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[InfiniteNine]

Funimation video quality and encoding is pretty fucking shit from what ive read/seen, that is what I meant.

Not recently, maybe their older releases though but I don't own those.

 

[Erigu]

That dosen't sound to bad for new readers. Who would probably read it volume-by-volume.:lol

Well, yeah: they just have to deal with long waits between volumes. But for those who buy the magazine, that must be confusing as hell. :lol

Oh, my. I just checked, and it seems she retconned 75 episodes out of existence. That's about 8 years worth of serialization. :lol :lol :lol

is the author some kind of perfectionist or something? or do these retconned chapters make the series worse?

I couldn't tell you... I know I read some of the pre-retcon stuff, but that was almost 10 years ago, and I'm not even sure I saw the actual volumes in the end... I do believe there were some drastic differences though (but that's spoiler territory).
As for the author... Well, I guess she might just tend to change her mind, after many months/years?

 

[Geneijin]

I'm saying, if he no longer likes sex hair and you reply that that's one obstacle removed, what's that implying? That you want him to choose another character? Yourself? Gaf? Mao from FMP?

:lol

I just meant one less observer. Although, since you mentioned it, I should have brought up Ryoko

 

[Jex]

Did I mention how Heat Guy J 18 sucks?

Oh my god they've got a gun rectangle!

Oh, TV exposition. That's fairly normal...

Wait, THERE'S NO ONE THERE? What's going on? How can you screw up TV exposition?

This is some sub Dr.Movie stuff.

 

[mAcOdIn]

Funimation video quality and encoding is pretty fucking shit from what ive read/seen, that is what I meant.

Partly because all they used to do on their Blurays was upscale the dvd. You wanna see a bad DVD encode check out Media Blaster's Seirei no Moribito, I about cried at all the tearing, yes tearing, I've never seen tearing on a DVD before, ugh.

I don't like it that our options seem to be have some US company release it on Bluray in some gimped fashion at an acceptable price or have the Japanese company release it themselves as an overpriced rip off.

I don't mind if that was one of 2 releases the other being a more palatable budget release with less or no bells and whistles but not everyone who buys anime is a hardcore Otaku that wants to collect every figure and piece of paper related to a show.

It all comes down to the source I bet, I have a hard time believing that US companies just can't set their encoders right. I'd be willing to bet that most of the time they either get a problematic source or it's a concession made for a budget release where they cram in more episodes, but I doubt it's over all incompetence. Except for Media Blaster's Seirei no Moribito, that was pretty shitty considering it was spread out over 9 discs, I don't know what they did to make motion tear like that but it's worthless.

:lol

I just meant one less observer. Although, since you mentioned it, I should have brought up Ryoko

I see.

I don't understand, she can't possibly be 14 or 15 years old, what am I seeing GAF? I'm so happy to see the drawn facsimile of a woman on GAF, so rare.

 

[Geneijin]

I don't understand, she can't possibly be 14 or 15 years old, what am I seeing GAF? I'm so happy to see the drawn facsimile of a woman on GAF, so rare.

The show Yakushiji Ryoko's Case Files (?) wasn't great by any means, but Ryoko was pleasant to see in action. Especially how they portray her as a strong, kick-ass woman. She knows she is and flaunts her beauty and persona.

 

[InfiniteNine]

Yeah, I think I'm going to wait for reviews to see if there is improved quality for the ROD BDs now. Oh well! More money for the Kara no Kyoukai set.

- Read Or Die OVA (R.O.D. OVA): C+
Do not own. Judging from screenshots. Digital production(SD). Very blurry, hollow rings, jaggies, slight color defects.

- Read Or Die TV (R.O.D. TV): B~B+
Do not own. Judging from screenshots. Digital production(SD). A little blurry. Jaggies visible.

 

[mAcOdIn]

The show Yakushiji Ryoko's Case Files (?) wasn't great by any means, but Ryoko was pleasant to see in action. Especially how they portray her as a strong, kick-ass woman. She knows she is and flaunts her beauty and persona.

