Sakurazuka posted:

Funky Dude?

Julias posted:

I put way too much time into this, and I regret doing it, but here you go.

I decided to check out that vid. Basically a summary through his words, though paraphrased.

Titled: What's in an OP? - Sword Art Online is Worse Than You Think
Tumbnail is Leafa's rear end.
Description: A way too mean analysis of Anime openings. This week: why the SAO openings are rear end.

Video begins by criticizing reddit's OP voting tournament (Think Gamefaqs best game tournaments), especially SAO.

Specifies that the music, animation, and synching of animation with music for OPs is nice, but that it's the bare "bones" of an OP, and that there is no "meat", to it past that.

"Crossing Field, the least worst one" : Stating image of hill that is matrix code that dissolves to title is pretty cool. This bit was kinda "subdued", but then t just goes matrixes in the backgrounds everywhere without them being anything.
Intro shot shows Main character Kirito, we know it's him since he's first, and we know he is the loner type. (also he uses swords).
Asuna then struts forward, brightly lit, standing tall versus sitting on the ground, and in motion, all contrasting Kirito. Tells that she's more confidet/ charismatic than Kirito. (also she uses swords).
Scene with asuna at mirror, reflecting real and virtual world, and how they blur together. Points out that this was basically the shows only real theme, but it dissapears as the show would continue past the original story...
Different hands stretching out. He likes these shots. First depicts wonder in being in a virtual world, then the terror of being trapped in the MMO.
We reach the "action shot" where things fall apart.
Well animated/ choreographed sword fight between Kirito and mooks which ultimately, means nothing.
Kirito fighting the boss with Asuna together suggests that fighting together makes you stronger. Too bad the actual show doesn't play out like this!
3 shots of 3 supporting female cast members. Nothing about their personality is glean-able from these images.
Yui the generic AI fetal position in a void of data. boring
Kirito looking at rotating background because we need to fill those five seconds in the OP, George!
Male supporting cast shows up with same problems as females earlier, and this time it doesn't even bother to give them proper backgrounds.
Kirito and Asuna Cross Diagonal Slash a monster, it dies. Generic.
Shots of these two living their domestic life in the game. Actually pretty nice. Reflect on theme of VR being fully real, also breaks up monotony of the fighting.
Final shot of their swords crossed in front of the lake at sunset, that they made their homefront, is really nice, too. Reflects status as equal partners, as well as longing to find happiness and tranquility.

"Second OP, Innocnece": Starts strong, if not super generic with birds flying through the sky and characters looking up at them.
Real world shot falling away to reveal Elfheim is a good reflection of the "virtual is real" theme.
Asuna trapped in coma, Kirito comes to visit every day, evidenced by repitition of him at the crosswalk, but he's determined to moved forward to save her.
Sister character does Kendo. Is distracted by something Based on show, you know it's supposed to be Kirito, but based on how the next few shots are cut, it looks like she's into "BadGuy McRapeSuit". Incompetent editing.
We see "I forget his name" looking into a mirror to see his MMO characcter, which means.... he plays that character in an online game? "This is really dumb and bad"
Asuna stands in Lake looking like sexy damsel with no personality. She's gonna stay like that.
Same birds from beginning fly over her, meaning she's still connected to "husbando" and "imouto" in this world.
THE BIRDS CAN FLY AND THEY CAN FLY. That means FREEDOM and also real world and virtual world are connected. HOW DEEP.
And with - ugh- a pantyshot transition (The picture that was the thumbnail for the vid)...
We go into more generic fighting. Which lasts like 2 seconds.
Because they need to remind us that random charachtes with no personality being displayed exist.
Also Yui still exists.To remind us that death doesn't mean anything anymore
And GOLLY, isn't flying COOL and EXCITING! Would be if we could see the landscapes they cans see, instead of closeups of the characters with sky in the background.
..Or Asuna quietly giving up on ever being a cool character again.
Then shots of Kirito, Leafa, and Yui dong cute things. Neat, but doesn't mesh well with plot of "Racing to find and rescue a kidnapping victim"
Back to Kirito at Crosswalk, but he doesn't have to go it alone, now that sister is here.
My heart is soaring like these not at all generic white birds.

SAO has started to fall into a rut here, but at least they try to keep a consistent motif with the shots.

