Support NeoGAF

[Lain]

How about Geography? What's the point of having an anime be based in some real world location if you can't even be bothered to get the location names and disposition right!

Reading about racing anime earlier, I remembered about one racing anime I used to love as a kid, F (F-エ&#12501. I still remember the protagonist using a modified tractor to do some racing, it felt so badass at the time.

 

[firehawk12]

For me, it's languages. Whenever a film or series decides to use multiple languages to be more authentic, nothing annoys me more than when it's... not authentic. What's the point of having characters actually speak different languages when it's either wrong or sounds incomprehensible? It doesn't make the scene more interesting, it makes it worse.

The best is when you have American shows set in Chinatown and people will talk to each other in Cantonese and Mandarin as if they were interchangeable.

 

[A Black Falcon]

For me, it's languages. Whenever a film or series decides to use multiple languages to be more authentic, nothing annoys me more than when it's... not authentic. What's the point of having characters actually speak different languages when it's either wrong or sounds incomprehensible? It doesn't make the scene more interesting, it makes it worse.

Honestly, thinking about it I'd likely rank this even above sexism in terms of how much things bother me. Historical inaccuracy first, sexism/etc. second. For instance, when I think about shows like Samurai Girls and Koihime Musou, what's the first thing I think about to complain about? Historical unbelievabiliity and inaccuracy, not sexism. See, for instance, my post about the first two or three episodes of Samurai Girls earlier in this thread.

As for that, I'm not good with languages, but I can definitely see that being annoying, sure...

The best is when you have American shows set in Chinatown and people will talk to each other in Cantonese and Mandarin as if they were interchangeable.

That is bad, sure, but random anime use of messed up bits of foreign languages that they're just using because they sound cool or whatever is likely even worse...

How about Geography? What's the point of having an anime be based in some real world location if you can't even be bothered to get the location names and disposition right!

Like what?

 

[Shouta]

I don't think that ignoring problems makes them better. Sure, sometimes I won't say anything, no need to complain about everything, but sometimes I will say what I think because I do think it's important.

Of course you're right that the Japanese male audience focus explains almost all of it, though.

Oh, and remember that the issue came up this time not just randomly, but because of OreImo. Whatever you think of the show, considering the controversy it did raise (not just from me), I think that bringing up the sexism aspect of it is reasonable.

And there's nothing that can be done about it because we don't make the anime so pointing out to people that already are aware of it is just noise.

Audience plays a matter in it, not just because they're male and Japanese. It's a factor in all areas when the audience focus is the same demographic.

 

[Salazar]

And there's nothing that can be done about it because we don't make the anime so pointing out to people that already are aware of it is just noise.

To adapt pessimistically the Spanish civil war slogan borrowed by the Manic Street Preachers.

We tolerate this. Our children will be next.

 

[mAcOdIn]

How about endings? I mean, how American things often have happy endings, while foreign things often don't. I like happy endings better, myself.

I like them both but I think the type of ending is purely story related not really something necessarily good or bad.

As for violence though, just being American I guess, and caring more about sexuality/gender issues than violence? Seriously though, stories like these couldn't exist without violence, but could without sexism I think.

But there's different kinds of violence. You have the teen on teen or adult on adult violence which I generally think is alright but the adult on teen or younger violence is displayed more often that I think it should. It gets kind of crazy when seemingly benign shows like Squid Girl have adults punching an apparent child, sure she has tentacles but still, or like when a teacher physically whacks a student, you'd never see Mr. Belding hit a student in saved by the bell nor would it be considered comedic.

Regardless though, both sexism and mild(don't know the term for accepted light violence) violence are realities and while they may not exist on the same scale as seen in anime they should be present in some anime else everyone would complain it was whitewashing societies ills or too afraid to tackle them.

What exactly do you mean by this? I'm not entirely sure...