Ah, she is easy to look at. Read the synopsis of the show, might check it out myself.

 

[firehawk12]

Man, after the parody eroge show, seeing dude set flags in Amagami SS is really embarrassing. If I wasn't OCD, I really would drop this show. :lol

 

[Geneijin]

Ah, she is easy to look at. Read the synopsis of the show, might check it out myself.

I wouldn't recommend the series, but if you just wanted to see Ryoko, go for it. Same reason I watched it quite frankly. I seldom see an adult woman in anime lately, so I wanted to see what the fess was about.

Man, after the parody eroge show, seeing dude set flags in Amagami SS is really embarrassing. If I wasn't OCD, I really would drop this show. :lol

Do you mean The World God Only Knows?

And you're continuing Amagami SS? You have more willpower than me. I still need to catchup on Sae's arc eventually.

 

[Jex]

Man, after the parody eroge show, seeing dude set flags in Amagami SS is really embarrassing. If I wasn't OCD, I really would drop this show. :lol

You're a sick fellow.

 

[mAcOdIn]

I wouldn't recommend the series, but if you just wanted to see Ryoko, go for it. Same reason I watched it quite frankly. I seldom see an adult woman in anime lately, so I wanted to see what the fess was about.

Ehh, both, I'd looked it up before because I like those types of stories and I happen to like strong female characters, just so happens this genre's usually shitty, ah, well, most anime is shitty I guess but it's more painful when the sub-genre is so small and shitty.

You're a sick fellow.

I know his pain, I finished Asobi no Iku yo or whatever just because I started it long ago, it did indeed suck so I was correct to bail but my parents didn't raise me to be a quitter.

 

[InfiniteNine]

Don't worry Big Red someone will remember you!

 

[mAcOdIn]

Don't worry Big Red someone will remember you!

Have not forgotten either, also on my backlog. Waiting to see if they do anything with it here in the States.


Edit: I'm loving how lame The Anime Network's resurgence into the market place is, they're only doing one show a season and for the past two seasons they've been the more juvenile tit-fest titles, I wonder what audience they're trying to attract?

 

[Geneijin]

I know Kara no Kyoukai changes much after the 1st, but I just left it in my backlog since. It ate away whatever interest I had for it at the time :lol

 

[InfiniteNine]

I know it changes much after the 1st episode, but I just left it in my backlog since. It ate away whatever interest I had for it at the time :lol

Yeah, the later movies are better. It's not like they are in chronological order either, but I'd save the 7th movie for last.

 

[Jex]

Er, is there a special name for a reverse-zoom shot? How about one of those shots that looks straight down from the ceiling, but isn't a bird-eye or crane because the camera doesn't move? Or a slow shock-zoom?

Damn you Shinbo *shakes fist*.

 

[Salazar]

Er, is there a special name for a reverse-zoom shot? How about one of those shots that looks straight down from the ceiling, but isn't a bird-eye or crane because the camera doesn't move? Or a slow shock-zoom?

Damn you Shinbo *shakes fist*.

The retreat.
The Alan Parson.
The summin-summin.

 

[Branduil]

Er, is there a special name for a reverse-zoom shot? How about one of those shots that looks straight down from the ceiling, but isn't a bird-eye or crane because the camera doesn't move? Or a slow shock-zoom?

Damn you Shinbo *shakes fist*.

What exactly do you mean by reverse-zoom and slow shock-zoom?

 

[Jex]

What exactly do you mean by reverse-zoom and slow shock-zoom?

Well by reverse zoom I mean a zoom, but zooming out rather than in.

By shock zoom I meant a very sudden zoom in, creating a jarring contraction of the background while the object in focus suddenly grows in size. Except, in this case, it was achieved slowly (because camera's don't exist in anime, obviously).

Actually, given the speed, I guess what I called a reverse zoom would actually be another shock-zoom, considering it was at the correct speed.

 

[firehawk12]

Do you mean The World God Only Knows?