"Ignte" is BAD. It's REAL BAD.
In 20 seconds establishes what MCs of the arc look like in the most matter of fact, boring way possible (Also they use guns)
Kirito talks with girlfriend at a cafe in the real world. At the same time, his avatars are walking among the crowd.
This either symbolizes reminiscence of their time in the MMO death traps...for some reason?! OR Kirito is constantly distracted by the pull of adventure.
"I honestly cannot tell you which, because the writing in this series is not very consistent..."
And Shinon in limbo on a swing, between her past self and her Avatar, which she uses as a coping mechanism. Alright shot. Swing is symbol of loneliness and arrested development.
Next we see Shinon's friend reachin out hand, and scene burns out to reveal DEATH GUN
OH WOW OH GOSH, I wonder who Death Gun could possibly be?!?!?
I usually praise foreshadowing, but there is a world of difference between subtle hints (Showing pictures from Sayounara Zetsubou-Sensei) from framing, to A Clean cutaway that basically spells out the twist that is the linchpin for the whole plot of the season.
Image of kirito with three shadows of Death Gun around him.
"This isn't symbolism. It's a loving Diagram." It takes 2 seconds to realize that Death Gun is actually 3 people pretending to e one person with roots in Laughing Coffin
Then we see death gun plays people (like Shinon) like puppets. Is also dragging her deeper into her misery.
Reaction shot of all the girls tells that they are watching intently at these events.
Generic Swordfighting Scene...with bullets!!!
With terribly composited CG backdrop that characters just sorta float around on.
Shinon sniper shot. meh.
Silhouettes fighting. Usually a plus, as lack of detail means that animation can be smoother, but still stylish. Here, it moves at like 4 frames per second. Also boring choreography.
Generic shootouts.'Instead of relaxing, slice of life moments like in the previous OPS, we get Shinon and Kirito dramatically approaching each other from opposite directions, as if the arc is building up to their confrontation as warriors (But it really isn't).
But it looks cool and is 10 seconds of filler.

And "Courage" is even worse.
Open on CGI Swords.
Random individual shots of characters standing places. Or of those places. Or computer imagery. Also generic fighting.
Absolute bottom of the Barrel OP. Instead of original footage, they use clips form the show and inserted concept art. Feels like filler.
...Which it is
Once we get to Mother's Rosario version of this OP, it gets better.
Better for two reasons:
1. Reframes itself around the growth of character of the arc Yuuki.
2. A few good moments of meaningful action.
Characters are still archetypes and put in generic situations, but this isn't bad since they are side characters for this one arc, one and done. Mostly relevant for what they mean to Yuuki.

Shot at beginning of two twins stumbling and then picking themselves up before running, eventually becoming one person is meaningful and emotional.
Shot with light going towards dungeon appears to be Yuuki's sister's soul guiding her to the dungeon, making it an obvious focal point with significance to her.
Props to Badass choppy rotoscoped shots of Yuuki fighting shadows. Evolves to have Asuna fighting these shadows alongside her.
Yuuki shot with monolith is really likeable and puts things in perspective.
Some more boring fighting.
At the end, we go back to shots of characters going back to their everyday lives.

Takeaway: Good music and good animation does not make a good intro. It means good direction on top of that.

Knorth posted:

I hope FFXV turns out to be very good, or at least entertaining, and that someone I actually like does an LP of it

Erg posted:

Look forward to my camcorder series where I talk about which party members should kiss for 50 hours

Sakurazuka posted:

Imagine I copy pasted that post from the FF XV thread complaining about everyone making it gay instead of just bros on a camping trip, the least gay thing ever

Erg posted:

Look forward to my camcorder series where I talk about which party members should kiss for 50 hours

Sakurazuka posted:

dogsicle posted:

4k 60fps bros loving each other in a tent

Knorth posted:

Would definitely prefer that to 720p60fps sick owns on this game I don't like

Erg posted:

I think it's fine to rag on something you like deep down, but playing something you seem to genuinely hate for YouTube views or whatever is dumb

Davincie posted:

a failed april fools joke lead to me getting a finger in the eye. great start of the day

Erg posted:

I think it's fine to rag on something you like deep down, but playing something you seem to genuinely hate for YouTube views or whatever is dumb

Davincie posted:

a failed april fools joke lead to me getting a finger in the eye. great start of the day

HellishWhiskers posted:

I too regret my gay choices

DisDisDis posted:

One marvelous anime babe and a couple good ones

Senerio posted:

So who here has Miitomo and wants to pad their friend count. Add @SenerioSA to twitter and post your own twitter and we can follow each other. You can even unfollow me once we're miitomo friends!

Knorth posted:

My phone can run miitomo for about 15 seconds before crashing. No nintendo phone friends for me

Command Ant posted:

Hey, it's Batrider! I love Batrider!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f-5kmdPmLk

Davincie posted: