The last thing we watched, cartoon/animu edition

[Kyrian007]

Wow, 2 shows in the thread I'm watching right now.

I just rewatched A Certain Scientific Railgun Season 2. It still holds up and is pretty good and handles clones pretty well. Started on Season 3... its... too early to really tell, it kinda starts off annoying with school competition bullshit but its started getting into things so we shall see.

I'm just a little ways ahead of you. I'm not as impressed as I was with Railgun S, but it's not bad, its fine. I'm past the mid-season arc and there have been a few pretty good bits and episodes. There are a couple of pretty tropey episodes after the end of the mid-season arc, but the comedy is a nice contrast after the end of arc battle. Right now I'm just past those episodes, guessing I'll be watching the start of the season ending arc. I was surprised by (not spoiling) the actual final blow of the mid-season battle, it wasn't something I was expecting to see until Railgun caught up with Index's season 3 timeline.

Part 2:

Spoiler: Tenchi OVA

Rewatching some old anime. Saw Tenchi Muyo OVA Season 1. It's great looking back at older anime. A good first season and laying the groundwork for the Tenchi franchise. I still consider it the best harem series in anime. Also, the original Tenchi had the best animation, aside from some of the movies. Tenchi Univese for me is still the best of the franchise. TU is a retelling of the original OVA, but with a complete story and new added characters. That said, there are things that the OVA has that universe has. Better villain (no one has yet topped the original Kagato), better animation (for the first season anyway), and the best anime opening of the franchise. I am working my way through OVA 2, and there is a drop in quality that is noticable. The 2nd season is still good, but not as good as the first. OVA 3 we do not talk about, OVA 4 never made is stateside, and OVA 5 is being made, but I stopped caring for the original OVA continuity since the 3rd. They can stop with the spin-offs and continuations, because they milked this franchise beyond dry. At least Universe contiunity had an definitive ending. Either with the last episode or the movie, Tenchi Forever.

The dubbing holds up well with a few misfires of the script. Otherwise, good job and give them some leeway. This was when anime shows were finally getting better dubs.

I never did like Universe compared to the Tenchi OVA's, but I only watched Universe once right after seeing the OVA 1 and 2 so maybe I'll give them another shot sometime. Right now I'm re-watching War on Geminar. I enjoy Geminar when compared to GXP, the other spinoff. But I forgot that the tropey part that is the stereotypical "hot springs episode" in Geminar is episodes 2-7 and the war doesn't really pick up until the second half of the series. Still, some decent laughs there before we get back to the Tenchi + mecha action. I still want to see a season 2 of Geminar, maybe then we could see Kenshi confront something or someone that could conceivably defeat him. He's been pretty OP so far. Although being the half brother of a god will do that.

 

[Worgen]

I'm just a little ways ahead of you. I'm not as impressed as I was with Railgun S, but it's not bad, its fine. I'm past the mid-season arc and there have been a few pretty good bits and episodes. There are a couple of pretty tropey episodes after the end of the mid-season arc, but the comedy is a nice contrast after the end of arc battle. Right now I'm just past those episodes, guessing I'll be watching the start of the season ending arc. I was surprised by (not spoiling) the actual final blow of the mid-season battle, it wasn't something I was expecting to see until Railgun caught up with Index's season 3 timeline.

I never got into Index. Probably because it has standard protagonist guy, who does show up in Railgun and its kinda annoying when he does there too. You know, the dude who takes powers away when he touches someone, he bugs me.

 

[BrawlMan]

I never did like Universe compared to the Tenchi OVA's, but I only watched Universe once right after seeing the OVA 1 and 2 so maybe I'll give them another shot sometime. Right now I'm re-watching War on Geminar. I enjoy Geminar when compared to GXP, the other spinoff. But I forgot that the tropey part that is the stereotypical "hot springs episode" in Geminar is episodes 2-7 and the war doesn't really pick up until the second half of the series. Still, some decent laughs there before we get back to the Tenchi + mecha action. I still want to see a season 2 of Geminar, maybe then we could see Kenshi confront something or someone that could conceivably defeat him. He's been pretty OP so far. Although being the half brother of a god will do that.

