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[madp]

Fate/Zero 15:

Everyone's posted all of the badass moments already, so here's a rare shot of Saber smiling.

Is there really much that I can say beyond a lot of WHOAAAAAAs at the action?

Spoiler

RIP Gilles. I see they used the Jeanne d'Arc design from Fate/Apocrypha. What a cruel tease

.

Gil

Spoiler

looking down on Iskandar

pretty badly there at the end. I know that I'm supposed to be surprised that Archer

Spoiler

doesn't see Rider as his ultimate challenge, but I thought it was pretty clear from the moment we saw how Ionian Hetairoi works that the Gate of Babylon is the perfect counter. I think that Iskandar will die and that Gilgamesh will be the one to kill him, but I really hope that there's at least a satisfying one-on-one and that Iskandar isn't GoB-spammed to death like the rest of his army

.

Between

Spoiler

Lancer having to lift his curse from Saber (which apparently permanently destroyed one of his Noble Phantasms) and next week's preview

, I have a bad feeling that

Spoiler

his number is going to be up soon

. We haven't exactly seen

Spoiler

Sola-Ui do much in the way of conferring/plotting/NTR sexing Diarmuid

, so I'm curious if

Spoiler

they can characterize her and eliminate her from the Grail War in a single episode or if her character always existed just to echo Lancer's tragic past with women and generally just troll Kayneth

.

Amazing episode, I continue to be surprised at just how often this show leaves my mouth agape from the action and general character badassery.

 

[Ultimadrago]

Fate/Zero 15:
*Speculation regarding you-know-who*
Amazing episode, I continue to be surprised at just how often this show leaves my mouth agape from the action and general character badassery.

You just refuse to allow me to delude myself in peace!

(You know what I'm talking about!)

 

[Hitokage]

Revolutionary Girl Utena 16

I've got a fever, and the only cure is more Nanami Comedy Episodes(TM)!

I wholeheartedly approve, good sir.

 

[Ice Lightning]

Heaven's Lost Property: Forte

Tomoki is as perverted as ever. Where is my season three? I guess I will have to pass the time finishing up the first six Haruhi Suzumiya light novels.

 

[Defuser]

Is anybody up for donating blood for a F/Z Saber poster?

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/int...ber-poster-to-be-given-to-blood-donors-in-may

 

[-Minsc-]

Fujiko Lupaan 1 & 2

Sheer style. Five minutes in the first episode I decreed this show to be best watched with the lights off. It deserves it.

 

[Basileus777]

Fate/Zero 15:
Gil

Spoiler

looking down on Iskandar

pretty badly there at the end. I know that I'm supposed to be surprised that Archer

Spoiler

doesn't see Rider as his ultimate challenge, but I thought it was pretty clear from the moment we saw how Ionian Hetairoi works that the Gate of Babylon is the perfect counter. I think that Iskandar will die and that Gilgamesh will be the one to kill him, but I really hope that there's at least a satisfying one-on-one and that Iskandar isn't GoB-spammed to death like the rest of his army

.

Spoiler

I don't know, they've been teasing us about Archer's "treasure" for a couple of episodes now, and Rider makes the most sense to use it against, though Saber is also a possibility.

 

[wonzo]

Poyopoyo 15

Please tell me roundcat cushions are actually a thing.

 

[dimb]

I spent last week watching J-drama Don Quixote and thought it was good. It's riddled with cliches but I loved the interactions between the 2 main characters.

If it's based on the book Don Quixote is the reason most of those cliches exist in their current state today.

Fate/Zero 15

The wheels finally stopped spinning. Just an enjoyable episode where a lot of stuff happens, and most of the build up to all of that was worthwhile.

 

[Ultimadrago]

Is anybody up for donating blood for a F/Z Saber poster?

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/int...ber-poster-to-be-given-to-blood-donors-in-may

Ooo, they should made snappy lines with various characters on it like:

"Your blood is a treasure that already belonged to me, swine!"

"Blood!....BLOOD!...BLOOD! AHAHAHA!"

"Is your blood worthy of being carried on?"


...okay, not so "snappy."

 

[Steroyd]

Upotte - 02

So that's how she lowered the recoil, this show is so educational.