And you're continuing Amagami SS? You have more willpower than me. I still need to catchup on Sae's arc eventually.

Yep, and Sae's arc is the best arc if only because they fucked around and pointed out the absurdity of it all. Now that it's just "nice guy setting flags", it's just typical anime harem.

Well, at least the guy admits to being a perv I suppose. Points for honesty and creepy male gaze with the teacher.

You're a sick fellow.

Only Code Geass is bad enough to get me to stop, apparently.

Well by reverse zoom I mean a zoom, but zooming out rather than in.

By shock zoom I meant a very sudden zoom in, creating a jarring contraction of the background while the object in focus suddenly grows in size. Except, in this case, it was achieved slowly (because camera's don't exist in anime, obviously).

Actually, given the speed, I guess what I called a reverse zoom would actually be another shock-zoom, considering it was at the correct speed.

Oh, the "shock zoom" sounds like the... I can't remember what it's called. The Hitchcock zoom?

Ah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom

 

[Jex]

Oh, the "shock zoom" sounds like the... I can't remember what it's called. The Hitchcock zoom?

Ah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_zoom

Great, it has one million other names and I was taught the only one no-one else uses!

I do remember it being taught from Jaws though.

"The Hitchcock, The Spielberg, The Shinbo"

 

[Branduil]

Well by reverse zoom I mean a zoom, but zooming out rather than in.

By shock zoom I meant a very sudden zoom in, creating a jarring contraction of the background while the object in focus suddenly grows in size. Except, in this case, it was achieved slowly (because camera's don't exist in anime, obviously).

Actually, given the speed, I guess what I called a reverse zoom would actually be another shock-zoom, considering it was at the correct speed.

I don't know if there's any specific term for those. But technically what you're talking about are dollies, not zooms. In film terms zooming involves changing the focal length of the lens while dollies involve moving the actual camera towards or away from the object.

 

[JKTrix]

I miss the days when they animated mecha by hand.

One of the reasons I'm gonna stick with the new SRW anime--hand-drawn mecha.

(Yakushiji Ryoko) I wouldn't recommend the series, but if you just wanted to see Ryoko, go for it. Same reason I watched it quite frankly. I seldom see an adult woman in anime lately, so I wanted to see what the fess was about.

On the contrary, I would recommend the show. There was nothing amazing about it, but like you said there just isn't that much anime featuring actual women. The author of the original book/manga, Yoshiki Tanaka (of LoGH and Tytania as well) makes a cameo too.

Show was decent enough to not be offensive, and she was an interesting character. This show was more entertaining than Tytania's adaptation too.

 

[Jex]

I don't know if there's any specific term for those. But technically what you're talking about are dollies, not zooms. In film terms zooming involves changing the focal length of the lens while dollies involve moving the actual camera towards or away from the object.

Ah, but when you zoom in simultaneously with moving the dolly back, you get this type of effect. If you didn't do both at the same time you wouldn't get the distortion.

Not that you really seem much of it anime.

 

[firehawk12]

Ah, but when you zoom in simultaneously with moving the dolly back, you get this type of effect. If you didn't do both at the same time you wouldn't get the distortion.

Not that you really seem much of it anime.

Probably because in anime, backgrounds are static images?

 

[Branduil]

Ah, but when you zoom in simultaneously with moving the dolly back, you get this type of effect. Which is fairly disorientating.

Not that you really seem much of it anime.

Cowboy Bebop used it in the space lobster episode. But then Cowboy Bebop used a ton of filmic techniques and callbacks.

 

[Geneijin]

Togainu no Chi - 01
Nothing really grabbed me but nice setup.

Now that it's just "nice guy setting flags", it's just typical anime harem.

Is it? As they are now, they don't even work as a typical couple in a standard harem. Zero character and unappealing chemistry between the two. Even Morishima and Junichi was more believable than this.

