Anime Discussion Thread XXIV: silly names is our business, and business is good.

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > VEGETA > Anime Discussion Thread XXIV: silly names is our business, and business is good.

Coffee? This poll is closed.
Yay!	54	34.39%
Nay.	43	27.39%
O-kay?	24	15.29%
Whatever.	36	22.93%
Total:	157 votes

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Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Acerbatus posted:

Yeah, the trilogy (I think?) is on sale.

I have mixed feelings on Muv-Luv overall personally, but it is the highest rated VN on vndb for a reason and I think it's undeniable how ambitious it was as a story. It genuinely does some things from a storytelling perspective that I think are kind of amazing and emotionally resonant/affecting in a way that very few VNs get for me at least.

At the same time it is a massive investment of time and a lot of it just isn't that interesting, especially the first two games (though I came to enjoy Extra more as time went on and I reflected back on it, I think it has some pretty good jokes all told). And even when it gets to Alternative there are plenty of choices it makes at times that don't really work for me. I also have vivid memories of the script being, like, kind of bad? Just so many useless lines and repeated canned-like responses that made it feel like you were losing your mind. If you made a drinking game every time Takeru responds with "Eh?" as his sole voiced line you'd be dead an hour into Alternative.

# ¿ Jul 9, 2020 20:31

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# ¿ May 11, 2024 19:26

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Space Flower posted:

as a show on its own inou battle is just ok but few things are more interesting to me than seeing how a studio's creative identity shapes an random LN adaptation. klk is not one of those things.

Literally the only thing I remember people talking about the show as being kind of notable/interesting is that one rant that girl does against the MC, though apparently they didn't actually follow it up with anything further.

# ¿ Jul 28, 2020 21:19

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

TenementFunster posted:

has anyone watched/rewatched Vision of Escaflowne lately? i haven�t seen it since 98-99 a was feeling nostalgic but don�t know if it would hold up

What honestly still amazes me to this day with Escaflowne is its pacing. Pretty much every episode starts where the previous one ends, and you are never forced to linger on any one particular plot thread for too long. Every episode usually has at least one decently executed action sequence but enough quieter scenes to let it breath. And despite such a breakneck paced compared to a lot of modern shows (especially isekai), it's able to sneak in a surprising amount of worldbuilding and narrative heft to its setting. And since it comes from the era where two-cours were far more common it's able to complete a lot of character arcs pretty satisfactorily.

I think it sort of falls apart in the last couple of episodes of course but it's still very impressive to me in 2020, so yeah I think it holds up because I don't think a lot of modern shows are able to do a lot of the above.

# ¿ Aug 4, 2020 18:43

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Pollyanna posted:

I played FSN and Tsukihime god knows how long ago (12-13 years maybe????) and I�ve just been kinda bemused as Fate got loving massive somehow. I haven�t played or watched anything past Realta Nua and the cooking show. I heard Zero was worthwhile but I just didn�t care when it came out.

Is the extended universe any good?

Like you'd expect it varies, and is going to depend on the person and what they want/expect. This is by no means an exhaustive list but these are the ones I'd probably bring up:

If you liked the original VN, its sequel Fate/hollow ataraxia finally got translated and IMO it's the best Fate-related product there's been. Characters that were throwaways or undercooked in the original get far more time to shine and it's probably the funniest the series has ever been while also having a lot of heart. It's what pretty much established, more so than the original in a lot of ways, what Fate is really like.

Fate/Zero is a notable show for being the Fourth Holy Grail War talked about often in the original VN, following Kiritsugu. It's an arguably important touchpoint in the overall Fate lore as it introduced a lot of characters who have been very important in subsequent works (such as Waver) and is pretty popular. I personally think it's a story that has aged quite badly and think less of it as time has gone but it's probably worth experiencing if you have any interest in the worldbuilding of Fate in general.

Today's Menu for the Emiya Family is pure fluff but it's absolutely great if that's what you want.

Carnival Phantasm was a gag show that pulled in multiple T-M works that varied in quality but had some pretty funny parts at times.

Fate/Extra and its sequel CCC were mediocre-playing JRPGs that established the Moon Cell as a setting for HGWs and introduced a massive number of important characters and concepts that have propagated throughout Fate stuff since then. CCC is talked about by some as one of the best stories Nasu has written but it's only partially translated. Extra is getting a remake that will hopefully play a lot better so it'll be something that can be recommended more confidently. I'll throw in Extella and Extella Link here which are musou sequels of a sort but I have no experience with them, most people don't seem to really like them that much except for IIRC Link.

Fate/Apocrypha was mediocre but did introduced a few interesting concepts and characters.

Case Files follows Waver from Zero. I didn't like it as much as I hoped but I think the setting is neat, it's one of the only times we've gotten an in-depth look at the "proper" world of Mages in Fate.

