Anime again... - by scumble
scumble on 11/10/2014 at 08:35
The Ghost in the Shell film turned out to be pretty good. I'm remembering why Anime was interesting the last time - with science fiction there tends to be more depth in the story than your average western series. At least when I get into it I find there is more time given to characters expressing themselves and less feeling of being pressured into being entertained by action and a push forward.
I might be talking rubbish and it's just a cultural thing, but chinese film also gives more time to pausing on details or visually absorbing shots. Also Gurren Lagann has a fairly fast pace so it may just be the way Ghost in the Shell is written...
icemann on 11/10/2014 at 11:15
Quote Posted by Thor
Rurouni Kenshin I watched the first 7 episodes or so and looked like a very 90s children cartoon. Pretty cool, really.
I'd highly recommend watching the first of the OVA's for the show entitled "Trust and Betrayal". Gives a detailed look into what made Kenshin who he is, and why he took the path he did. Plus you discover how he got the cross shaped scar. Excellent anime movie on the overall whole.
driver on 12/10/2014 at 00:28
Quote Posted by scumble
The
Ghost in the Shell film turned out to be pretty good.
I don't want to be one of those insufferable bores that trots out the 'The book is way better than the film' lines, but, well... it just
is. If you enjoyed the film you should really pick up the manga. The film cuts out 90% of the story and 95% of the characters, those that do make it in are pretty flat and lifeless compared to what's in the book, Batou and the Major especially.
Yakoob on 12/10/2014 at 00:52
Not kid-friendly, but speaking of GITS, I saw the first 3 episodes of Psycho-Pass which was quite interesting. While suffering from the typical anime tropes, it shows an interesting (and in parts scarily believable) portrayal of future society where psychonalysis as means of control and public safekeeping get out of control. It's a bit like Minority Report, but more plausible/scientifically based. Lots of good ideas and themes.
scumble on 12/10/2014 at 21:48
I've got a series of Naruto to see if that works for the kids...
I came across Space Dandy while looking at Anime News Network. I'm finding it pretty amusing - although Japanese boob humour still seems slightly over the top. On the other hand it might just be honest. It's silly but also vaguely satirical.
demagogue on 16/10/2014 at 14:25
For over-the-top boob and ass humor there's also Crayon Shinchan about a potty mouth little brat, Ping Pong Club about exactly that, and Urusei Yatsura about an attractive alien visitor.
Anyway this would be one of my Japanese friend's favorite genre, and these are her top picks. The humor grows on you in my experience. Anyway, what a culture finds funny is probably the best window into how the people think.
Sulphur on 16/10/2014 at 18:31
If you liked Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, there's a good chance you'll like Darker than Black. Season 1, anyway. But it's definitely not for kids, and I wouldn't put Bebop or Champloo in that bracket either, considering the violence and mature themes that those two are shot through with.
Also, Mushishi is a series more people should watch. It's fairly sedate, but disturbing, yet heartwarming, because for all the weird supernatural micro-organismal ecologies it ostensibly revolves around, it's really about a wonderful set of character stories and meditations on family life. There's a season 2 that's out this year, only 10 years after the original, and by all accounts it's just as good as the first season. Something for a relaxing weekend sometime.
icemann on 16/10/2014 at 22:39
Some more recommendations:
* Arc The Lad - Based on game 2 in the rpg video game series.
* .hack//Roots - This goes hand in hand the with the video game series ".hack GU" on the playstation 2. Excellent stuff.
* Devil May Cry, the anime which ran for only 1 season (as far as I know) was very good. Voiced by the same guy who did the voice work for Dante in the video games.
Not exactly anime, but two non-anime cartoons I'd recommend:
* Gargoyles - Best Disney cartoon I've ever watched. Was obsessed with this when I was a kid. Quite serious in tone the majority of the time.
* Spawn - Very bloody and gory, but quite excellent. Quite a good story overall.
Tony_Tarantula on 17/10/2014 at 01:54
Quote Posted by driver
I don't want to be one of those insufferable bores that trots out the 'The book is way better than the film' lines, but, well... it just
is. If you enjoyed the film you should really pick up the manga. The film cuts out 90% of the story and 95% of the characters, those that do make it in are pretty flat and lifeless compared to what's in the book, Batou and the Major especially.
But where the hell are you supposed to find it nowadays?
DarkForge on 17/10/2014 at 07:20
I wasn't going to mention it because it would definitely not be kid friendly, but since other people have already gone outside that pre-requisite... the new anime version of Garo started up just this month - "Hono no Koukin" or "The Carved Seal of Flames."
I haven't seen any of it yet but if it's anything like the live-action shows, I'd always recommend a bit of Garo to anybody whether they care to listen or not!