I highly recommend you give Tenchi Universe another watch and then go for the movies. You can skip Daughter of Darkness though. GXP and Geminar I never bothered with, because they just didn't look that interesting. it was basically more the same crap but less interesting characters.

 

[Kyrian007]

I never got into Index. Probably because it has standard protagonist guy, who does show up in Railgun and its kinda annoying when he does there too. You know, the dude who takes powers away when he touches someone, he bugs me.

Yeah, Touma is very standard anime guy. And Index has very seriously lost steam in seasons 2 and 3, the largest problem is too many characters. Every time a bad guy goes down we get another backstory and half the time they become an ongoing good guy, like they do with Accelerator. Season 2 has a whole Accelerator mini arc with the focus on him and only occasionally checking in with Touma and Index, which surprises me considering they gave him a spinoff too. And season 3 has some decent moments, but not enough strung together to make any whole episode very good. I stick with it because of his Imagine Breaker power though. There's something more there I want to see what they are going to do with.

I highly recommend you give Tenchi Universe another watch and then go for the movies. You can skip Daughter of Darkness though. GXP and Geminar I never bothered with, because they just didn't look that interesting. it was basically more the same crap but less interesting characters.

Other than a couple of cool moments GXP is just Tenchi in space, but the main character Seina is just kind of inverse Tenchi. Rather than just being the best and most powerful, but reluctant to use that power, Seina is by contrast just an ordinary nobody with awful (but contagious) bad luck. Its like they made a story focused on the character who should be just the comedy sidekick. Interesting idea but they didn't do too much with it. Decent enough for fans of the OVA who want to know more about some of the tertiary characters. Geminar is a better idea. Kenshi is Tenchi except instead of phenomenal cosmic power, he's just hyper efficient and somehow has Jurian body enhancement (or more likely something similar that Washu did to him.) But the world itself is interesting, with an "ocean" of breathable limitless source of energy below a certain altitude and giant mechas that the whole society has formed around. It has a lot of potential, but is a lot of worldbuilding and setup with as of yet very little payoff.

 

[BrawlMan]

Yeah, Touma is very standard anime guy. And Index has very seriously lost steam in seasons 2 and 3, the largest problem is too many characters. Every time a bad guy goes down we get another backstory and half the time they become an ongoing good guy, like they do with Accelerator. Season 2 has a whole Accelerator mini arc with the focus on him and only occasionally checking in with Touma and Index, which surprises me considering they gave him a spinoff too. And season 3 has some decent moments, but not enough strung together to make any whole episode very good. I stick with it because of his Imagine Breaker power though. There's something more there I want to see what they are going to do with.

Other than a couple of cool moments GXP is just Tenchi in space, but the main character Seina is just kind of inverse Tenchi. Rather than just being the best and most powerful, but reluctant to use that power, Seina is by contrast just an ordinary nobody with awful (but contagious) bad luck. Its like they made a story focused on the character who should be just the comedy sidekick. Interesting idea but they didn't do too much with it. Decent enough for fans of the OVA who want to know more about some of the tertiary characters. Geminar is a better idea. Kenshi is Tenchi except instead of phenomenal cosmic power, he's just hyper efficient and somehow has Jurian body enhancement (or more likely something similar that Washu did to him.) But the world itself is interesting, with an "ocean" of breathable limitless source of energy below a certain altitude and giant mechas that the whole society has formed around. It has a lot of potential, but is a lot of worldbuilding and setup with as of yet very little payoff.

More or less why I did not get invested. I might as well started watching El Hazard again. That was a better Tenchi show by comparison to GXP and Geminar. Like I said before, by the time either shows came out, I was done with Tenchi. I would still watch the old stuff, newer stuff was running the property in the ground or not doing much with new ideas. Bennett's feelings most of my own, though I don't have that much hatred for Tenchi in Tokyo.