It may be a Japanese thing, I don't know nor make any claims to, but I personally find it disturbing, ok not disturbing as I can't really feel that level of emotion but rather odd I guess) that no one seems to ever want to involve, inconvenience or get the help of anyone else as if it's some kind of terrible thing. I understand why one teen may not want to involve another equally rather helpless teen in whatever their fictional struggle may be but it's too common that all the common authority figures are also seen as non options for one to get help from. You'll almost never see a character go to the police, teacher, parents or even an older sibling asking for help in life or death situations, even token attempts are rare, about the only authority figure that is ok to ask for help is someone in the medical field. Being a cop must be nice in Japan where they train their children through TV to never ask the cop for help, same as student councilors and anyone else designated by designated and responsible to help yet depicted through anime as not being a viable route for students to take. Now of course maybe it isn't a social thing, maybe it's just because it's cooler when the hero does it on his own but when nearly 100% of the shows out there employ that technique during every crises but a fever you're training a society that's ripe to, I dunno, disintegrate into something bad.

As for some of the other stuff you mention, of course it's also true that Japan has a very heavy focus on young children as lead characters in both anime/manga and videogames. Compared to average Western main characters it is definitely different, and a bit harder to believe, but aside from the unbelievability of things like 10 year olds doing the kind of things Pokemon (to use one obvious example) main characters do, the thing that really does bother me about that is, well, the sexuality-related part -- the over-sexualization of very young, often prepubescent, girls (and sometimes boys). This has happened (probably to a lesser degree) in American culture too, and it's no better here than there. I think it's right to find that somewhat disturbing, even just in something definitely not real like anime. But apart from that I mostly find the very young character age thing just silly and unrealistic, but not awful or something. Japanese media thinks that your teenage years are your best time, obviously. Eh, whatever, not the worst of their stereotypes.

I agree, it is disturbing.

But anyway, I'm not just complaining about sexism. Recall that this discussion comes from debate over OreImo, and while sexism is a big part of my complaint (specifically about how female anime characters are stereotyped so strongly and get pidgeonholed into certain roles so often), that wasn't all of it; sexism makes Japan's thing for incest worse, but isn't the cause, I think.

As for violence though, yeah, you have a good point -- somehow overall that just doesn't bother me as much. Maybe it is that I'm American, or that it's action stories so I expect conflict, I don't know.

Obviously though, overall I do like anime anyway. I do watch it regularly, after all. And there are things other than sexism I go on at length about, I'm sure, considering that.

Unlike Shouta I don't find it annoying I was just wondering if there was something deeper there, as far as I'm concerned you're free to bitch about anything you want and I do think it was on topic with OreImo.

There are a lot of things I haven't seen, and those happened to be some of them... I don't know, just somehow never seemed that interesting when they were on. I wasn't a big vampire fan, I'd rather have watched Star Trek or something.

Like I said, inexcusable! I'm not a huge vampire fan either I just think Angel was good, Buffy wasn't as good IMO although it did have some moments here and there. Oddly enough, Buffy is like an anime with the girl being a sexualized teen, the teacher taking an active role in fighting the monsters with the student and several other tropes. Angel, once it found it's footing was more mature.

 

[Shouta]

To adapt pessimistically the Spanish civil war slogan borrowed by the Manic Street Preachers.

We tolerate this. Our children will be next.

I didn't know anime was as important as civil war! :lol

 

[Crash Station]

MM! 4

You'd think a simple kiss wouldn't be a big deal for a masochist. It's even worse when you realize he can casually brush off his mom and sister hitting on him all the time.

I've noticed this in a lot of anime. There's a ton of sexual innuendo but a kiss is like some crazy taboo topic. Are Japan's priorities really like this?

 

[firehawk12]

MM! 4

You'd think a simple kiss wouldn't be a big deal for a masochist. It's even worse when you realize he can casually brush off his mom and sister hitting on him all the time.

I've noticed this in a lot of anime. There's a ton of sexual innuendo but a kiss is like some crazy taboo topic. Are Japan's priorities really like this?

For most shows, it's a surrogate for sex.

 

[Risette]

I really like that Shaft show with maids. Hotori's dumbness is cute enough to not be annoying, and she can actually be kinda clever as EP3 showed. :lol

 

[A Black Falcon]

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes 03 is out. There's more jokes at poor, powerless Milky Holmes' expense, more of them failing and being made fun of... poor them. It's another very funny episode, though. We meet another team of superpowered girls, and the leader of this team dislikes Milky Holmes. Jealous that in the past they were better, maybe? Anyway, she perpetuates some jokes at their expense, such as pretending that she can read a tablet that will say how they can get their powers back, and forcing them to look foolish playing a game of Twister as a result. One girl refuses out of embarrassment, and the rest of the episode is set up. Basically our main characters are easy to fool, if it's something they thing might get their powers back... cliche, but funny stuff anyway. Then the thieves come in and steal the thing they were trying to steal, Milky Holmes messes up and breaks the other team's computer, and they get put in jail... where they get better food than they were getting in school. Until it's taken away mid-meal by their "kind" student council chairman who bails them out. :lol Then more stuff happens, but I won't spoil the whole episode.

