metsallica
Member
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Yoshitoshi ABe Community: Everyone Is Connected
- Thread starter cj_iwakura
- Start date
Ice Lightning
Member
Being a nonnative-HD series, Haibane Renmei had to be upscaled for a Blu-ray release when released in Japan. Apparently the upscale was not the great, according to some reviewers.
As a owner of FUNimation's DVD release I am pleased with the quality, and for lack of better words, the series vibe fits well without bright and and vibrant colors most people expect from Blu-ray quality. This is my opinion, but the lack of a Blu-ray release should not stop a person from supporting a release especially when the series was not created with an HD-master to begin with.
cj_iwakura
Member
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Is despera still in limbo? 
cj_iwakura
Member
Is despera still in limbo?
It's gone. Try to accept it.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Pity they couldn't find someone to replace nakamura.
So someone's making a mini game?
cj_iwakura
Member
There IS a mini-game there apparently. Based on the Kids MMO.
NintendoGal
Member
So, there are two versions of the Lain Blu-ray. What's the difference? I couldn't tell from a quick search and scanning of the details.
cj_iwakura
Member
News to me? Maybe one isn't the LE version that was initially released(with the artbook and DVDs).
cj_iwakura
Member
Yep, like I guessed. First one is the LE, second has no artbook.
NintendoGal
Member
Thanks for the quick reply. Know what I'm getting my husband for X-mas.
I'm sure they could have if they wanted to.
cj_iwakura
Member
Uh... he is. Well, Nakamura. ABe's fine.
cj_iwakura
Member
So that site has three things of note:
1. Awesome transparencies.
2. An eerie AV experience if you follow links around.
http://fauux.neocities.org/terror.html
3. A game based on the MMO from the K.I.D.S. episode.
1. Awesome transparencies.
2. An eerie AV experience if you follow links around.
http://fauux.neocities.org/terror.html
3. A game based on the MMO from the K.I.D.S. episode.
The Japanese upscale was horrible. It's really unfortunate the Haibane Renmei is doomed to the SD ghetto forever, since it's one of my favorite shows and the original art would likely look beautiful in HD.
Fellow ABe fans, allow me to share an extremely pleasant surprise I had recently. I've been wanting the Scrap NiEA_7 artbook for quite some time and I recently decided to get it on eBay. I searched for a used copy in good condition and bought it. Imagine my surprise when I started flipping the book and noticed Abe's signature on it.
"No way this is a real signature, it's printed on", I thought, but it really looked like it was really written with a marker. I searched online for prints of the book and, lo and behold, that page has no signature printed on it. "No way!" I then searched online for his autograph to compare and came across lots of autographs...in Kanji. "There you go, it's not his" ...I continued searching and then came across some autographs like the one on the pic above...so he apparently signs both ways.
The eBay seller certainly wasn't aware of it, otherwise he would make it known and price it accordingly. So there you go, I'm finally starting to convince myself I got a signed Abe book completely by accident...
...unless someone here comes forward and tells me there were two editions of the book, and one came with a printed signature. ;P
"No way this is a real signature, it's printed on", I thought, but it really looked like it was really written with a marker. I searched online for prints of the book and, lo and behold, that page has no signature printed on it. "No way!" I then searched online for his autograph to compare and came across lots of autographs...in Kanji. "There you go, it's not his" ...I continued searching and then came across some autographs like the one on the pic above...so he apparently signs both ways.
The eBay seller certainly wasn't aware of it, otherwise he would make it known and price it accordingly. So there you go, I'm finally starting to convince myself I got a signed Abe book completely by accident...
...unless someone here comes forward and tells me there were two editions of the book, and one came with a printed signature. ;P
cj_iwakura
Member
Very nice. Take pictures of the rest too!
cj_iwakura
Member
Has there been any word about the Despera project? Was it just quietly abandoned? Someone must know.
In lieu of that, anyone care to speculate based on the art ABe did?
What we know:
Cast:
Chapters from the serialization:
Did anyone ever translate or summarize the serialization?
In lieu of that, anyone care to speculate based on the art ABe did?
What we know:
- Steampunk elements
- Written by Chiaki Konaka
- Possible Lain connections
- Cyberpunk elements?
Cast:
Chapters from the serialization:
Did anyone ever translate or summarize the serialization?
metsallica
Member
There hasn't been a peep in almost a year. With Nakamura's passing I simply think this has been shelved. I still don't understand how ABe has money to live, but I digress.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
Clearly hes going to be raking in those royalty checks for his work on All You Need is Kill thanks to it being a major blockbuster hollywood movie now.
