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Winter Anime 2015 |OT| ZA WARUDO is not square!

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Oh man, really? What a fucking tease :(

I mean...
it does reconnect to episode 1 pretty well I suppose if one just assumes Guts somehow escapes and ... becomes more badass or s.th. But eh, that is a rather unsatisfying ending of the anime series then.

So I guess either I take a look at the last movie to get a longer finale or I have to dive into the manga hmm. Am not really much of a manga reader but Berserk is considered to be pretty great, right? Nr.1 #MAL but then again what good is MAL. Though "badass monster hunter guts" doesn't necessarily sound like s.th. I'd be interested in, so I'd probably finish after the arc is over.

you should be reading the manga anyways. There's a LOT of material after the golden age arc, and the art is beautiful.
 
Death Parade - 01

The OP was groovy but it felt kinda out of place with the tone of the episode, all cheery with dancing, attraction rides and such. Felt like I was going to watch Cheers or something.
As for the episode I like it quite a bit, reminded me of Saw. The couple obviously having troubles beforehand and seeing them mistrust each other and going back and forward on what to believe was intriguing.
And the actual game doesn't seem to matter, but is just a tool to show everyone their true color (fuck you psycho pass). Since the lady won, but she was sent to 'hell' while the guy who lost was reincarnated.
uKSZvxt.jpg
 
Assassination Classroom Episode 1

Incredible brilliant. Even trough i read the manga im gonna watch the Anime too. Some of those jokes are really really well delivered.
 

Mr.Jeff

Member
He gets around having fuwa fuwa time even with her there
She generally ruins it though by making everyone feel guilty about y'know, relationship development probably because she's incapable of that on her own. Go away Becky, you've already lost and don't even have a tail to [x].

But that being said, if I were a villain in the twintails show, my affinity would be the childhood friend.
On this aspect at least then we must remain sworn rivals.

What about Grisaia.
Sachi doesn't exactly grow up with him and do the usual eternal pining schtick of unrequited love.
Plus when they do finally reconnect a such, she's blunt enough to say what she wants.


I want to watch more Votoms but have to wait until Monday. This is the worst.
Might try and get through GBF's ep 4 opening scene. Ugh.
 

Yui

Member
Death Parade - 01

Really like the overall artstyle and the basic concept.
But I'm not a big fan of this weeks "case", so that ruined it a bit for me I guess.
I assume she really had an affair, so she lied and that's the reason why she got sent to hell, right?
I would probably prefer a quick "what really happened" scene after they got sent off, instead of just guessing. But that's just me.
Next weeks episode seems to be more about the actual cast, so I'm looking forward to that.
 

Shard

XBLAnnoyance
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Egypt Arc Episode 1:

Finally, Jojo has returned to the airwaves and it is going to take some time to get used the new OP. I do like Last Train Home better than Walk Like and Egyptian though. Anyway, this was a nice reintroduction to everything after all of that time away and we even have a new character and it is, er, Admiral Woofington? This is also the part where they move out Tarot based stands for the enemy, outside of the example so well known even the subs point it out. Still, more stand user of the week business is just that. None the less I am glad to have Jojo back.
 
you should be reading the manga anyways. There's a LOT of material after the golden age arc, and the art is beautiful.

Aye, probably gonnna do that.

Death Parade - 01

That episode had a too fast pacing for my liking. I mean I suppose it's just to introduce the premise but I can't say I really cared about the characters and their 'twisted' backstory. Their behavior just didn't seem believable given the circumstances. "Oh let's just play this game and don't even really ask any questions." "Oh that hurt you? Oh well, your turn!"
Later on they exaggerated a bit too much with the facial expressions and dramatic gestures.

Am wondering if the show's going to explain the purpose for this decider between heaven and hell. I kinda feel uncomfortable with people being judged like that. Sure, betraying him in that way is an 'evil' move but you know, I wouldn't want someone to literally go to hell for it, whether already dead or still alive.