Really, one major part of Tantei Opera Milky Holmes so far is a story about superheroes who lost their superpowers, and how tough it is to be in that situation. Everybody you thought looked up to you was actually just jealous, and now that you're down they pile on (played for laughs and moe, sure, but still it's what happens). And our main characters aren't much better and argue off and on, too. It's a silly, cliche series, but I'm enjoying it anyway, so far at least.

The twister scene is a little fanservicey (nothing is shown, just character reactions), but overall a pretty good episode. I think episode 2 was the best one so far, but this was funny too.

Spoiler

One girl gets her powers back for a moment, when it was really needed... huh. Wonder if we'll ever learn how they lost them in the first place?

 

[Jerk]

Star Driver 4

Well that was 20 minutes I will never get back.

 

[Infinite Justice]

Star Driver 4

Well that was 20 minutes I will never get back.

its the same thing again isn't it.

 

[apana]

I would really like to see an Akira anime, there are like six books that could be adapted. It would work a lot better then that live action film they were planning. Also my cousin asked me this and I thought it was interesting, how come Ash never grows older in Pokemon? That is all!

 

[Jerk]

its the same thing again isn't it.

It was actually pretty different than normal.

 

[DrForester]

For me, it's languages. Whenever a film or series decides to use multiple languages to be more authentic, nothing annoys me more than when it's... not authentic. What's the point of having characters actually speak different languages when it's either wrong or sounds incomprehensible? It doesn't make the scene more interesting, it makes it worse.

Really have to go to live actions shows to get different cultures right.

Seriously, have you ever seen a better German?

 

[farnham]

at this point im watching star driver to see what the blue haired guy is.

he has to be something... right ?

Really have to go to live actions shows to get different cultures right.

Seriously, have you ever seen a better German?

HIs german is better then this

and

this


no seriously. he totally looks japanese and behaves like one but you cant get worse then what asuka pulls there

 

[Risette]

Star Driver 4 was a pretty boring episode. I'd rather have the same thing again actually.

 

[Infinite Justice]

It was actually pretty different than normal.

interest peaked then.

 

[Nonoriri]

HIs german is better then this

and

this


no seriously. he totally looks japanese and behaves like one but you cant get worse then what asuka pulls there

It's weird that she doesn't speak any German in 2.0 and yet they had Yamadera speak some hilariously awful English.

 

[farnham]

It's weird that she doesn't speak any German in 2.0 and yet they had Yamadera speak some hilariously awful English.

The english was okay.... for japanese standards.
reis awful singing in the end was way more offputting for me..

its such a beautiful song too that they managed to butcher :<

 

[NeonZ]

I was rewatching a Keroro episode, 318-B... Keroro has a character called Angol Mois, whose backstory references the Nostradamus prophecy about the world ending in 1999. In that episode, a girl called "Maya Popol", who is the same thing, only based on the whole Maya calendar 2012 debacle appeared.

At the end of the episode, even more random girls appear, basically only having time to drop their names and the year where they're supposed to destroy the Earth. I was surprised to learn that all those last second girls were actually referencing 'real' world ending or disaster prophecies too.

Two of them. Popi (Hopi Tribe's prophecy) and New (based on Isaac Newton's calculated date) in the picture above. They all appear only for a few seconds at the end of the episode, for a quick joke right after the main cast manages to make Maya go away peacefully.

I hated that the Three Kings arc didn't involve Kuwabara. I mean seriously, he was at point where he was goddamn badass and got some awesome skills then they take him to high school? What the fuck? I want to see his Dimensional Sword rip through some bitches!

The Three Kings arc was fairly rushed in the manga, so Kuwabara was only out during 2 or so volumes, returning for an extended epilogue sequence that lasted more than one volume. The anime cut most of the epilogue (although it improve the final scene) and extended the tournament... So, Kuwabara suddenly disappears for a long time and doesn't return until the series has basically ended.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Star Driver 4

Well that was 20 minutes I will never get back.