 

[Femmeworth]

Is anybody up for donating blood for a F/Z Saber poster?

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/int...ber-poster-to-be-given-to-blood-donors-in-may

Sounds like a missed opportunity for Production I.G. to promote Saya and the Blood-C movie.

 

[Narag]

Gundam 00 S2 20

hahaha

Spoiler

Anew Returner was an Innovator? I'd have never figured that one out! Shocked they revealed that before telling me who Mister Bushido is. That's the last remaining mystery. God damn though. Respect points for Lyle for making his own way there but I'll be damned if I wasn't all "Not again." when shit went south. Trans-Am and 00 fairy dust saved the day though.

 

[AppleSmack]

Fate Zero 14

WOW. Quality has certainly not dropped. This is definitely one of the best anime series I have ever scene. I really love the universe this anime is set in as well. This is the only show I'm planning to follow this season and it is definitely delivering

 

[Hitokage]

icarus: Will watching Angel's Egg and Belladonna of Sadness be enough to regain your favor?

 

[Steroyd]

Sounds like a missed opportunity for Production I.G. to promote Saya and the Blood-C movie.

That would make more sense, yet be a little ominous at the same time.

 

[madp]

Spoiler

I don't know, they've been teasing us about Archer's "treasure" for a couple of episodes now, and Rider makes the most sense to use it against, though Saber is also a possibility.

Spoiler

If "treasure" is referring to Ea, I've always presumed that Ea was a single, incredibly-strong weapon for one-on-one combat, which sounds more like something to counter Saber's Noble Phantasm to me. I agree that it could also possibly be used against Rider, but I feel that the show has been setting up Gilgamesh vs. Saber to be the final battle so I would expect that Ea wouldn't make an appearance until the climax. For all we know, it could be used against Rider and Saber.

 

[duckroll]

Gundam 00 S2 20

hahaha

Spoiler

Anew Returner was an Innovator? I'd have never figured that one out! Shocked they revealed that before telling me who Mister Bushido is. That's the last remaining mystery. God damn though. Respect points for Lyle for making his own way there but I'll be damned if I wasn't all "Not again." when shit went south. Trans-Am and 00 fairy dust saved the day though.

How do you do it? How do you keep going? Tell me where your strength comes from!

 

[Jarmel]

That reminds me I need to see the Gundam 00 movie.

 

[dakkumauji]

Fate/Zero 15

The party is over.

Very good episode. Such nice animations for the fights, not too much talking expect at the end. So good.

 

[Femmeworth]

That would make more sense, yet be a little ominous at the same time.

"Protect others, just like Saya, by donating blood today!"

 

[Articalys]

Fate/zero 15

Spoiler

Excalibur - Sword of Promised Victory! Looks like they also used the Fate/Apocrypha design for Joan of Arc, heh.

 

[madp]

"Protect others, just like Saya, by donating blood today!"

A blood transfusion "protected" my aunt once.

Spoiler

read: she got Hepatitis-C

 

[cosmicblizzard]

Zetman 2

Okay wow, this is moving WAY too fast. Not enough time is being given to flesh out the characters at all. Kouga in particular really needs more time to truly display his own deluded brand of justice and just how detrimental it can be. He and Jin being childhood friends also COMPLETELY changes the meaning of the burning building segment.

I did like the scene for what it was though. Cool fight scene at the end there even if they skipped over a lot of the more impressive portions. Oh well.

And it looks like I was wrong, Miri. The final scene does happen in the manga. Though I accidentally spoiled what really happens by implication, so sorry about that. Read the manga anyway though because it's better.

 

[frostbyte]

Noir Review

Finally finished Noir after starting a year ago. It certainly is interesting to say the least.

I'll start with the choreography of the fights scenes, which are simply breathtaking. Impossibly good, especially considering the time it was created. They've managed to capture the rhythm and action of fights and make it smooth and flowing. It's a delight to watch, even enjoyable, contradictory to the obscene violence being displayed. Sometimes, the fights are a bit over-the-top and unrealistic though. In one episode, Kirika manages to

Spoiler

kill over 20 well prepared henchmen that have the high ground in the fight while she waltzes up the stairs.

