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Space Dandy |OT| We're up all night to... ASK D-N-A... again, baby!

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G

Gorillaz

Member
Dandy/Scarlett episode was definitely a top 3 episode if not number 1 for some reason. It's one of the few that I loved perfectly through the whole thing. I mean Liked more episodes, but that one felt like timing wise it was on point
 
V

Verdre

Unconfirmed Member
Eh. Liked everything after he got into Gel's ship. Everything before that was fitting for a series that swung so wildly in quality from episode to episode.
 
S

SD-Ness

Member
It's interesting that so many of you seem to love this show. I've watched it week to week not because I've really enjoyed it but because it was an easy/fun/mindless show to watch on Saturday nights. Overall, though, I really didn't enjoy it that much.

The production was top-notch. I watched the dub, which I thought was pretty well-done. And there were a few eps that were remarkable in terms of animation quality—for example, the plant and fish episodes. Awesome, unforgettable stuff.

But the lack of a plot really killed it for me. I guess I prefer shows with something tying episodes together. (I'm pretty obsessed with Steins; Gate.) And compared with stuff like Bebop and Champloo, some of the episodes were just too stupid for me.

Should I check out Terror in Resonance now?

EDIT: Also, I just want to ask: why do you guys like it so much? I just don't get it. I'm looking forward to rewatching the Bebop episode airing tonight for the billionth time more than Dandy ever again.
 
G

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
SD-Ness said:
It's interesting that so many of you seem to love this show. I've watched it week to week not because I've really enjoyed it but because it was an easy/fun/mindless show to watch on Saturday nights. Overall, though, I really didn't enjoy it that much.

The production was top-notch. I watched the dub, which I thought was pretty well-done. And there were a few eps that were remarkable in terms of animation quality—for example, the plant and fish episodes. Awesome, unforgettable stuff.

But the lack of a plot really killed it for me. I guess I prefer shows with something tying episodes together. (I'm pretty obsessed with Steins; Gate.) And compared with stuff like Bebop and Champloo, some of the episodes were just too stupid for me.

Should I check out Terror in Resonance now?

EDIT: Also, I just want to ask: why do you guys like it so much? I just don't get it. I'm looking forward to rewatching the Bebop episode airing tonight for the billionth time more than Dandy ever again.
Click to expand...

You say you prefer shows where everything ties together, and then you bring up bebop and champloo.

Champloo's plot can be summed up as "A girl goes on a journey to find her samurai father with two samurai escorts. These are the things they encounter along the way."

And Bebop's overarching plot is self-contained within 5 episodes.
 
D

DarkKyo

Member
SD-Ness said:
I mean, it did, yeah, But it was just "ehh" overall for me (whereas the endings for Bebop, Champloo, Steins; Gate, Gurren Lagann were just amazing).
Click to expand...

I think I liked the Champloo ending more but this was about on par with the Gurren Lagann ending for me. Had a similar energy to it, too. Also, for a show that seems to have a lack of serious plot and exhibits a lot of silliness, Space Dandy dealt with a some complex scientific concepts that could make you think for awhile. It was really well executed as a series for being so seemingly disjointed.
 
D

duckroll

Member
Cowboy Bebop is a funny case, because when it first aired in Japan, TV Tokyo was afraid to air stuff related to terrorism due to the subway gas attacks. So they stripped out every single "plot" episode, and aired 13 stand alone episodes of the series instead. The full series wasn't shown until WOWOW picked it up on cable later and broadcast it uncut.
 
S

SD-Ness

Member
GaimeGuy said:
You say you prefer shows where everything ties together, and then you bring up bebop and champloo.

Champloo's plot can be summed up as "A girl goes on a journey to find her samurai father with two samurai escorts. These are the things they encounter along the way."

And Bebop's overarching plot is self-contained within 5 episodes.
Click to expand...
I guess, yeah. But even though not every ep matters for the plot, there's a thematic continuity. Dandy is just so random and surreal to me—which, I understand, could be the appeal to some people.