Finally, Fate/Grand Order is the gacha game and has blackhole consumed the vast majority of Fate-related conversations in recent years. It took a long while to get good writing-wise but I do think it eventually came into its own and became pretty compelling. Honestly there's so much to unpack on FGO, both good and bad, that it kind of warrants a whole separate conversation. Like I'm pretty into it but I don't know if I'd actually recommend someone who is completely clean of it that they should try it out themselves.

Nate RFB fucked around with this message at 15:34 on Aug 6, 2020

# ¿ Aug 6, 2020 15:30

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Pollyanna posted:

Oh wait, I did watch Carnival Phantasm. That one was great.

I remember trying to learn enough Japanese to play Hollow Ataraxia god knows how long ago. I can probably piece together the intent now, but gently caress it, if it's translated I'll play it.

Also, there's also an optional voice patch that is very much worth tracking down as well.

# ¿ Aug 7, 2020 15:02

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I think I put Gunbuster a hair above Diebuster but that's mostly just an extreme nostalgia and preference for that style and era of animation and it taking me a while to warm up to the FLCL-look of Diebuster. But otherwise Diebuster loving rules and its fourth episode is probably in the conversation for best single episode of an anime ever IMO.

# ¿ Aug 10, 2020 12:28

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Snackula posted:

I'm mainly mad about it because I was way into Gunbuster's juxtaposition (thanks spellcheck) of a relatively hard sci-fi setting with magical giant robots (one of the little science lesson bonus segments explained they were able to transcend the speed of light by HARD WORK AND GUTS) and Diebuster just didn't follow up on that aspect of it at all.

That being said I guess Evangelion ticked the gently caress out of that particular box and maybe I should give Diebuster another shot now that I'm no longer 17.

I think both busters are meant to serve as celebrations of Gainax at the time they were made; the original came out in the late 80's as one of the first things the studio ever did and between it, Nadia, Eva, and Wings of Honneamise fits their aesthetic and themes of the time. Put another way, it's a deep expression of Hideaki Anno's style. Diebuster on the other hand was post-FLCL, and as a result obviously is more expressive of Kazuya Tsurumaki. I think both are exceptionally complementary in this fashion and Diebuster being forced into the same mold as the original would have rung extremely hollow given the styles and creative output of the studio at the time.

# ¿ Aug 10, 2020 18:02

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Endorph posted:

for starters disappearance basically resolved every emotional and plot thread that had been established in a satisfactory way

thats why the novels after disappearance have to suddenly introduce a bunch of new characters

As someone who read all of the novels I 100% agree. All of the big, serious plot threads that got introduced after that arc felt forced and ultimately unwilling to actually commit to any serious development to either the status quo of the setting or the characters themselves; everyone is in exactly the same place by the end of the last novel as they were at the start of Intrigues. I can absolutely buy that the author just hit such extreme writer's block that they felt compelled to stop.

# ¿ Aug 15, 2020 12:28

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Sakurazuka posted:

It was called Touka Gettan and based on a porn vn obviously

I remember this being pretty decent with a good OP/ED.

# ¿ Aug 16, 2020 14:06

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I like all Patlabors, besides maybe/probably WXIII.

# ¿ Aug 22, 2020 16:57

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Motto posted:

https://twitter.com/ultimatemegax/status/1300267501171900416?s=19

e: actually it's just compiling existing shorts from other sources plus one original section, lol

As in, pulling shorts from the older novels? Like I get the need if it's to fill out the page count but that's still pretty funny.

# ¿ Aug 31, 2020 13:06

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Stairmaster posted:

But have y'all seen Char's counterattack

I've seen it twice and it's maybe the worst anime I've seen.

# ¿ Sep 4, 2020 13:27

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Cephas posted:

note that i haven't read the nausicaa manga yet

There's a lot more characterization to characters like Kushana, who is both developed further and given more agency, though it does have a subplot where she is held against her will to potentially marry one of the principal villains. If anything the mother theming is stronger since Nausicaa effectively becomes an explicit one for one of the God Warriors.

The thing with the manga is how misanthropic it comes off by the end, the moral seems to effectively be that "any nature touched by man is irreversibly corrupted, even if it was generations ago, therefore we should just let it all burn down."

# ¿ Sep 4, 2020 22:18

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Aurora posted:

someday I'll play mgs4

I won't judge you if you don't.

# ¿ Sep 11, 2020 20:28

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Crest/Banner of the Stars was such a good franchise and it's a shame that it never took off in terms of getting more official TLs or more anime. Even the kind of crappy Tokyopop versions still had a lot of the writing shine through, it was a world that just felt so much more well realized than you'd normally get in a light novel (which shouldn't be terribly surprising since IIRC they are considered actual novels rather than LNs).