<_<

Yuki Kajiura's Noir OST is very well done. The music manages to capture the atmosphere and emotion of the scenes so well, whether it's fast paced action or wistfulness. Examples include Canta per me, salva nos, and Melodie. They complement the scene perfectly, giving an extra dimension of personality to the scene. The chanting vocals are simply sublime.

However, I have to question the music coordinators/director since the music is repeated and rehashed multiple times each episode. Why they thought it was a great idea is beyond me. I didn't get tired of the tunes though so I guess it speaks volumes to how good the music is in the first place.

There's some artistic use of panning across the faces, stranger frames focused on the viewpoint of the gun and other "gimmicks" in the camera angle. Sometimes there's a focus on the body language, deliberately leaving the face out of sight. Sometimes it's the other way around, focusing solely on the portrayal of the grief-stricken faces. All of these camera tricks manages to be overwhelming expressive in terms of emotions and motivations. Even if we don't see their eyes or their faces, the frame's been purposely crafted so our imagination will fill in the blanks for us. Just love the composition and visual direction of this show.

My biggest complaint is the pacing. I understand the purpose of the random assassinations/missions: they reveal bits and pieces of the world along with character development for the duo. However, the execution is done sloppily and by the books, with cliche "villains of the day". The reused animaton and constant flashbacks didn't help either. This just killed the show for me.

Regarding the plot, I guess it was okay, aside from the horrendous pacing draggin out the plot needlessly. The ending though...Heavy Noir spoilers:

Spoiler

I'm kind of mixed between it. Altena, as the final antagonist, didn't really seem to have much of a motivation. We got her backstory through flashbacks from the war, when she was implied to be raped as a child. She's experienced horrors of life and for this reason, desires the rise of the True Noir. If I didn't misunderstand this, her motivation is to achieve cartharsis by dying through the hands of True Noir? Seriously?

I was mixed about the open ending. I interpreted as Mireille killing Kirika as promised from the start and then killing herself after that. They didn't want to be the maidens of death, the True Noir, after all and the abandoned watch was a symbol for leaving behind any regrets and memories. I'm ok with open endings but this wasn't really executed well.

All in all, I guess it was a good watch. Noir started off good, went boring, and the end was ok. I won't be rewatching it anytime soon and if I did, I'd skip the random mission episodes.

7/10

 

[wonzo]

A blood transfusion "protected" my aunt once.

Spoiler

read: she got Hepatitis-C

saya protects yet again

 

[dakkumauji]

Roundcats 15

I'll buy ten!

 

[kayos90]

Spoiler

I don't know, they've been teasing us about Archer's "treasure" for a couple of episodes now, and Rider makes the most sense to use it against, though Saber is also a possibility.

They already revealed Archer's treasure last episode.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Mayonnaise Chichi! 09

This show's unabashed audaciousness at taking advantage of every single one of my fetishes is astounding.

I wanna go to a tsundere café before I die.

 

[chickdigger802]

Acchi Kocchi 2

Ahoge

Nekomimi

Omnomnomnom

Wish the actual setup was better though.

 

[qcf x2]

My only concern regarding Fate/Zero is whether it can keep up the insanely high quality.

I don't even remember the last "battle" anime that was anywhere near this good.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Yami to Boushi 12

what the FUCK

Why does the art remind me of Moonlight Lady? (NSFW)

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Kuroko's Basketball 1:
I enjoyed it as a fan of the manga. I think they did a good job bringing the series to life, and the characters sounded right to me. Not necessarily exactly how I pictured them sounding in my head, but they all fit. I think the anime did a good job adapting the source material and playing around with stuff, although I don't feel like Kuroko's passes look as cool as they do in the manga.

 

[Narag]

Gundam 00 S2 21

Spoiler

Those motherfucking ejection craft again. Awesome, Setsuna might be the first of humanity's newtypes Innovators. Hong Long's death was pretty nice though as it was cold and fit a dire tone these episodes lack.

Also, at one point 00 is a few days away from a colony but kept his engines firing. Wouldn't it have made sense to cut them after an appropriate level of acceleration given how big a point running out of GN particles is in this show?

The highlight of the episode was Mister Bushido's unmasking!

Spoiler

It only took 21 episodes.l. I had my suspicions it was Graham Aker and it feels nice to be right.