Still am curious enough about this and I'll continue watching for now. Wonder if they're going to go with an episodic format considering this game's mechanics. edit: Although for all we know they don't really get send to hell and heaven and perhaps aren't even actually dead. Could be the waiter was just hiding the actual intend by agreeing with the woman's train of thought. Though that's rather unlikely.
 

I though the image looked better darker, then I realized that was the one I was supposed to be upset by :X

JJBA Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc 1

Kind of a slow episode to start off the second season but I'm still very happy to have more Jojo in my life. Hopefully Iggy grows a lot as a character because right now he's not doing anything for me. Also the new OP is horrible
 

phaze

Member
Aye, probably gonnna do that.

Death Parade - 01

That episode had a too fast pacing for my liking. I mean I suppose it's just to introduce the premise but I can't say I really cared about the characters and their 'twisted' backstory. Their behavior just didn't seem believable given the circumstances. "Oh let's just play this game and don't even really ask any questions." "Oh that hurt you? Oh well, your turn!"
Later on they exaggerated a bit too much with the facial expressions and dramatic gestures.

Am wondering if the show's going to explain the purpose for this decider between heaven and hell. I kinda feel uncomfortable with people being judged like that. Sure, betraying him in that way is an 'evil' move but you know, I wouldn't want someone to literally go to hell for it, whether already dead or still alive.

Still am curious enough about this and I'll continue watching for now. Wonder if they're going to go with an episodic format considering this game's mechanics. edit: Although for all we know they don't really get send to hell and heaven and perhaps aren't even actually dead. Could be the waiter was just hiding the actual intend by agreeing with the woman's train of thought. Though that's rather unlikely.

I'm assuming you skipped the post-credits scene ? :p It pretty much spells out their final destination.
 
I would probably prefer a quick "what really happened" scene after they got sent off, instead of just guessing. But that's just me.
I'm the opposite, I love the speculating and theories afterwards.

Still am curious enough about this and I'll continue watching for now. Wonder if they're going to go with an episodic format considering this game's mechanics. edit: Although for all we know they don't really get send to hell and heaven and perhaps aren't even actually dead. Could be the waiter was just hiding the actual intend by agreeing with the woman's train of thought. Though that's rather unlikely.

No I think they really are dead. But I think Decim explaining heaven and hell to the couple was just to display it as pure black and white. In reality I think one gets back alive (reincarnation) and the other gets sent to the void (void = nothingness?, they just stop existing?) as said by the bartender girl after credits. i.e there may not even be a heaven or hell at all.
 

Shard

XBLAnnoyance
Death Parade Episode 1:

Okay, I am picking this up for a full watch just on the basis of that OP, it is indeed really good and dancable.
 
...

Brb. Fuck all post-credits scene!!!!!!!!!

edit: Alright, guess it is heaven in form of reincarnation and hell in form of "the void".

Although it may seem that way to Western viewers, in Buddhist thought reincarnation is a form of purgatory, an endless cycle of rebirth into the suffering of the material world. Only by achieving nirvana can people break the system of rebirths and be liberated from desire and the suffering of existence. Considering that Death Parade is coming from a Japanese perspective, I think it far more likely that it is inspired by these Buddhist ideas; i.e., reincarnation is "hell" and the void is "heaven".
 

Tenumi

Banned
I've never had much of an eye on image issues. What can I say? I'm just not as sensitive to it/I don't notice it as much. Too bad for those that do, though. I'd hate to have the problem.
 

Clov

Member
The ending to Death Parade's first episode really didn't sit well with me.
Takeshi honestly struck me as being a pretty terrible guy, always mistrusting his wife like that. Maybe he could have tried to get her side of the story first? The episode builds him up to be in the wrong, but then suddenly at the end his wife reveals that she actually did have an affair, so Takeshi gets reincarnated while she gets sent to the void for cheating. Not Takeshi, who ended up getting them killed.

Of course, maybe I'm taking this too literally. Given how abrupt the twist is, maybe Machiko was lying in order to try and alter the final judgement. Maybe even after all that, she loved Takeshi enough to have herself sent to hell in order to save him. If that's the case... I still don't like it. Frankly, Takeshi was a dick and wasn't worth losing her soul over.