Maybe it's the lack of seriousness that I dislike. Bebop/Champloo are more serious. But then again: I really like Gurren Lagann, FLCL, Golden Boy.

Oh well. I'm just curious. Taste is obviously somewhat subjective. But I've lurked in this thread for months and have always been surprised people have been enjoying it this much.
 
X

Xpike

Unconfirmed Member
SD-Ness said:
I guess, yeah. But even though not every ep matters for the plot, there's a thematic continuity. Dandy is just so random and surreal to me—which, I understand, could be the appeal to some people.

Maybe it's the lack of seriousness that I dislike. Bebop/Champloo are more serious. But then again: I really like Gurren Lagann, FLCL, Golden Boy.

Oh well. I'm just curious. Taste is obviously somewhat subjective. But I've lurked in this thread for months and have always been surprised people have been enjoying it this much.
Click to expand...

While Dandy may not be that collected, I say takes Champloo and Bebop's episodic formula and goes crazy with it, not even bothering with the consequences this time (because Samurai's zombie and baseball episodes were just silly and obviously non-canon/mushroom trip-induced). Dandy instead just jumps into a new topic every single week, it was really exciting in a childhood "wonder what will happen THIS week?! :D", while at the same time showing us more of these characters, like for example QT finding love, or Dandy being an actually really nice guy the more time he spends with his friends, or Honey being a wrestling fan, etc. I, as a guy who LOVES Bebop and Champloo, loved Dandy, and exploring space and seeing unique creatures and planets in a real Dandy way each week was amazing.
 
A

Admiral Woofington

Member
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The Review, baby

Number of Episodes: 26 (two seasons of 13)
Studio: Bones
Demographic: Seinen (young adults)
Genre: Comedy, Action, Science Fiction, Booty.
Style: Episodic
Woofington’s List of episodes worth watching(more on the why later):
1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26*
*Episode 25 is recommended to be watched prior to 26, due to the continuity of the ending sequence

If you watch anime you’ve probably heard the name Cowboy Bebop, and if you haven’t you really should as it constantly makes the top anime lists of many and is arguably one of the most important anime to bring interest of the Japanese media into the West. And if you know Cowboy Bebop you should also know that the man behind it is Shinichiro Watanabe. He’s also behind another popular show in the West that aired in the Adult Swim timeslot a couple of years ago, known as Samurai Champloo. Well the thing is that after Samurai Champloo he really hadn’t done anything of the same type as Bebop or Champloo for a while, if anything major at all. He went on to work on Kids on the Slope, which also combined his love of music and animation into one to bring us a fantastic show full of jazz and blues. And while the show was great, it didn’t bring the oomph of his earlier works. So when the news arrived that the man behind Cowboy Bebop was putting his name on another space themed anime, excitement ensued. That anime ended up being Space Dandy. And what a show it is, baby.

Now let me start off by saying that Space Dandy might not be for you. Here are some reasons you might not enjoy it:
  • THE SHOW IS EXTREMELY EPISODIC. If you don’t want a show where one episode might have little to do with the other then this is not for you. Further discussion on how this is a positive will be given later though.
  • DANDY IS VERY CRUDE WITH ITS HUMOR. The show has some amazing humor, but a lot of it is crude. If you are uncomfortable with jokes about asses and breasts, you might want to keep away as a recurring joke is Dandy’s love for butts. Heck, his favorite restaurant is Boobies, the Hooters of space. I particularly warn about this if you take offense in somewhat sexist humor and characters at point, because it will be an issue for you.
  • THIS IS NOT COWBOY BEBOP. If you were hoping and only interested in seeing Cowboy Bebop 2.0 then I hate to disappoint you this is not it. I love Cowboy Bebop, it’s my favorite anime and probably always will be, but this show is the complete opposite in tone. Which isn’t a bad thing if you are willing to expand your horizons. In fact Watanabe has to do very little with the show on a day to day basis, his role is more like that of HBO show runner, who directs the first episode and acts as an executive producer while he gives free reigns to every director from them on.