How do you do it? How do you keep going? Tell me where your strength comes from!

I don't think it's strength so much as self-loathing and the need to punish myself.

 

[wsippel]

Upotte - 02

So that's how she lowered the recoil, this show is so educational.

I wonder if they'll use the probably even more impressive/ stupid trick certain German army units did with G3s in this show (connecting the sling to the cocking handle).

 

[duckroll]

My only concern regarding Fate/Zero is whether it can keep up the insanely high quality.

I don't even remember the last "battle" anime that was anywhere near this good.

I would imagine by now most of the series is already complete, or close to completion.

 

[wonzo]

Folktales From Japan 3

Ehhh, this is starting to get rather stale. I'll give it another ep before dropping this.

Why does the art remind me of Moonlight Lady? (NSFW)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_(company)

 

[Narag]

I've always wondered why the right parentheses gets excluded from url tags.

Or it used to I thought, might be mistaken here.

 

[InsaneZero]

I would imagine by now most of the series is already complete, or close to completion.

The final episode's storyboard was done in early February, so the entire series should essentially be done at this point.

 

[Regulus Tera]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_(company)

But is it as fappable?

 

[duckroll]

The final episode's storyboard was done in early February, so the entire series should essentially be done at this point.

Do you know who storyboarded the final episode?

 

[qcf x2]

I would imagine by now most of the series is already complete, or close to completion.

I am not worthy. Considering what they're doing with a previously fairly laughable franchise, I can't wait to see what the Zero team does after.

 

[wonzo]

But is it as fappable?

I haven't seen Moonlight Lady so you'll have to be the judge of that!

I kinda want to see this though.

 

[NewFresh]

I'm really confused by this sudden rash of Yami viewers. Part of me likes to see the suffering, but the other part wants people to just watch good shows...

Belladonna is a strange pick. While it's good clean 70s fun, it isn't really an all-time favorite of mine even though it gave me this guy.

I don't know if you saw my post on The Sensualist . I still don't know who I would recommend it to, but I figured you would be the only other person interested in reading about it.

 

[InsaneZero]

Do you know who storyboarded the final episode?

Nope. I've got this information from an interview the director did a while back, so it doesn't have any specific details regarding who did what.

 

[Ultimadrago]

I'm really confused by this sudden rash of Yami viewers. Part of me likes to see the suffering, but the other part wants people to just watch good shows...

Suffering? They seem to be enjoying their time!

It seems that mass simultaneous suffer parties do these things.

 

[firehawk12]

Folktales From Japan 3

Ehhh, this is starting to get rather stale. I'll give it another ep before dropping this.

You're not weeaboo enough.

 

[madp]

Mysterious Girlfriend X 02:

How sweet it is to be loved by you&#9834;

When Tsubaki discovers just what a coldfish he is and Urabe rejects all romantic contact, things become strained. Nothing a little

Spoiler

special psychic-link sympathetic drool and some slight exhibitionism

can't fix, though!

The couple's newfound ability to

Spoiler

get off to what the other is getting off to by swapping some saliva

should make things really, really interesting.

Spoiler

Panty scissors

are cool just because, and anything that resembles

Spoiler

yandere tendencies

is welcome. So much classy kinky eroticism this episode. Yoshitani's voice is weapons-grade earsex.

On the technical side, I was glad to see that there were still a few moments of interesting direction. The scenes of

Spoiler

the ants dissembling the dead beetle

were a curious and slightly unsettling point of focus, but I welcome the use of such visual digressions. The attention to detail in spite of the absurd subject matter is one of MGX's defining qualities.

Can't wait for next week.

 

[Ultimadrago]

Folktales From Japan 3

Ehhh, this is starting to get rather stale. I'll give it another ep before dropping this.

Japanese Aesop cries.

 

[duckroll]

Nope. I've got this information from an interview the director did a while back, so it doesn't have any specific details regarding who did what.

Yeah I also read a recent report from the event in Japan where they screened ep14-15, where the producer mentioned that all scripts and storyboards for the series has been completed. They didn't mention if all the episodes were complete yet though. I believe at the time when ep1 was first screened last year, they had completed up to ep9 or something like that.