Why is it that a lot of series choose episode number four to do something different and dull and shite?

Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, and Star Driver come to mind.

 

[Infinite Justice]

Star Driver Ep 4


Wow I see what you guy/girls meant with it being different...too bad it was kinda boring though. :/

 

[Salazar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mPoKQijj8

:lol

There is no way I could choose a favourite moment from Azumanga, but I just watched this bit. Osaka with the knife.

 

[Shouta]

The Three Kings arc was fairly rushed in the manga, so Kuwabara was only out during 2 or so volumes, returning for an extended epilogue sequence that lasted more than one volume. The anime cut most of the epilogue (although it improve the final scene) and extended the tournament... So, Kuwabara suddenly disappears for a long time and doesn't return until the series has basically ended.

Yes, I know. I've owned the entire manga set for a good 12 years or so. It still stinks that he didn't get any more screen time in that last arc.

 

[shintoki]

So.... I just finished Nadia over my sick weekend. My thoughts, did the pimp guy who was somewhere in his 20's really end up marrying the 5 or 6 year old loli?

 

[Infinite Justice]

So.... I just finished Nadia over my sick weekend. My thoughts, did the pimp guy who was somewhere in his 20's really end up marrying the 5 or 6 year old loli?

age ain't nothing but a number?

Spoiler

i'm sorry for that horrible attempt

I've always heard about Nadia *gone to check pics*

Holy shit why is Captain Global from Macross in this? :lol

 

[jman2050]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mPoKQijj8

:lol

There is no way I could choose a favourite moment from Azumanga, but I just watched this bit. Osaka with the knife.

This is one of the prototypical examples of how an animated adaptation can improve a particular joke hundredfold.

 

[Dresden]

Yozakura Quartet is the only thing I've watched all week. New Vegas plus a lovely little book has absorbed all my time--hell, I've been listening to baseball games on the radio as a way to multi-task.

If only I had more time in the day; I could glut myself with entertainment.

 

[Haly]

Yozakura Quartet is the only thing I've watched all week. New Vegas plus a lovely little book has absorbed all my time--hell, I've been listening to baseball games on the radio as a way to multi-task.

If only I had more time in the day; I could glut myself with entertainment.

Can't you make your own radio station in New Vegas? You should combine those two!

 

[InfiniteNine]

Yozakura Quartet is the only thing I've watched all week. New Vegas plus a lovely little book has absorbed all my time--hell, I've been listening to baseball games on the radio as a way to multi-task.

If only I had more time in the day; I could glut myself with entertainment.

Well I just spent all day studying Japanese grammar while listening to the TWGOK's OP on repeat. They need to release the damn full version already! I also need to find something else to listen to before I go nuts, so I'll play some Metallica for a while.

 

[Crash Station]

So what is Yozakura Quartet about? In the helpful link video that 7Th posted in the OP, I see girls in sailor suits, a nun's habit, and a nurse's uniform, so clearly they've got all outfit-related fetishes down (excepting maids, of course) but it doesn't really convey anything meaningful about like...what it's about.

Just watch the opening. That's usually what I do when I don't know what a show is about. Doesn't always help though.

 

[mAcOdIn]

So what is Yozakura Quartet about? In the helpful link video that 7Th posted in the OP, I see girls in sailor suits, a nun's habit, and a nurse's uniform, so clearly they've got all outfit-related fetishes down (excepting maids, of course) but it doesn't really convey anything meaningful about like...what it's about.

The girl's like the leader of some group or town that does odd jobs and fights evil. From what I recall there's basically "monsters" and humans in this town living together and they try and help them adjust to living together, or something, I don't remember much from the original show because it sucked but I imagine the OVA's about the same thing.

Well I just spent all day studying Japanese grammar while listening to the TWGOK's OP on repeat. They need to release the damn full version already! I also need to find something else to listen to before I go nuts, so I'll play some Metallica for a while.

That is crazy, that's not even a good anime song. I recommend Jackson Browne's load out/stay live, it's freaking awesome, should have been in K-on!

 

[Haly]

Disappointed Kyousuke is not using Kirino's custom modded pink arcade stick.