​

 

[BrawlMan]

Gunsmith Cats (OVA) - Decided to re-watch again after not seeing it a while. Awesome ova, and one of ADV's better dubs. I find this adaption better than the manga. More so the sequel to the manga called GC: Burst. A lot of fans hate that one and like to pretend it does not exist. I cannot blame them. The 3 episode ova is about two bounty hunters in 1996 Chicago: Rally Vincent and "Minnie" May Hopkins. They are to gals that run a gun shop when not on the job. They get forced in to stopping a gun running operation, because an ATF agent got dirt on them for not having proper licenses for owning guns and explosives. They get involved, and shit unravels in to a bigger conspiracy. I won't spoil more than that. GC is one of the good action/comedy anime that made it Westward thankfully. I did not see it until online barely in college. I bought a copy of the DVD used on Amazon in mint condition in 2014. I just love the attention to detail in the environments and how the characters interact with them. The weapons especially get all the heavy details and accuracy. Konichi Sonada loves drawing guns just as much as he loves drawing women. It's good to have two bad ass babes be leads in anime; especially when done right. There is some minor fan service, but it is nowhere near as abrasive as it was in the original manga, thankfully. I am glad they heavily toned it down. The OVA's got an killer soundtrack from Peter Erskin (the guy who did jazz music for the weather channel). One of my favorite intros. Please watch this if you have not already.

​

 

[SckizoBoy]

So naturally the first show I watched was Heaven's Design Team. A real "turn your brain off and learn about animals" affair.

It's been a fun show so far, though I had to turn the subs off because they changed the cast names (all the staff names were changed to planets in ep4 which bugged me quite inordinately). I understand those are the translated manga names, but it's a micro-aggression for me nonetheless.

Other than that, I'm watching Toutotsu ni Egypt Kami (an ONA-type series about ancient Egyptian gods in their animal forms getting up to various hijinks, it's another "turn your brain off and enjoy" sort of show) and have a bunch of other series on backlog to watch.

 

[Kyrian007]

More or less why I did not get invested. I might as well started watching El Hazard again. That was a better Tenchi show by comparison to GXP and Geminar. Like I said before, by the time either shows came out, I was done with Tenchi.

That's more or less the inverse of the problem I had with Universe. I had just watched the ova and then moving on to Universe felt like watching the "wrong" version. I was constantly thinking "that's not what (x) would do or say," "why did they make (x) such a ___, that's not who they are." It was an uncomfortable uncanny valley feeling, like watching the actors from a show I like in a completely different sitcom that's noticeably less well written. But for whatever reason the characters they play have the same names they do in the better show, but their personalities are all switched around. Not saying universe is less well written, just trying to describe how it felt when I did watch it. Or maybe I just prefer GXP and Geminar because at least they are in the main canon and that puts them one step further away from Ai and Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, neither of which I could watch more than a couple of episodes of. Which is a mercy in Ai's case, giving up after 2 episodes only took 8 minutes.

 

[BrawlMan]

That's more or less the inverse of the problem I had with Universe. I had just watched the ova and then moving on to Universe felt like watching the "wrong" version. I was constantly thinking "that's not what (x) would do or say," "why did they make (x) such a ___, that's not who they are." It was an uncomfortable uncanny valley feeling, like watching the actors from a show I like in a completely different sitcom that's noticeably less well written. But for whatever reason the characters they play have the same names they do in the better show, but their personalities are all switched around. Not saying universe is less well written, just trying to describe how it felt when I did watch it.

It's why it's an AU. While Universe has some problems and either makes the characters bigger jerks (Ryoko and Ayeka) or dumber (Mihoshi), they at least develop and more or less end up being similar to their OVA selves. The In Love movies pretty much have them how they were in the OVA, though Misohi is still dumber than her OVA counterpart. But if you thought it was bad in Universe, character derailment is so much worse in Tench in Tokyo. Everyone, including characters like Kiyone and Sasami, become jackasses or bigger jackasses, and Mihoshi got even dumber. Though I appreciate the Toyko series not turning Tenchi in to a complete doormat. The In Love movies kinda solved the doormat issue too, though that was the point; especially with the 2nd In Love movie.

 

[gorfias]

Had some fun with "Hush" on HBO Max. Took a lot of suspension of disbelief.

Spoiler

Batman should not survive a fall off a skyscraper with just a head wound. The Lazarus Pit doesn't work like that, at least in its original incarnation and more

Worth a watch.