That's just what I think, though.

Although it may seem that way to Western viewers, in Buddhist thought reincarnation is a form of purgatory, an endless cycle of rebirth into the suffering of the material world. Only by achieving nirvana can people break the system of rebirths and be liberated from desire and the suffering of existence. Considering that Death Parade is coming from a Japanese perspective, I think it far more likely that it is inspired by these Buddhist ideas; i.e., reincarnation is "hell" and the void is "heaven".

Now this makes much more sense to me! I really should have thought of that. Hell, my minor was in Religion and Culture, I'm surprised that I didn't. I'll keep that in mind for future episodes.
 

Jarmel

Banned
Assassination Classroom-1

lol what? I thought the lead was a female for sure. Um that aside, premise seems to be a lot of fun but the way it's artificially restricted to just a single year makes me think we're going to get Simpson's time dilation.
 

Yui

Member
I think it far more likely that it is inspired by these Buddhist ideas; i.e., reincarnation is "hell" and the void is "heaven".

I didn't even consider this.
But I was going by the masks hanging above the elevators. And those seem pretty obvious to me.
The woman went into the right elevator and that one definitely looks evil to me. While the left one looks kinda peaceful.
 
Although it may seem that way to Western viewers, in Buddhist thought reincarnation is a form of purgatory, an endless cycle of rebirth into the suffering of the material world. Only by achieving nirvana can people break the system of rebirths and be liberated from desire and the suffering of existence. Considering that Death Parade is coming from a Japanese perspective, I think it far more likely that it is inspired by these Buddhist ideas; i.e., reincarnation is "hell" and the void is "heaven".

Oh yeah I didn't even think of that, nice. Though I noticed that the masks above their elevators changed when they got back. I'm no japanese/buddhist expert but I'm going to assume that the creepy looking mask is bad stuff?
 

JCG

Member
Just finished Planetes. Outside of the final episode that last arc was just... ugh. Just. Ugh.

Not surprisingly, opinions tend to be fairly divided about that. Some prefer the first half to the second, while others would argue the opposite.

Personally, I thought the last half was great . Things get quite bleak and you see a bit of the dark side of human nature, reflected in both the main character(s) and the more political/thriller-like aspects of the surrounding story, but for me it was usually gripping to watch and I appreciated the release of all that tension at the end of the road.
 

Quasar

Member
I've never had much of an eye on image issues. What can I say? I'm just not as sensitive to it/I don't notice it as much. Too bad for those that do, though. I'd hate to have the problem.

If anything on the screenshot comparison I prefer the funimation. The other looks all washed out on my monitor, whilst the funimation has blacks. That could just be my monitor thats slowly dying though.
 

Tenumi

Banned
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - Egypt Arc: 01

I miss Walk Like an Egyptian.

All in all, a nice re-introduction to the show, followed by the fun that made the first half so enjoyable (to me).
 

Lafiel

と呼ぶがよい
The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls #1

This was pretty good and well-made I like how the focus of the series this time is on junior idols. Gives their perspective plenty of room for growth and development over the course of the series. That said, I have a feeling the awkwardness of the producer is going get old fast.

Looking forward to next week regardless.
 
Not surprisingly, opinions tend to be fairly divided about that. Some prefer the first half to the second, while others would argue the opposite.

Personally, I thought the last half was great . Things get quite bleak and you see a bit of the dark side of human nature, reflected in both the main character(s) and the more political/thriller-like aspects of the surrounding story, but for me it was usually gripping to watch and I appreciated the release of all that tension at the end of the road.

I didn't mind the commentary of the struggle of third world countries in fact I think it's an issue that needs to be discussed and I applaud the decision to do so. But the shift of characters where they did 180s left me with a horrible taste when I was watching a show that was doing the messages properly without the need to go so dark. So yeah applaud the message, but the execution was sloppy.

Told you dude. It's kinda like Sunshine in that it's a complete genre shift.

Oh god Sunshine. Such a great movie until
religious zombie murderer
 
Oh yeah I didn't even think of that, nice. Though I noticed that the masks above their elevators changed when they got back. I'm no japanese/buddhist expert but I'm going to assume that the creepy looking mask is bad stuff?

