All about Anime

[slerch666]

So far today I've watched a few things.

I finished up the last 2 eps on disc 9 of the R2 DVD Kaleido Star Collection. Leon is an asshole. Mei is a bitch. I can envision this getting pretty nasty for Sora, having to deal with a male lead that doesn't like her and another female who wants Sora's position on the Kaleido Stage. Good stuff.

Next up was Fumoffu 4. I've already given thoughts on this when I watched the R3 DVDs. The dot crawl isn't nearly as distracting this time around as it was on the other R1 DVDs, but it's definitely still there. The Bonta-kun eps is my favorite of these 3.

Then I watched Maburaho disc 5. 3 more eps of fun. I enjoyed them all, and laughed in spots. Very good harem style series, though they leave this one at a sort of cliff hanger, which kinda sucks balls. As an extra, they talk to the art designer for the R1 release. Don't recall her name at the moment, and even though it's one of those "English centric extras ADV loves to add," it was interesting to watch. And no, I'm not one of the people who "hates" English language extras.

That's it so far, as I then watched the Samurai Cinema Shadow Hunters 2 from Animeigo.

 

[slerch666]

Also today I watched Kaleido Star disc 10 R2. I remember reading someone had the opinion that the second season wasn't as good as the first. I've watched 7 eps of the new season (5 if you discount the recaps) and I have to say I disagree. Sure, they put up a lot of "oh my gosh, can they do it?" sort of things, but the first season was the same way. Very good stuff and it looks like ADV has targeted January to start the New Wings season on R1 (about fucking time).

Next was Galaxy Railways disc 3. 4 eps of a very good show. Animation is good, story is good and the characters are good. It's Matsumoto Leiji, so it's almost a given that it's a good show. Manabu goes home, we meet the Capt's love, we meet Louis' father and Manabu is mistaken for an old lady's son. They didn't necesarily happen in that order, but it's close enough. FUNimation has definitely made a turn around on the video quality, as I again didn't see any of the compression blocking. Hurrah for FUNimation. This one actually has a film session of the Japanese voice actors for eps 12 as well. Kind of interesting to watch how they do it (which is how it SHOULD be done here, with all the people in the room at the same time so they can play off each other's energy. The only show I know of like that is supposedly the dub for Godannar).

And finally I watch Area 88 TV vol. 3. The animation on this show is pretty damn good. Detailed backgrounds. Great story. Kobayashi Sanae, what more could you ask for? You have a sniper taking shots at the Mercs, fuel supplies low and only 3 people can sortie and then finally the entire crew going on a sortie to take of an enemy fuel base. Again, not necesarily in that order. Another good disc. I highly recommend this show to people who like action and jets. Damn fine, and ADV did a great job on the transfer.

Haven't decided if I'll be watching anything else tonight or not.

 

[slerch666]

Today I did a crazy thing. I watched the R2 Kaleido Star discs 11-16 basically in one sitting (that was 19 eps, as disc 1 had 4 eps, all the others had 3, 25 eps total for the second season). I stopped for lunch. I stopped to play a little bit of Shikigami no Shiro 1 and 2 (all of about 40 minutes), ate dinner and then went back to it.

There aren't many series around that I would be able to do that with and not feel like I want to take a nap somewhere in between (not because they aren't good, but because they only grab me a little). The first season is great, and then when you get into the meat of the second season, you realize the entire 51 eps TV series is truly phenomenal. Very rarely does a show reach out and grab me like this one did. I enjoyed every character, even Leon and Mei after you get to know them. Turning the final disc off was like turning off a set of friends, as weird as that sounds. I have to say the last 2 eps are easily the best 2 eps of the entire series, and the way they set up the OVA eps featuring Rosetta fit perfectly. I'd love to give that little secret away, but don't want to ruin it for anyone.

Take equal parts emotion, great character designs, fun concept and a great story, add them all up and you get Kaleido Star.

I also emailed Masato/M-World and preordered the Layla Hamilton OVA that is coming out. Thanks to preordering it I'll get a Layla figure and the DVD a month earlier than the general R2 release. I also put an order in to CD Japan for the Rosetta OVA. I'd love to get my hands on the LE of the OVA, but spending $400 for a single disc is something even I can't do. It IS extremely tempting, but even I have to have a limit.

Check out Kaleido Star. I doubt you'll regret it (unless you're an action only type fan).