Honestly those are the three largest obstructions to the enjoyment of the show by some, with the third being dependent on whether you are watching it for that reason. I was disappointed at first that the show was an extremely episodic tale, but coming from Cowboy Bebop I wasn’t too surprised. It’s a show format that works better, and Watanabe is comfortable with it. If you’re still interested then let me break down the show for you.
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The Story:
There is little story in Space Dandy. Every episode is self-contained except for a few here and there. There is an all-encompassing plot as tends to be the case with shows like these, but it serves as little else more than a plot device and an excuse for Dandy and crew to get into some crazy situations and stick around for another episode. But to summarize the show I would have to quote the narrator and say that “Space Dandy: he's a dandy guy in space. He combs the galaxy like his pompadour on the hunt for aliens. Planet after planet he searches, discovering bizarre new creatures both friendly and not. These are the spectacular adventures of Space Dandy and his brave space crew in space. “
Each episode is handed off to a different director and writer, and they were basically given liberty to do whatever they wanted and it is amazing in some instances. We have episodes where the alien worlds feel truly alien due to the art style and directing. Others where it might be more grounded so it becomes personal. There is so much variation in here.

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The Characters:
There are recurring characters that appear in most if not all episodes. We have Dandy, the Johnny Bravo womanizer. QT, the autotune robot companion who usually provides the voice of reason. Meow, the cat with a hat who is practically useless and just tweets all day. Scarlet, the sexy and professional Alien Registration worker. Dr. Gel and Bea, the intelligent antagonists and charming antagonists chasing Dandy around the universe. And Honey, the bubbly Boobies waitress who has grown close to the crew due to their recurring patronage. Not all of them receive proper expansion and character development, but I can say this: most of their characters got their own episode where they were the focus. And most of these were great, with the exception of one. Meow, QT, and Scarlet’s episodes’ are particularly amazing when it comes to main characters. But that’s not even going into Dandy. Oh boy, Dandy. What a great character.
Space Dandy is one of the most complex characters to come out of anime, or heck sci fi, in a long time. With so many shows and novels being about badasses, serious folks, and even charming rogues it’s nice to see a show with a man who is largely a fuck up and an anti-Spike from Cowboy Bebop. While he may seem pretty one-note at first, the depth of his persona and attitude is explained to the point of incredible detail. Most of this happens in the second half, and when it does you will see Dandy in a whole new light that the Johnny Bravo easy going dude from the first half. I really cannot express how much I love Dandy.

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The Animation, Soundtrack and Design:
The show was animated by the studio Bones. If you don’t recognize studio names, just know they are known for amazing fluid animation and action sequences, as can be seen in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Sword of the Stranger. And they do not disappoint. Some of their best work is seen in Space Dandy, alongside work/inspiration from other studios. The art design of certain episodes aren’t consistent with the rest of the show but that is more due to the director’s vision, and it works in its favor more often than not. Bottom line is if you enjoy smooth animation, this show is for you.
As to the design and art, you are in for a treat. There are some jaw-dropping drop dead gorgeous visuals in this show. The love and details that went into backgrounds, planet designs, and especially alien designs is amazing.

If you know Watanabe works, then you know that music is crucial and key to the quality of his works. And Space Dandy does not disappoint. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and a must-buy for those that enjoy funk, jazz and sometimes even electronica as some songs are very Daft Punk sounding. You will not be disappointed. For a preview of the second soundtrack, check out this link so you know just how amazing the music is. Definitely a highlight and that’s only for the second soundtrack, there’s another one with equally amazing music.