On the contrary, I would recommend the show. There was nothing amazing about it, but like you said there just isn't that much anime featuring actual women. The author of the original book/manga, Yoshiki Tanaka (of LoGH and Tytania as well) makes a cameo too.

Show was decent enough to not be offensive, and she was an interesting character. This show was more entertaining than Tytania's adaptation too.

The overarching plot would have worked so well if they only

Spoiler

built upon it since the 1st episode by introducing Ryoko's maids early and having Monami already kidnapped. Wish there was more fantasy than sci-fi as the fantasy element was clearly lacking.

And oh, Tytania. I still need to get around to it :lol

 

[firehawk12]

Is it? As they are now, they don't even work as a typical couple in a standard harem. Zero character and unappealing chemistry between the two. Even Morishima and Junichi was more believable than this.

I just assumed she's some type of cuudere type since she's robotic and talks about her emotions in third person. I don't see how she's any different from the other girls though, at least in terms of the whole set up anyway.

 

[Geneijin]

I just assumed she's some type of cuudere type since she's robotic and talks about her emotions in third person. I don't see how she's any different from the other girls though, at least in terms of the whole set up anyway.

You mean in general as harems go or the girls in Amagami SS?

 

[firehawk12]

You mean in general as harems go or the girls in Amagami SS?

Both, I guess. It's probably not that surprising that the cuudere would have the least personality though.

 

[Geneijin]

Both, I guess. It's probably not that surprising that the cuudere would have the least personality though.

There could be plenty of appeal. Maybe it's just me but the pandering increased/worsen in Nanasaki's arc. Not like they would have properly used the time to develop her, but if they wanted her to shine, let the camera follow Nanasaki more. Instead, there's this disjointed/somewhat apathetic feeling I get when watching Nanasaki compared to similar girls with a similar personality.

 

[Jex]

Talking of harems, Jin-Roh Wolf Brigade.

I thought it was about time considering that I've had it for about a year.

Pretty good. Hiroyuki Okiura's direction was extremely solid, all the background art was excellent, the facial animations were powerful, the character designs were great as well.

The story certainly had that powerfully Oshii vibe and, like his best works, I don't feel that film ever cheated logic or treated it's audience as idiots. If I thought of something, plot wise, it generally happened a little later on.

I see the pace of the film was criticised, but, as if with many of these kinds of criticism, I can't take them very seriously. Slow isn't the same as bad.

You can have bad and slow of course, but this film didn't fall into that trap.

Another review seems to have criticised the film was not explaining the socio-political background of the film. Again, I have to shrug my shoulders as the line of complaint. When a work chooses to centre itself around a certain political event, local to one country in time (or to mirror it) then the director may just be making a film for his own nation.

Which is fine by me. I don't necessairly need a lengthy explanation of all the political realities of Northern Ireland while watching Bloody Sunday, or the Banlieue in La Haine.

It may, however, have the worst DVD menu I've ever seen. Thanks, Optimum.

Probably because in anime, backgrounds are static images?

That doesn't stop experimental directors!

 

[Reknoc]

I had no idea there were so many -deres, I'm actually looking them up because I have no idea what you people are talking about. Incidently this thread was the third option on google for "cuudere"

 

[Pandaman]

I had no idea there were so many -deres, I'm actually looking them up because I have no idea what you people are talking about. Incidently this thread was the third option on google for "cuudere"

thats because its kuudere.

 

[DY_nasty]

Macross Frontier 1

LISTEN TO MY SONG... was so lifeless. Even though the song wasn't all that bad, she failed trying to give homage to the great Nekki Basara. I thought the animation would stay smooth and easy like it did in the very beginning, but as soon as shots started flying things went to shit. If only everything could be Sky Crawlers

I've seen worse first eps before. Slightly above average intro... I'm optimistic... sort of...

Lack of Planet Dance kinda makes me sad.

 

[brassica]

So far this season, I liked Oreimo, The world God only knows, Panty&Stocking, and Star Driver.
The last two were special I must say though :lol

 

[Jex]

Oh! Edo Rocket 22 : Another good, if fairly standard in structure, episode.