 

[Neco_Coneco]

Just incase anyone is interested there is a guy selling His and Her Cirumstance offical box sets for only 37 bucks. I just got mine this week. Seemed like a nice deal to me since everytime i see it at Suncoast and similar stores its 80+.

 

[slerch666]

Just incase anyone is interested there is a guy selling His and Her Cirumstance offical box sets for only 37 bucks. I just got mine this week. Seemed like a nice deal to me since everytime i see it at Suncoast and similar stores its 80+.

Though Righstuf has been known to sell them for $40 brand new from time to time. Kristian Meller knows from experience.

 

[Neco_Coneco]

Though Righstuf has been known to sell them for $40 brand new from time to time. Kristian Meller knows from experience.

Mine was brand new and shipping was free but next time i might as well check rightstuff then. Always safer to go with a reputable store.

 

[slerch666]

Well, for those of you that care, I sent an email off to ADV to complain about their current trend of thin packing everything. It's a great idea, but when you have someone like me, who last Sept had no idea Chrono Crusade would be released at $130 difference in MSRP as a thin pack collection, I feel ripped off and violated. Especially when such a cheap collection was released NOT TWO MONTHS after the last Chrono Crusade DVD!

Here's the email, if you care to read it:

I should like to formally file a complaint.

My complaint is in regards to ADV's new found marketing phenomenon known as thin pack boxes of complete series.

For me, this is a great idea, however I feel the execution is highly flawed. Why is it flawed? Because I am a person who invests the money in the single releases and to have a cheaper (most times MUCH cheaper) box release come out in as little as 6 months after the final disc is released is a massive insult.

To make those of us who purchase the single releases feel "better" about spending the larger amounts of money, the thin pack boxes are stripped of pack in and video extras. That is a step in the proper direction, however, when the majority of those extras amount to no more than a clean op/ed, it's a severe kick to the privates.

As a "for instance," take Chrono Crusade. Here I am, an avid single buyer, proud to support my favorite hobby, purchasing the series at MSRP $30. Seven discs and about a year later, and potentially $210 out of my pocket, I have the complete series. This is August of this year. Now, fast forward to November first (not even 2 months later), this very same year, and I can obtain the series for $90 MSRP, stripped of extras.

Now granted, I am not spending MSRP for my singles, so I probably spent more like $140 for Chrono Crusade. I can also, however, locate the Chrono Crusade thin pack collection for as little as $55, a difference of $85.

Had I known back when the first CC disc was to be released that it would be released in a complete collection so soon after completion and a such a huge price difference, I would have waited and saved myself $85. $85 which I could spend on investing in more 4 or more indivudual Anime DVD releases. I'm sorry, but even the Azumaria video extras aren't worth $85 of my money.

As far as I am concerned, this method of marketing is asking for trouble. First you have hard core fans like me who begin to feel alienated and ripped off. Then you have the casual fan who won't buy single releases either, since quickly after the final disc there will be a complete collection released at a HUGE price difference.

This may make for a quick boost in quarterly profits, but in the long run it will run ADV into the ground in my opinion. Supposedly it is we, the fans who invest in the single releases, that make the money back for a show. Why then should WE be treated like people with endless reserves of cash in which to invest in your products, and as people with endless and uncompromising devotion? So not only do I spend more money, but I have more discs taking up more of my space, which with all the singles I buy, is quickly disappearing.

If ADV is planning on continuing this trend, then I believe ADV should raise the episode count and not the MSRP of it's individual releases so as to make the price difference between the thin pack collection not so great when compared to the single releases. As far as I am concerned I shouldn't be asked to potentially spend $130 more than "waiters" (who no longer have to wait the 12-24 months after a final disc is released to obtain a show) just so ADV can continue to license shows. I like ADV and want them to continue to license shows, but I don't want to feel like I'm the one financing the entire outfit!

If this trend continues I will have no choice but to discontinue my purchase of ADV's singles and begin to play the waiting game and buy the thin pack collections instead, perhaps investing in the single releases for the extras after store stock begins to be returned to ADV and sold in a slasher sale, since more and more people will begin to wait for the complete collections, which will equate into fewer and fewer single sales.

If this is ADV's continued stance on thin packing, then I will have no choice than to discontinue my support of ADV's single releases and instead invest that same money into competitors' product, competitors who have a greater respect for those of us who have the ability and the will to support single releases by not releasing cheap box sets a mere 2 months after the last disc of a series.

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter, and I sinicerely hope ADV is able to locate the sweet spot between the single and the thin pack releases.

