HOLY SHIT Naraku never fucking dies!!!!!!1

[maypirate]

Lately, I haven't been impressed with anime. Okay, that's not true. I haven't been impressed with anime for a long time. I was scoping out the selection at Best Buy last night, looking for something to spend my Christmoose gift certificate on, and man was I bummed. And it's $.99 on all anime rentals for a week at work, and part of my schtick at work is to be the official anime girl, and to help my boss decide what to buy, and to you know...care.

Mostly I don't. Mostly...everything seems boring, trite, and cliched a hundred times over.

Except. Here are three things I watched at work today, and while they have in no way restored my "faith" in anime, they did make me happy, and I thought I'd mention them.



Mushi-shi - Okay, so I actually first saw this over the summer, but whatever. It is soothing and beautiful and interesting and peaceful and I would love to own it, but donburi got to it first, and we don't need two copies of all of it. I wish it lived in my house, though. I'd like to spend more time with it.

Hell Girl - So far, it's kind of redundant and not necessarily groundbreaking, but I like the concept and I like the execution. It's pretty and the hell cast is interesting - it makes me want to learn more about the Japanese/Buddhist hells. It's also got catchy music. And straw dolls. I'm hoping there will eventually be some kind of consistent plot...but if not, I'd just like more of Hell Girl's fun friends of spookydoo.

Black Lagoon - Not something I would normally be interested in, but for a smuggling, slightly-mech-y show, I think I really like it. The animation is gorgeous, some of the best I've seen in a long time, and the theme song makes me unnaturally pleased. Also, Revy is a hot bitch who is obviously the lovechild of Misato and Edward Elric. I'm interested to know where all of this goes too.


I think FMA was really my last anime fandom, but it's nice to find something animish to watch that doesn't make me feel like I've not only been here before, but found it irritating the first time. And um...that's what I have to say about that.

Comments

[herongale]

Two words. Gurren Lagann.

And that's all I have to say on the topic of modern anime. :D

(is at work now, fyi)

[maypirate.livejournal.com]

I've told my boss to look into buying it, so I'll probably see it when it comes in. I'm wary of anything Gainax that isn't Eva, though, I have to say. :F

[bacondreamer.livejournal.com]

Think Slayers w/ Giant Robots a la Gainax

[herongale]

Gurren Lagann = the Second Coming of Eva. The light to Eva's dark shadow.

In a way, the two series brilliantly bookend each other: Eva explored extreme isolation and despair; GL explores extreme hope and the communal aspirations of mankind. There are some parallels between Shinji and Simon that are clearly intentional, and yet both take very different paths.

I will almost go so far as to say that GL is required watching for any rigorous Evangelion fan. The two series are so intertwined in theme and quality, and GL is clearly meant to be Talmud to Eva's Torah. Even if you don't like it, I think you kind of have to see this eventually-- I think you WILL like it, however. Just a hunch.

I can also upload if you want

[bacondreamer.livejournal.com]

YES!

[taskemus.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks for the recs. ♥ I've been feeling the same way about anime, lately.

[jou.livejournal.com]

I consistently hear good things about Mushi-shi. It's on my "to investigate" list.

[minigendo.livejournal.com]

Hmm, if Mushi-shi is attractive you may also like ...
Kinou no tabi
A tale of a talking motorcycle and the traveller who rides it. Basically they go to a new land most every episode, and stuff happens.

Black Lagoon does have a good theme song. It provides a rich crop of Engrish which I can enjoy, the theme song that is. Also the show, really, although mainly its just the pronunciations. I dun know, it's ok as a show.

Never seen Hell Girl so I can't comment.

Recently watched Nodame Cantable at the behest of a friend, romantic hijinx ... kind of, at a Japanese music conservatory. I'm guessing its fairly typical of the genre, but since I haven't watched any of the genre I can't really say. Still, fairly offbeat and amusing, it might entertain.

[homoshiroi.livejournal.com]

you should give baccano and mononoke a try. Baccano is fun and fast-paced and full of interesting characters. Mononoke is a little weird but the visuals are amazingly composed.

[maypirate.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see Baccano, actually, but I don't know where to find it. ;_;

Also, for real this time, for really real, do you want to consider living together for real when you come home? Or do you want to stay with Joel in his void of no furniture? I ask cuz I really do need to not live in my parents' house at some point.

[yawmin.livejournal.com]

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. End of story.

[maypirate.livejournal.com]

It figures you would suggest something I've never heard of. What's next Aja, TAIL OF THE MOON!??!

I miss you. Why don't you love me anymore?

[yawmin.livejournal.com]

YES TAIL OF THE MOON, ALWAYS.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yIk0xQVZ-Io here's the fiurst episode if you want to try it. I think it's hysterical, but I like dark/fuckingweirdo comedy. But you do too, so it maybe up your alley.

And I DOOO love you. I've called a few times but you never pick up the phone ;_;

[riot-o-curls.livejournal.com]

le chevalier d'eon. it's got gender bending, "gargoyles" aka zombies, espionage, historical references galore, and beautiful animation. oh, it takes place in france during the reign of one of the louis.

[elfinragdoll.livejournal.com]

Since my move, I've been going through the gf's collection to get caught up on anime that the others have been into for years, and at the moment, happen to be freaking out over Escaflowne.

Black Lagoon has come very highly recommended to me, and it's definitely on my list. I can't ever seem to grow out of my old fandoms, though. They feel too much like my babies, haha. I've only ever disowned like, one.

[herongale]

Dilandau. ;__;

He will always be one of my anime loves.

[maypirate.livejournal.com]

Sometime I will have to tell you about the Dilandau-Don connection.

[elfinragdoll.livejournal.com]

I may possibly be playing him in addition to Envy for Sakuracon. (FIRST CON, HOLY CRAPINAHAT!)