 

[Risette]

Kirino has an arcade stick?! (haven't seen ep4)

:O

 

[DrForester]

So.... I just finished Nadia over my sick weekend. My thoughts, did the pimp guy who was somewhere in his 20's really end up marrying the 5 or 6 year old loli?

Yup. Most shocking ending ever.

Watch the movie now.

Spoiler

IF YOU DARE!

 

[Haly]

Kirino has an arcade stick?! (haven't seen ep4)

:O

She should, is my point.

 

[Risette]

Lame, got my hopes up.

 

[mAcOdIn]

I watched Fortune Arterial 3, was about as Firehawk implied, these vampires suck. Join the student council or else, please, that's some retarded plot development right there. Are there any lengths the Student Council will not go to to force some hapless moron into it in anime? Does everyone actually want to be in the student council over there and this is some latent dream fulfillment for people who won't make the effort themselves because it's getting about as annoying to me as standard harem women are at forcing themselves onto the hapless male, now the hopeless moron also has to be on the lookout for the student council forcing him into their ranks. I don't even..... He probably would have joined anyway if the girl just asked instead without the whole game, surely vampires can use their vampirism for better things than this? Surely.

 

[Hellsing321]

That is crazy, that's not even a good anime song. I recommend Jackson Browne's load out/stay live, it's freaking awesome, should have been in K-on!

I think its great. The full version is supposed to be 10 mins long too. Epic!
The small preview released on a podcast is really great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0mjoGGwWw

 

[Haly]

OreImo 4: When two Tsunderes meet.

 

[mAcOdIn]

I think its great. The full version is supposed to be 10 mins long too. Epic!
The small preview released on a podcast is really great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0mjoGGwWw

Huh, it actually works better without the lames as OP visuals and the beginning has kind of a neat buildup, still no "Tabi no Tochuu" though.

I also liked "Atashi no Machi" from Library Wars, whatever the OP was for "Nijuu Mensou No Musume," "Tameiki no Hashi" from Allison to Lillia, heck Bleach had some good ones, I'd recommend like 3/4's of Pandora Heart's soundtrack, bah, I'm not going down this path today, no music's fresh on my mind after a day's work.

 

[Dresden]

So what is Yozakura Quartet about? In the helpful link video that 7Th posted in the OP, I see girls in sailor suits, a nun's habit, and a nurse's uniform, so clearly they've got all outfit-related fetishes down (excepting maids, of course) but it doesn't really convey anything meaningful about like...what it's about.

Seems to be a nice pleasant series about demons and humans living in the same town. I never got into the TV series, but the OAD was enjoyable. Cute as hell, good action, like it.

 

[Branduil]

So what is Yozakura Quartet about? In the helpful link video that 7Th posted in the OP, I see girls in sailor suits, a nun's habit, and a nurse's uniform, so clearly they've got all outfit-related fetishes down (excepting maids, of course) but it doesn't really convey anything meaningful about like...what it's about.

Don't worry, there's a maid as well.

 

[firehawk12]

Bakuman is... I dunno. I thought it was cute how they made a joke about a dude's crappy drawings and then used the same pose for the end of the episode, but it's still 95% exposition and almost no character.
Genshiken could get up its own ass as well, because I'm sure people who write about writing always fall into the "wankery" trap, but I pretty much latched onto all the characters very quickly.

Christ, maybe they just need an outside character to tell them how stupid they all are. :lol

--

Oh lovely, OreImo opens with a male gaze shot of girl's legs. But they're not trying to sexualize her, surely!

 

[mAcOdIn]

Christ, maybe they just need an outside character to tell them how stupid they all are. :lol

Saki was awesome, I loved Oguie too but not sure if the show would have worked without Saki, it clearly worked without Oguie.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, next prospective purchase, Kino's Journey. yay or nay?

 

[Dresden]

Anyways, next prospective purchase, Kino's Journey. yay or nay?

yay

 

[DrForester]

Anyways, next prospective purchase, Kino's Journey. yay or nay?

Yay and order it next day shipping. You should have bought this one a LONG time ago.

 

[Branduil]

Saki was awesome, I loved Oguie too but not sure if the show would have worked without Saki, it clearly worked without Oguie.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, next prospective purchase, Kino's Journey. yay or nay?

Yea.