 

[toy_brain]

Personally I'm not sure which pisses me off the most, ADV making thinpacks too quickly and too cheaply, or Geneon whose complete collections are almost no cheaper than buying the singles anyway (If they do one at all - I'm still holding out for a Vandread collection....)

At least with Chrono Cruade the singles actually had a hefty amount of extras in each volume. Wether paying the extra $85 for Azmarias Extra classes and some other bits was worth it is up to you though..

By the way Slerch, whats your opinion on Bandai's Box-set practices? I've picked up a few decent shows like Argentosoma and S-cry-ed as cheap sets, but kinda lost out on Witch Hunter which I bought as singles only to have a collection released not soon after.
And I find it kinda odd that they released the S-cry-ed as regular singles, then the box-set, then released the singles again in 'anime legends (cheaper) form.
Bizzare

 

[Tron]

Now granted, I am not spending MSRP for my singles, so I probably spent more like $140 for Chrono Crusade. I can also, however, locate the Chrono Crusade thin pack collection for as little as $55, a difference of $85.


If this trend continues I will have no choice but to discontinue my purchase of ADV's singles and begin to play the waiting game and buy the thin pack collections instead, perhaps investing in the single releases for the extras after store stock begins to be returned to ADV and sold in a slasher sale, since more and more people will begin to wait for the complete collections, which will equate into fewer and fewer single sales.

That's my "buying habit" as of late as well waiting for those box sets.

Heck i'm just not in... mood any more to buy singles to much these days.

Just adds up for me so for the most part i just perfer box sets.

Btw i just pick up the, Chrono Crusade box set up a while back too.

 

[Shingo Hibiki]

I ended up getting a package from Right Stuf yesterday. I figured it was Elfen Lied 4 and Cowboy Bebop Remix 2 so I just tossed it on the counter and headed off to work. I was sure surprised when I got home. Instead it was Fafner 3. Now, Elfen Lied 4 shipped out on October 28 and this didn't ship until November 2, so I'm wondering why the hell I got this first. Sure, I'm glad that I still got it early, but I was expecting something else. It's just a minor annoyance, but my shipments don't usually take this long to get. With any luck my Chobits complete collection will arrive tomorrow, considering it shipped on November 3. I seriously doubt it, but it's still a possibility.

 

[Shawn Carr2o]

Is the Chobits anime series any good.

I am hoping that I get Maison Ikkoku DVD box sets 3&4 and Azumanga Daioh anime series DVD thin pack for my birthday. Cross your figure everyone.

Btw: Does anyone know any mods on this site because I want to change just my username back to Boog since everyone here gave me that as a nickname.

 

[slerch666]

Personally I'm not sure which pisses me off the most, ADV making thinpacks too quickly and too cheaply, or Geneon whose complete collections are almost no cheaper than buying the singles anyway (If they do one at all - I'm still holding out for a Vandread collection....)

See, this helps me feel a little better about my investment in the singles. I'm not getting fucked by a cheaper price and the people who are paying the slightly cheaper price aren't getting pack in extras (if there are any). At least with Geneon I know when I buy something it won't be released in short order for a massive saving. Why reward waiters? I will say that after a show has been out a year or more, they should begin dialing down the MSRP, or release a cheaper box to make more sales. How much cheaper? Well, ADV has gotten damn good at kicking my balls, so why not ADV style prices to sell the series?

At least with Chrono Cruade the singles actually had a hefty amount of extras in each volume. Wether paying the extra $85 for Azmarias Extra classes and some other bits was worth it is up to you though..

I liked the extras. They worked, and the explained some shit I wouldn't have gotten an explanation for otherwise. The other extras weren't all that, though they were OK. But $85 more for some extras? Uhm, no. IMO the price shouldn't be anymore than say, $40-$50 less for a box set, and it sure as FUCK shouldn't be released 2 months after the last disc in the series. That's like pouring salt in an open wound.

By the way Slerch, whats your opinion on Bandai's Box-set practices? I've picked up a few decent shows like Argentosoma and S-cry-ed as cheap sets, but kinda lost out on Witch Hunter which I bought as singles only to have a collection released not soon after.

They pissed me off last year. This year they don't seem to be doing many. I know Wolf's Rain. However, look at the pricing. Sure, it's the same discs, but the MSRP is $150. The singles cost (w/o the box) $210. That's $60. When I factor in on-line discounts, I probably paid ~$120 for the show. I've seen the complete collection ~$90, so that's only fucking me out of $30 (actually, a little more since I bought the Box + disc 1). I can handle that since I had the series 6 months prior to the box release.

