar the Last Airbender is commonly debated as whether it's an anime or not because of how similar it has qualities to them. But that's only because the people who created the show were inspired by East-Asian cultures and wanted to make something because they loved it. Let's break down High Guardian Spice.

It's "officially" classified as an American-Anime alongside RWBY, Thundercats 2006 reboot etc. In that it has a highly similar/inspired art style to that of Japanese Animation and has a long form story that means the show must be watched in broadcast order for it to make sense. Weebs will argue forever about their place, but to me they get the honourary kudos because they take the bulding blocks and create a new story and world to explore.

It doesn't feel like the creators even care about their show. Tell me what the show is about? A magic school? What separates it from the rest of the crowd? What makes your content interesting? You can't just throw a concept at your audience and expect them to eat it up! If you can't show in 2-3 trailer why people should care about your content, then you need to go back to drawing board and think about your ideas more thoroughly. Ironically, these people are copying the worst aspects of the anime industry. They're applying an overused style (only in this case worse) with very little details, a tired concept, and mixed them together hoping that people would eat them up.

The thing that seems to have pissed people off the most is the smugness of the not-trailer. The already-pre-prepared backpatting that they're giving themselves for being 50% wammyns and 100% wammyns in the writing dept. They waffle grandly on about how they've "never told stories like we're going to" while showing the most milk-toast bland, boring bitch-basic idea you'd expect people to try out when they're in High School and just learning about Anime. You generate hype and excitement by showing off your upcoming work, by teasing stuff even if you don't then use it in the subsequent show. You do not instead scream about how amazing you all are while showing concept artwork that's been hanging around for four years on Deviantart and Newgrounds.

At least one of the writers (Kate Leth) despite having a bizarrely successful career usually continues to endlessly complain about how hard it is for women in the creative industry, the problem is Kate is also the kind of writer who's stuff is very easily forgotten about or guts some of the earliest superheroines by making them sit down and talk things out rather than punching the super villain because he's evil. Hellcat had been kicking ass since the 1940s and when Leth came along she spend most of her time complaining about lacks of coffee and talking about feelings with her gay roomie.

But they aren't. And I'm glad people aren't liking this. You can't just go and say you're "so diverse" and constantly proceed to prove that you aren't. This isn't a show made to entertain or to even create something possibly enjoyable. It's made out of spite. And I can't see the passion with this project. People are right when they say this isn't an anime. Very little of it even looks inspired by anime.

It's sort of like the anti-CLAMP. Where the group of 11 started out writing stuff they enjoyed which then found an audience allowing their names to be trusted, we're starting out with people screaming "TRUST US!" while showing nothing of their work. Which is saying something as this show has apparently been in production now for more than a year.

Where are the hallmarks of anime? The big eyes, the tiny head? The weird body proportions/facial expressions? The wacky Japanese-inspired concepts? Even the worst of anime-inspired works got that right. I can't see anything here but a generic American cartoon trying to ride off the popularity of another medium.

Because for now, that's all it is. They've seen RWBY "work" and learnt nothing as to why it worked. It has the tropes, the dope fight scenes, the distinct characters, the interesting world and the fusion of western fairy tale with an eastern twist. This is someone coming along, trying to slap stuff to it (like how their anime will have a "global" perspective) and seeing if they can get away with it.

EDIT: The Mods finally slammed shut the main discussion going on about HGS on the main anime forum at Crunchyroll. Lol.

 

[IdaRita]

Somehow French people are succesful in making half-French half-Japanese animated series that has at least part of "anime feel" since 80s - Mysterious Cities of Gold that is basically proto-Avatar the Last Airbender but in historical setting, Ulysess 3000, that have pretty much episodic plot, but you can feel that 80s anime atmosphere in animation style, design of science-fiction machines and more recently Oban Star Racers where Japan made 2D animation and France made 3D parts.
I would say 80s american cartoons like Dungeons and Dragons and orginal Thundercats are closer to "anime feel" (scripted in US, but Japanese animation directiors have quite a lot of freedom) than this project, but it's trendy to hate on american 80s so they will probably ban me for mantioning it.

 

[Shokew]

So much thought put into all of this (which I'm happy to see here in this thread, BTW.) - and the only thing I can think of to say is that this just simply needs to fail and fade away. We Americans have a lot to learn about really making it in this craft - and that begins with shutting down things for a bit until we can get these SJWs outta here.

 

[HTL5N]

Also Crunchyroll forget that it only take that for example Netflix get their policies about Anime updated to fuck them good, this "Crunchyroll original" is just a pathetic attempt to emulate Netflix, but Netflix ACTUALLY give a damn about their animes and ask ACTUAL japanese animation studios to go wild because they are not chained to TV regulations, that is how you get things like Devilman Crybaby and Godzilla

As a Godzilla purist, that anime is only good from a technical level

If you go check out their original poster on Newgrounds they made back in 2014 they go "GET IT? GET IT?" to the list of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, who're introduced in that order. You could jumble up the order if you wanted to "not" make a reference.