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Over-all Impressions:
Space Dandy is not perfect, and not many shows are. I feel the need to mention that because I’ve been so positive that I probably should mention the biggest negative of the show: some episodes are ‘meh’ or just ok at best. If you follow my list of recommended episodes, you’d essentially be not watching 8 out of the 26 episodes (7 if you watch ep. 25 for the sake of continuity), and some of the ones listed above are also ‘above average’ while not amazing. Should you watch all of them? Most definitely. My recommended list is of my personal view alone as the episodes that were at the very least decent in my honest opinion. But every episode has its purpose and gives you a bigger glimpse into Dandy and the universe which by itself means it’s worth watching it. But just like there are some lows, the highs of Space Dandy go to space itself. And that’s why it’s a show worth watching. You get to see all of the creativity of the Japanese and anime in one show. One episode you could be watching Space Dandy taking care of a little alien girl, while in another he could be in an epic intergalactic race. There’s so much variety to the entertainment that the biggest downside of Space Dandy at points is that so many characters and situations with potential end up not being explored further and are completely forgotten in the large scale of the show because the next director and writer had their own idea of what to do with Dandy and company. The over-arching plot as mentioned was little more than a plot device and set-up for the eventual epic finale and to have something tying certain elements of the crew together.

Having said all of that though, Space Dandy is a must-watch. Heck if I had my way, every person who enjoys sci-fi should watch it. It’s an amazing experiment and highly entertaining with something new to experience in every episode in art, music, design and message. It is my show of the season and chances are of the year. It has earned a spot in my top anime of all time, and hopefully if you decide to watch it, it will be the same for you. I now must live on knowing that I will never get to experience such a masterpiece again with the eyes of a new viewer, and for that I am truly jealous of anybody who has not seen the show.

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Space Dandy gets 10/10 Woofs. Go watch it now and join us, baby.
 
P

properpropaganda

Member
on one hand, i'm disappointed that it is over since i only started with ep.19, but since toonami is replaying it from the beginning, it's like brand new episodes to me.

favorite show in a long time.
 
R

ReturnOfTheRAT

Member
Nope, it doesn't get any better than that. The elements were there, they've been hinted at. This second half started to put them together and the finale brought it all together in its conclusion.

If it never comes back, I'm happy to have this series as it is and happy to share it with others. I am completely satisfied.
 
D

duckroll

Member
Since people have actually seen the episode now, I can finally post my impressions without spoiling anything! I also encourage anyone interested to do retrospective looks at the series now that it's over, and pick out your favorite episodes to highlight them and talk about them again. I'll do that sometime next week when I have the time. There are definitely some special ones I want to look back on. :)

Episode 26 (End)

Yeah this was a great way to end the series. I think Watanabe really found a great balance between satisfying those who liked the series for being a wacky random anthology, and those who actually wanted to see the show do something special with regards to the background setting and Dandy's powers. There were some hilarious plot twists and a ton of escalation worthy of a dramatic climax. Great production values too. In many ways the climax here reminds me more of how Panty and Stocking ended than anything else. Definitely in a good way though. Great production values, really well animated set pieces, and it's fantastic to see them use a lot of the stuff created in the general setting (the robots from the two empires, all the gimmicks from Dandy's ship, Dr Gel's ship, etc) in major action sequences. Tons of fun.

It's not my favorite episode of the show, but it doesn't need to be. Every good episode of this series has something unique about it, and the unique point for this episode was clearly that it wanted to feel like a climatic conclusion to the series while also allowing it to continue on in future. It did that job really well. Hopefully that movie which Minami says they want to make actually happens!
 
G

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
The best part of ep 26:
The revelations mean that Dandy competed with God to see who was more Dandy.
 
R

reptilescorpio

Member
That was fantastic.

Also only just realised during the final sequence that Boobies is made up of two boobs >.>

SMH can't believe I never took notice of that :/
 
C

Chezzymann

Member
What a great ending to Space Dandy. Everything was perfect, almost like there was no other way to end it.
I loved it when Dandy saw Honey's butt and got all motivated, highlight of the episode along with Bea shooting his gun everywhere like a maniac.
Man, the universe has gotten a lot less Dandy now, I really hope they do a movie or something.