Bonus points for this reference though :

Returning to the nature of Jin-Roh's deliberate pacing - it all pays off in the circular finale. All those lingering takes from opening make perfect sense now - our understanding of this space has become very detailed.

 

[JKTrix]

Macross Frontier 1

Did You Know: There are two slightly different versions of the first episode. The biggest difference between the two is the ending song, which was 'Ai, Oboeteimasu ka' by Ranka in the pre-broadcast 'Deculture' edition.

I honestly can't think of what else was different--I think it may have started slightly differently and maybe they refined some of the animation, but all the content was the same. That episode came out the year before the show was broadcast.

 

[Infinite Justice]

Macross Frontier 1

LISTEN TO MY SONG... was so lifeless. Even though the song wasn't all that bad, she failed trying to give homage to the great Nekki Basara. I thought the animation would stay smooth and easy like it did in the very beginning, but as soon as shots started flying things went to shit. If only everything could be Sky Crawlers

I've seen worse first eps before. Slightly above average intro... I'm optimistic... sort of...

Lack of Planet Dance kinda makes me sad.

The Macross 7 infection is complete :lol

all songs are now lifeless

 

[Shouta]

Did You Know: There are two slightly different versions of the first episode. The biggest difference between the two is the ending song, which was 'Ai, Oboeteimasu ka' by Ranka in the pre-broadcast 'Deculture' edition.

I honestly can't think of what else was different--I think it may have started slightly differently and maybe they refined some of the animation, but all the content was the same. That episode came out the year before the show was broadcast.

Deculture edition is a bit better because of the editing as I recall. It general flows better than the TV edition if I'm remembering correctly, been ages since I subbed it.

 

[7Th]

It's a good thing they made Bakemonogatari and that all you crazy people are, indeed, crazy.

Bakemonogatari is indeed special... special in the sense that even the OPs themselves were mostly pretty lame.

 

[Jex]

Bakemonogatari is indeed special... special in the sense that even the OPs themselves were mostly pretty lame.

Quite, apart from the 2nd opening they were certainly lacking in terms of detail and quality. Although they all worked fairly well.

Not that such things have anything to do with the quality of the overall work. Even the finale (pre-webisodes), a notorious sticking point in many shows, was handled excellently.

 

[Lain]

Read up this on wikipedia. And wow, it was first seralized in 1976 and it isn't finished? :lol although apparently the author intends to end the series soon.

Indeed! It's been going on for a long while, with some real long pauses between volumes at times, but I can't complain, I only started following it last year, so I had 42 or 43 volumes to read and it looks like it's getting close to ending too, so maybe she'll get it done "soon" for real.
It's also a great read, it does capture you in and makes you believe in the magic of theater acting, and pulls out some of the greatest funny faces.

The show Yakushiji Ryoko's Case Files (?) wasn't great by any means, but Ryoko was pleasant to see in action. Especially how they portray her as a strong, kick-ass woman. She knows she is and flaunts her beauty and persona.

I'm one of the few that liked it, I think. But it was mostly thanks to Ryoko. She is indeed strong and kick-ass.

 

[Joule]

Hourou Musuko Promo

That looks quite nice.

 

[Haly]

Oh good the cherry blossoms.

Still, JOY.

 

[Jex]

Oh! Edo Rocket 23 : Why so serious (minus the bear armour/magical girl/super robot sequence)?

Most of this stuff was fine, but other studios have done these kind of stories far, far better in the past.

 

[Lain]

Hourou Musuko Promo

That looks quite nice.

I don't exactly like the plastic look the hair have.

 

[Haly]

I think it's a poor attempt at trying to recreate the watercolor effect with....

Digital coloring. It works to an extent but yeah it does look plasticky. And not a big fan of the bloom either.

Although I always thought Nitori was blonde,

Still, yaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

 

[duckroll]

Probably because in anime, backgrounds are static images?

Not if you actually have skillz