So yes, it's really that dismally hacky.

Holy fuck that naming strategy is autistic, and I'm white knighting anime on a new zealand agricultural forum

 

[MemeGray]

Anyone else think that funding western "anime" is pointless? At best you get avatar: TLA but at worst you get this crap.

Also if you want a magic based series written and drawn by women check out Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida she wrote and drew it herself and it's a crime that it will probably never be adapted.

 

[Haramburger]

https://www.oneangrygamer.net/2018/...forum-thread-for-getting-too-political/67534/

Spoiler

Crunchyroll is on a roll lately when it comes to getting stuck in the mud of controversy over an originally funded show called High Guardian Spice. The reception to the San Francisco-made animated show was not very positive from Crunchyroll’s paying subscribers. In fact, it was downright derided by the community because they felt it was pushing the Social Justice Warrior agenda, and Crunchyroll was taken to task for not putting subscriber money back into the coffers of Japanese anime studios. Crunchyroll made a follow-up post to explain that they are putting some of the money back into the hands of the Japanese, but also that they’re working on their own original content, such as High Guardian Spice. This still did not go down well with subscribers.

In result, the forum thread for High Guardian ended up getting embroiled in sociopolitical debates between normal people and Liberals. And since Crunchyroll could no longer control the narrative, the volunteer moderators shut down the forum thread.

The thread popped up shortly after the announcement for the show on August 22nd, 2018.

After 43 pages of back-and-forth bickering between Social Justice Warriors and anime fans, one of the moderators, going by the handle of Karkarov, stepped in to write the following…

“Well I can clearly see people didn’t listen.



“This has gone on long enough, political discussion outside of the Miscellaneous forum is against CR rules. This thread has been all politics since page one. As for the two people who don’t have any understanding of how this site works, talking back to a mod is just going to get your post deleted (notice how I deleted them), and mods do not work for CR we are volunteers.



“Locked and closed. Do not restart it outside of the Miscellaneous forum and if you do restart it there expect it to be heavily monitored and forum rule violations to not be treated nearly as forgiving as they were here.”

And with that, the thread was locked and closed on August 27th, 2018.

Before the discussion thread was closed down, SJWs were trying to play the guilt-by-label game, claiming those who didn’t like the show were putting their “misogyny on display”.

Some of the mods and dedicated defenders of the show claimed that they didn’t like the terms “SJW” and “feminazi”.

Others pointed out that it was hard not to talk politics about the show since one of the writers for High Guardian Spice, Kate Leth, is rather active on social media constantly talking about social justice, sociopolitical topic matters, and plenty of politics, as pointed out in an article by Bounding Into Comics.

Leth was also previously a writer at Marvel Comics, having worked on comics like Hellcat, which was cancelled after an 81% year-over-year decline in sales.


Essentially it wasn’t so much that the Crunchyroll community was talking about politics in the High Guardian Spice thread, it’s that they didn’t agree with the politics being put forward by the show’s creators, which is ironic given that the initial announcement trailer didn’t reveal anything about the show’s plot and was geared 100% on the sociopolitical nature of the show’s development.

So basically, a trailer that Crunchyroll produced that was all about politics, wasn’t allowed to be discussed on Crunchyroll’s own forums due to the rule on not discussing politics.

Hilariously enough one of the forum goers even pointed out the hypocrisy of the rules compared to what was presented in the trailer, with the ballsy user Balzackwriting in a separate thrad…

“So is this one going to get locked too? A few people were being pretty annoying in that thread with circular arguments and quote pyramids. But I fail to see how discussion about the content of their launch video and how we feel about the ideals they were presenting in it means everyone who participated in that thread had some kind of political bone to pick from page one.



“Crunchyroll chose to focus more on identity politics than animation in their video, not us.”

Nevertheless, the company had schadenfreude compounded onto an already stacked cake of fail when a poll was published in the forums asking what subscribers thought of the reveal trailer for High Guardian Spice. Well, the numbers say it all…

At this point in the culture war many normies are waking up to what’s going on. Core fandoms are well aware of the SJW takeover happening in entrainment media. A while back they were warned that an Animegate would be on the horizon given the natural migration habits of SJWs attempting to infiltrate and subvert every popular fandom they can get their hands on.

In this case, we can see that Crunchyroll’s subscribers really aren’t taking this High Guardian Spice situation lying down, and the slow ramp up of censorship will likely begin to wake up more people and alert the anti-SJW forces about what’s happening at Crunchyroll if they haven’t been alerted already. From here, it’s just a matter of seeing how Crunchyroll will react and respond to the pushback being exhibited by their own community.

I attempted to reach out to Kate Leth for comment, but she has me blocked on Twitter.

(Thanks for the news tip This Is Mugen Tenshin)