Ah, I didn't catch that detail. I don't know if that has any significance in where each person went to though - if it did, then surely Decim's helper woman wouldn't have had to ask which went where in both this episode and the original Death Billiards short, because she could have just looked at the masks. If we can discern a pattern in future episodes, then perhaps there might be something to it; otherwise, I'm inclined to disregard the masks at this point.
 

Saudades

Member
Death Parade 01

The only anime I'm following this season. And yeah, after Death Billiards I'm really looking forward to it.
I was pretty surprised with the upbeat and kinda random OP (they even show the games that I'm pretty sure are in the roulette). I don't really hate it, I just think it's not in line with the serious theme of the show.
The first episode is similar to Death Billiards, just explaining the rules and showing a standard game, but still have enough new things about the characters/players and their development to not make me feel bored or repetitive. I was enjoying the ride right up until the after-credits. Like many others here I prefer to be left guessing rather than being given the answer this soon
(or maybe not, since I guess this counts as the answer to Death Billiards as well, what with the masks above the elevators being the indicator). I thought that the wife was the good one until her guilty look when she steps into the elevator suggests that she might have cheated on her husband after all. That kind of open ending was great, but then the after-credits have to happened and spelled out everything...
But yeah like hosannaiexcelsis said, maybe there is a silver-lining to this judgment and that is the question that Onna (black-haired woman) wanted to ask Decim at the end.

Anyway, still a great first ep.
 
Ah, I didn't catch that detail. I don't know if that has any significance in where each person went to though - if it did, then surely Decim's helper woman wouldn't have had to ask which went where in both this episode and the original Death Billiards short, because she could have just looked at the masks. If we can discern a pattern in future episodes, then perhaps there might be something to it; otherwise, I'm inclined to disregard the masks at this point.

I can't speak for billiards as I haven't seen it (guess I really should now). But here the helper woman doesn't see what elevator belonged to who. She meets Decim on his way back from the elevators
edit: rewatching it, and the other lady with the braid seems to know, and I suppose she didn't see it either.. hmm..
 

JCG

Member
I didn't mind the commentary of the struggle of third world countries in fact I think it's an issue that needs to be discussed and I applaud the decision to do so. But the shift of characters where they did 180s left me with a horrible taste when I was watching a show that was doing the messages properly without the need to go so dark. So yeah applaud the message, but the execution was sloppy.

Yes, I agree that the issue was worth bringing up. It's not something you see in anime every day, but it reflects the concerns of many nationalities without a high profile, let alone a positive one.

On the other front, the big question I'd ask myself would be...did the shift in character(s) towards a darker direction have a valid reason behind it? I would say so.
Hachi was always something of a jerk with a heart, right from the beginning. It was painful to see him fall into the temptation of separating himself from everyone else and take the risk of losing his humanity, all for the sake of a dream, but I felt that real human beings can in fact go through variations of that downward spiral (without the literal dark/mirror Hachi aspect, mind you, though I still appreciated that as a representation of inner conflict).
 
Assassination Classroom - 01

Super wacky premise, could be fun. That blue haired boy was certainly a girl though, sounded like he was voiced by a female VA too!
 
Death Parade 01

This OP is freaking awesome. (despite how unrelated it currently is)

As far as the episode, I really liked it. Pacing was a bit fast but it was pretty good overall. I'll continue to watch.
 
I can't speak for billiards as I haven't seen it (guess I really should now). But here the helper woman doesn't see what elevator belonged to who. She meets Decim on his way back from the elevators
edit: rewatching it, and the other lady with the braid seems to know, and I suppose she didn't see it either.. hmm..

In Death Billiards both Decim and the woman see the pair off in front of the elevators, so it's easy for her to see the masks.
 

Jex

Member
JoJo Stardust Episode Whatever

Hey look, now we can directly compare the TV series to the good OVA! Won't that be fun?

In reality, it's about the same, except that I think the OVA was slightly better and obviously had superior animation. But really, it was pretty good.
 
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