Easily my anime of the year, even though I also really liked Kill La Kill. Probably tied with Gurren Lagann as my favorite anime ever. There was just something so... dandy about its tone. And it was refreshing to have an anime that's entirely episodic where you don't know what's going to happen next.

SD-Ness said:
But the lack of a plot really killed it for me. I guess I prefer shows with something tying episodes together. (I'm pretty obsessed with Steins; Gate.) And compared with stuff like Bebop and Champloo, some of the episodes were just too stupid for me.

EDIT: Also, I just want to ask: why do you guys like it so much? I just don't get it. I'm looking forward to rewatching the Bebop episode airing tonight for the billionth time more than Dandy ever again.
Click to expand...

The lack of plot is what I loved about Dandy the most. Never knowing what's going to happen next, never knowing what genre its going to take on next. It had that looney tunes, wacky vibe to it where the reason you get excited for each episode was to see what direction they are going to take it in, not where the plot is going to go. The music and art was also fantastic and I loved the world it was set in with all the crazy alien designs and planets.
 
R

Reversed

Member
The
"May be continued?"
part got me craving.

What a finale though. Not close to be a great one but definitely one of the best this season.
 
Dominican Power

Dominican Power

Member
Xpike said:
While Dandy may not be that collected, I say takes Champloo and Bebop's episodic formula and goes crazy with it, not even bothering with the consequences this time (because Samurai's zombie and baseball episodes were just silly and obviously non-canon/mushroom trip-induced). Dandy instead just jumps into a new topic every single week, it was really exciting in a childhood "wonder what will happen THIS week?! :D", while at the same time showing us more of these characters, like for example QT finding love, or Dandy being an actually really nice guy the more time he spends with his friends, or Honey being a wrestling fan, etc. I, as a guy who LOVES Bebop and Champloo, loved Dandy, and exploring space and seeing unique creatures and planets in a real Dandy way each week was amazing.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's not like Dandy doesn't some serious moments sprinkled in. It's one of the best animes I've seen in a long time. The dub is so good that I didn't even have an issue with not seeing the sub version.
 
K

Kai Dracon

Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
I'm suspicious the "universe without a god" bit is a backdoor reference to an altered premise for another season if the show gets one.

Instead of a 4th wall breaking narrator, it would go in a new direction with a different gimmick to frame the story.
 
Z

Zeus Molecules

illegal immigrants are stealing our air
duckroll said:
It didn't. All the universes ended, and there was a new big bang which restarted all existence. After the same many billions of years passed in the new universe, things ended up pretty much the same way they did the last time. It's an endless loop.
Click to expand...

except this time without a God/Narrator.
 
K

KidA Seven

Member
So are the ending credits just showing the art that was featured in all of the episodes
or is it telling the viewer that Dandy went through the entire 26 episode ride all over again meaning the show can pick up after 26 or right before? I'm guessing the former as the previous ending credits all showed artwork pertaining to a sole episode
 
D

DarkKyo

Member
Jarmel said:
So in short, everybody legit died.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm guessing Dandy was merged with himself in the next universe but for everybody else they died along with the last universe. The characters in the new universe are totally new versions of themselves(except for Dandy). Which is pretty much what has been happening throughout the entire series; Dandy + others constantly dying by the end of the episode but only Dandy is himself throughout the entire series by immediately moving to another universe.

KidA Seven said:
So are the ending credits just showing the art that was featured in all of the episodes
or is it telling the viewer that Dandy went through the entire 26 episode ride all over again meaning the show can pick up after 26 or right before? I'm guessing the former as the previous ending credits all showed artwork pertaining to a sole episode
Click to expand...
I took it as the latter. Like he's going around again.
 
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