If I'm remembering correctly the Bandai boxes last year weren't that great of a savings either, and losing out on the LE items for .hack would have been a big no no for me at the time.

And I find it kinda odd that they released the S-cry-ed as regular singles, then the box-set, then released the singles again in 'anime legends (cheaper) form.
Bizzare

Exactly. WTF is that? Release it cheaper twice and make more sales? Perhaps they paid too much for the license and the idiots like me who bought the singles didn't make them their money back? Kind of like when a person is drowning they continue to grasp for the surface? Though I'd really find it hard to believe S-Cry-Ed didn't make it's money back, since people seem to enjoy it.

S-Cry-Ed kind pisses me off, though at least I had it ~6 months before the box release (if I'm remembering correctly), and again, they didn't fuck me out of more than $30-$40 with the releases I bought. I can accept that. It's when they nearly fuck me out of $100 and then release it 2 months after the last disc, that is a massive insult to we single buyers.

 

[slerch666]

I ended up getting a package from Right Stuf yesterday. I figured it was Elfen Lied 4 and Cowboy Bebop Remix 2 so I just tossed it on the counter and headed off to work. I was sure surprised when I got home. Instead it was Fafner 3. Now, Elfen Lied 4 shipped out on October 28 and this didn't ship until November 2, so I'm wondering why the hell I got this first. Sure, I'm glad that I still got it early, but I was expecting something else. It's just a minor annoyance, but my shipments don't usually take this long to get. With any luck my Chobits complete collection will arrive tomorrow, considering it shipped on November 3. I seriously doubt it, but it's still a possibility.

I've had shit from TRSI take a couple days longer than something that shipped before it. Usually it's only a couple days, like 3-4, but I also had a time when that shit took fucking 3 WEEKS longer than normal. That really sucked. I believe that was Godannar 1 w/box.

It happens sometimes. Blame the USPS, as it's generally their fault. I just had a Shadow of Colussus demo disc arrive. I had gotten an email in the beginning of Oct from Sony telling me that I should have already received it. Over a month late? Lovely.

 

[slerch666]

Is the Chobits anime series any good.

Yes. I like it a lot.

Btw: Does anyone know any mods on this site because I want to change just my username back to Boog since everyone here gave me that as a nickname.

Just put a request in the suggestion forum and I'm sure someone will help.

 

[Bad Boy]

Someone dont know a side where i can download the Yu-Gi-Oh Episode for free?
To buy it`s too expensive.

Lars

 

[Kristian Meller]

Go play with yourself.

 

[slerch666]

Someone dont know a side where i can download the Yu-Gi-Oh Episode for free?
To buy it`s too expensive.

Lars

No one in this thread will help you illegally obtain a show.

There are plenty of bootleg sites selling shit, just take a look around.

 

[Bad Boy]

Oh sorry there is a big miunderstanding,i mean the TV Series to download,thats not illegal
The DVD Collection that every one can buy is too expensive for me.Sorry for the misunderstanding.


Thanks Lars

 

[slerch666]

Oh sorry there is a big miunderstanding,i mean the TV Series to download,thats not illegal

No, actually downloading a TV series is also illegal.

Fansubs, TECHNICALLY are illegal. Most companies accept them to a point. No company is going to accept you downloading their series after it's on DVD, Yu Gi Oh is no exception. 4Kids would like crucify, burn and piss on anyone who offered their shit for download, even if it's not really available completely on DVD or not.

 

[Bad Boy]

Ok, i`m a noob in this things,thanks for clear up.Hope i can get a cheap DVD collection from ebay.


Lars

 

[slerch666]

2 days ago I watched Genesis Climber Mospaeda disc 1 of 5 on R1 DVD from ADV. They did an awesome job on the clean up/restoration.

After watching the first 5 eps, I have to say that Robotech definitely FUCKED the series in too many ways to make it good. I hated this arc of Robotech, though not as much as the piece molested from Southern Cross.

Don't let Punjabee know I said this, but Mospeada is definitely better on it's own than it is in Robotech. At least this doesn't have a half assed feel to it and a poorly written story.

Today I had some Geneon goodies going on. Daphne in the Brilliant Blue vol. 5 was in there, and without hesitation went into the player. Even before Samurai Champloo 6, which will probably be viewed over the weekend.