# ¿ Sep 25, 2020 13:21

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I think it takes a long time to spin up (like, over 20 episodes) but once it actually does it's a ton of fun and has a really strong endgame.

# ¿ Oct 19, 2020 17:05

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

What category does Tonikawa fall under? I got the impression that it wasn't actually CR Original in terms of production despite every episode starting with that label.

# ¿ Nov 7, 2020 01:22

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Anyway, Tonikawa at least is very good.

# ¿ Nov 7, 2020 01:36

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I mean, it's a linear story. You'd adapt the doors in the order they'd appear. The question is more like all other VN adaptions what kind of tone does it set, what kind of pacing does it have to go with in order to make it work in that medium, and does its take on the VN art and aesthetic (which is very distinct) still work and look good in an anime.

# ¿ Nov 14, 2020 15:50

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

100 Girlfriends is a pretty funny harem manga imo

# ¿ Nov 22, 2020 14:14

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

The Colonel posted:

Make sure you get all of the hidden ai-balls or whatever they're called, some of the photos they unlock rule. Uchikoshi is such a dork.

# ¿ Nov 23, 2020 14:34

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

AI: The Somnium Files, character is Aiba aka the best computer shrimp lady partner anyone could ever ask for.

# ¿ Nov 25, 2020 14:13

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

# ¿ Dec 7, 2020 19:31

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I should rewatch Galaxy Angel one of these days...

# ¿ Dec 21, 2020 14:19

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Vincent Van Goatse posted:

I chose the Black Eagles for my first Three Houses game because Aqua and Megumin are there.

They were my first house too and it's been a real struggle to get through Golden Deer in NG+. Most of that is just that repeating Part 1 with basically no changes is a huge slog but at least a part of it is outside of Hilda I think Deer kind of sucks comparatively as a crew lol (Lysethia is an honorary Black Eagle IMO).

# ¿ Jan 19, 2021 14:31

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

FilthyImp posted:

I couldn't sleep the other night and popped on Erased because I just plum forgot to watch it after the first episode made a good impression.

I was done with the series at around 3am.

Really good mystery, but I felt the last two eps kind of threw everything into overdrive. Plus the whole get with the teenager pizza delivery coworker thing was..... ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'd recommend picking up the manga for the last third or so of the story because it really rushes it in the show.

# ¿ Jan 21, 2021 16:43

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Xelkelvos posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bkocwVqu0

Spring has some good stuff coming out too other than Iruma.

The manga for this rules so that is a nice get/surprise.

# ¿ Jan 26, 2021 04:47

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

How unfortunate

# ¿ Jan 28, 2021 15:59

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Vincent Van Goatse posted:

ok so I'm playing through Fire Emblem Three Houses for the first time and so far my biggest problems are running out of bait and whether I should pair Claude with Dorothea or Petra

this game is turning me into Bakarina and I love it

It's a trick question because Female Byleth can hook up with Dorothea.

# ¿ Feb 2, 2021 14:32

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

It was so weird how people built up "they can't make a season 2 of Re:Zero because they skipped these very important 4 minutes added to the end of the Director's Cut!" and then Season 2 opens with it anyway as well.

Anyway I think Re:Zero is far from perfect but it does feel like an attempt at making a fantasy adventure story that is way more than the sum of its parts with an honest attempt at worldbuilding and lore that does feel like it separates from its contemporary competition. When it is in its stride there aren't too many shows I look forward to more week-to-week.

# ¿ Feb 9, 2021 19:07

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

The batch of Gundam fans who take the UC triumvirate of 0079/Zeta/CCA way too seriously and dogmatically in terms of which ones to watch or start with is one of the biggest turnoffs of the franchise honestly.

# ¿ Feb 12, 2021 00:42

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Now that I'm done with Cyber Shadow I need to get back to Omori.....

# ¿ Feb 15, 2021 02:53

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

Dragon Maid was obviously popular esp. as a notable KyoAni project and a part of me gets trying to ignore/compartmentalize it but you really don't need to dig more than a millimeter below the surface on the works of Cool to realize what they're into and how that would almost certainly bleed into their most popular thing at times.

# ¿ Feb 16, 2021 14:42

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

I finished Omori and it was good. Everything is going to be okay.

# ¿ Feb 20, 2021 19:34

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# ¿ May 11, 2024 19:26

Nate RFB: Jan 17, 2005; Clapping Larry

You've earned a respite Chloe, may you perhaps make a return when Ciconia Phase 2 comes out.

# ¿ Feb 21, 2021 04:23

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > VEGETA > Anime Discussion Thread XXIV: silly names is our business, and business is good.