/s
Seriously wonder what hes up to these days.
It's a great show that I'd recommend to anyone. But that ending is so unrelentingly bleak that it's hard to imagine watching it twice.
I'm assuming an American seller? It's not impossible at all, ABe has been at AnimeFest in Dallas at least twice, and has had autograph sessions at each. I'm not saying signed stuff is common by any means, but it's entirely plausible. That it's not in kanji is interesting, he signed my Haibane Renmei DVD using kanji so it's not just a thing he does in the U.S.
cj_iwakura
Member
He does doujins, and... uh.... maybe 5PB can have him do more VNs?
Enjoyed it but holy shit at that ending! I had to watch a comedy afterward.
cj_iwakura
Member
Well it is in the OP... so yeah.
I LOVE the art and music, but the plot... Bleak is an understatement.metsallica
Member
PS: This thread being bumped caused me to finally buy Visual Experiments Lain and Scenario Experiments Lain.
cj_iwakura
Member
I just wish they'd tell us the Despera anime project is dead so we can move on with our lives
Well, what studio was going to be involved? SOMEONE in Japan has to know.
metsallica
Member
I like to imagine all of my favorite anime / manga auteurs live in an artists colony where they're supported by wealthy fans of their work. It's the only thing that makes sense to me; Konaka and ABe are totally roomies. Watanabe lived there for a while; everyone looked up to him for his success and let him stick around because he didn't do anything for a decade but he recently got booted due to his newfound desire to, uh, actually make some anime. Yuasa's on the edge of eviction as well but he's so weird everyone's worried what might happen if they confront him.
Thank you for reading NeoGAF's strangest post! Come on, like you have a better theory as to how one illustration a decade (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration) can sustain a life!
cj_iwakura
Member
If you follow ABe on twitter and stuff, he's also a photographer and loves nature.
metsallica
Member
I read his blog and all that, but does he sell his photos? I always thought it was just a hobby... and a pretty expensive one at that.
cj_iwakura
Member
Not that I know of. But he's good at it!
metsallica
Member
So I ordered those books right before I made that post on the 28th and they're already here (NYC)... From Amazon JP. Shipping was only $13! Forget Amazon drones, pretty sure they're already using teleporters. These are big books, too!
cj_iwakura
Member
ABe's still doing art for the Phenomeno novels:
Also, if you are in this thread and haven't played Phenomeno, you are doing yourself a grand disservice.
Also, if you are in this thread and haven't played Phenomeno, you are doing yourself a grand disservice.
cj_iwakura
Member
Lain gifs, anyone?
Imagine Despera in motion with that style.
I guess it's little wonder no one has taken up Nakamura's torch.
Imagine Despera in motion with that style.
I guess it's little wonder no one has taken up Nakamura's torch.
Guess it's time for a 2nd rewatch of Lain now that I've got the Bluray set.
It's been almost a year since Nakamura's passing. Even though he didn't direct that many anime shows, he directed 2 of my all time top 10; Kino's Journey and obviously Lain. Dude's definitely missed.
Thought this was bumped to post this
http://fauux.neocities.org/
http://fauux.neocities.org/Love.html
Click the Lains
http://fauux.neocities.org/
http://fauux.neocities.org/Love.html
Click the Lains
cj_iwakura
Member
I'll need to see Kino's Journey then.
I believe it's been shared earlier in the thread. Creepy stuff.
Lain gifs, anyone?
Imagine Despera in motion with that style.
I guess it's little wonder no one has taken up Nakamura's torch.
Such a talented director. I don't think anyone can quite match the atmosphere he gave Lain, it truly was unique.
This thread reminds me, at a con I was at recently I was able to find ADV's old Kino's Journey DVD artbox. I had forgotten how prominent the "scanlines" were on this release, but I quickly got used to it. I also found one of the Haibane Renmei volumes from Pioneer/Geneon that I was missing. Only one left to go and I'll have them all!
cj_iwakura
Member
Anyone think this should be renamed as a community thread and moved appropriately?
metsallica
Member
I think that's a great idea, and I can't believe you haven't seen Kino's Journey! It's phenomenal.
cj_iwakura
Member
Never even heard of it. Anyways, I'll ask a mod.
cj_iwakura
Member
Relocated. Hope the thread title works!
(Thanks Cornballer.)
(Thanks Cornballer.)