I love the Daphne series. Character designs, with the massive foreheads, are ridiculous. The battle outfits are nonexistent and ridiculous. The story is only fairly decent. The enjoyment I receive from it however, is 110% satisfaction. I've literally enjoyed every second of the series. 4 eps just FLY by.

The baby eps, with Yu and Gloria, was PRICELESS. I had a good time laughing at loud at it. This disc also starts setting up the end game as Maia begins to remember things.

Shizuka had an eps, Maia had an eps, Yu/Gloria shared and eps and the 3 brothers and sister made a return appearance.

Definitely a DAMN fun series to watch. I recommend people find some way to see the first 2 discs before making the decision on whether to finish the series or not. I was hooked from the start, and now January, when disc 6 comes out, can't come soon enough. Then it'll be another anxious wait for March.

 

[Shingo Hibiki]

I figure this is just as good as any place to show this, so here it goes. I got bored and drew this picture of Sakura and Mokona from Tsubasa Chronicle. It's been a while since I drew anything, but I think it turned out pretty good.

I also had another shipment from Right Stuf arrive today. Again, I was expecting Elfen Lied 4, and again I was dissapointed. This marks shipment #2 that has shipped after but I received before EL. Instead I got my Chobits thinpack set. And it's, well, thin. The box is about the size of two regular DVD cases. Each of the four thinpacks has two discs in them. I wasn't really expecting that after seeing the Last Exile thinpack set, but I'm not complaining. It still looks way more appealing than any brick.

Hopefully Elfen Lied 4 will show up tomorrow. If not, then I'll start worrying. If I end up getting my Onegai Twins box before that shipment then I know something is wrong.

 

[toy_brain]

I havent been watching much other than Gilgamesh over the past few days.
I bought the first 3 DVD's and ripped a bunch of episodes onto my PSP so I could watch them without monopolising the TV at work (night-shifts. yay). So far I'm up to ep.7.

Hmm, interesting series, a tad over-the-top in its goth stylings perhaps, but at least the post-apocaliptic world (caused by some sort of EMP pulse that knocked out every computer) it's set in is an original one - crumbiling buildings and drab grey landscapes are meshed with lavish hotels and sleek saloon cars. Its hard to pin down just what sort of post-apocalipse world this is, there are brief flashes of highly populated and futuristic-looking areas, but for the most part the story plays out in a crumbiling city with hardly any signs of life other than upper-class types in posh hotels and opera halls.

So, the basic story? Two kids (brother and sister) are escaping from the Yakuza after failing to pay their rent. They get caught up in a battle between 2 rival factions - one thats a bunch of leather-wearing goth kids with psychic powers that manafest themselfs as demons, and the other thats moe into posh dresses and rollnecks (still goths) with psychic powers. Neither side seems particularly trustworthy, and both sides seem to want the 2 kids, and after a while the posh ones get them.
So far there are essentially 2 plot threads on Gilgamesh. One is uncovering the mysteries behind the EMP incident, the other is finding out which goth group is 'good' and which isn't, as the 2 groups are presented as evenly balanced in terms of likeability (or lack of it).
So at least its not a cut-and-dry 'good vs evil' show - which is a relief.
It is however, a tad slow. Think Noir slow, or mabye even Gasaraki slow. There is a lot of dialogue to take in and episodes can pass by without much action, but the plot is engrossing as there is a good bit of emotional conflict that plays out as the two main characters change and evolve down ever-differing paths.

As I was watching it on a PSP with the video encoded at 15fps and the sound quality knocked down as far as possible I cant really comment on the more technical aspects of the show. In terms of style the animation has an intentionally drab colour palette, almost to the point of being black-and-white. Theres nothing too special about the animation either - its pretty much what youd expect from a modern 'average' TV anime.

So is it any good? Well, I seem to be enjoying it - though I doubt I could watch more than 4 eps in one sitting just due to the slow pace. But the show has brains and a storyline deviod of fanservice, catgirls, giant robots and psychi.....ahh, knew there had to be at least one anime convention in there.
Still, knowing ADV the box-set should be out in less than a year. I'd recomend that without hesatation

 

[Kristian Meller]

LOLz. I just got two packages from DVDPacific through customs. In one package was all of Cowboy Bebop and the other package contained the Chrono Crusade thinpak, Fumoffu 4 and Love Hina 6.

Fuck yeah bitches. I sure as hell know where I'm getting R.O.D. TV from!

 

[buster_broon]

thanks for all who said Samurai Champloo was good

managed to catch the entire series over the last few days and it was terrific