 

[happyninja42]

I watched Moana again (or Vaiana if you live in Europe where there's apparently some pornstar called Moana, so Disney changed it for that region) and I liked it a lot more than I did the first time.

Yeah there is one scene in that film, that I wish went down a different direction than they did. I enjoyed the film a lot, but for the song "We Know the Way", they teased me SO hard with what I was expecting them to do, based on the setup, but then they went a different direction. Which, I mean the direction was fine, but, in my head for this scene....


Now, I love that sequence, it's really good. What I was hoping to see though, was an extended drum call/return performance. With Moana performing one of her people's drum rituals, you know, the kind of thing she was raised to know and respect, as a leader of her people. And to have the cave echo it back to her. And have it actually visually represent the "awakening of the ancestor spirits" that they imply with that shot. I mean they have magical spirit manta ray's, and nature spirits, why not have the actual ancestor spirits show up, in response to her drum call. And just have an extended sequence of Moana going through a whole drum routine, while the cave comes alive around her, with torches, and spirits re-enacting the sequences we see in the song itself. She still learns the same information, by the obvious ships around her, the paintings depicting them sailing, all that. But...well I fully admit I am a sucker for powerful tribal drums. And I just find the imagery of this young girl, alone, in a giant cave, hammering away on the drums of her ancestors, while she literally summons them to her aid, and they respond, by making even more bad ass drum performances in time with her. It all echoing in the caves, that's....yeah that shit is just storytelling crack to me.

But, no, we got a cutaway to her people sailing, and a disney approved musical number. Which again...it's fine, but it could've been something really awesome.

 

[Gordon_4]

Gunsmith Cats (OVA) - Decided to re-watch again after not seeing it a while. Awesome ova, and one of ADV's better dubs. I find this adaption better than the manga. More so the sequel to the manga called GC: Burst. A lot of fans hate that one and like to pretend it does not exist. I cannot blame them. The 3 episode ova is about two bounty hunters in 1996 Chicago: Rally Vincent and "Minnie" May Hopkins. They are to gals that run a gun shop when not on the job. They get forced in to stopping a gun running operation going, because an AFT agent got dirt on them for not having proper licenses for owning guns and explosives. They get involved and shit unravels in to a bigger conspiracy. I won't spoil more than that. GC is one of the good action/comedy anime that made it Westward thankfully. I did not see it until online barely in college. I bought a copy of the DVD used on Amazon in mint condition in 2014. I just love the attention to detail in the environments and how the characters interact with them. The weapons especially get all the heavy details and accuracy. Konichi Sonada loves drawing guns just as much as he loves drawing women. It's good to have two bad ass babes be leads in anime; especially when done right. There is some minor fan service, but it is nowhere near close or abrasiveness as it was in the original manga thankfully. I am glad they heavily toned it down. The OVA's got an killer soundtrack from Peter Erskin (the guy who did jazz music for the weather channel). One of my favorite intros. Please watch this if you have not already.

​

I could never tell which was drawn more sexily or erotically reverent: Rally Vincent or that Shelby Mustang GT500 she drives. Honestly it could go either way.

 

[BrawlMan]

More of my old anime posts.

Wicked City, Yoshiaki Kawajiri breakout hit. First time I've ever sat down and watched the film. The movie is not as bad as Bennett made it out to be in his original review. The film is not perfect, but it's got style, atmosphere, and gore. And some good ol' dose of nightmare fuel for an action-horror film. This movie is not for the faint of heart. Plot is that there is the human and the demon world, and conflict between the two. Despite that, there are those on both sides that want peace, but radicals from the demon side that do not want it. In comes Taki, a Black Guard assigned to protect a client who is forming a peace treaty, and is partnered with Makie, a Black Guard from the demon world. I won't saying anything else not to spoil it, but the guy they're supposed to "protect", can be an annoying ass. The film does give clues and hints with what is going on, but it does not make him any less annoying. It's the perverted old man cliche. He is not the worst of this trope, but Roshi and Jiraya would both tell the old fool to turn it down or have some small form of dignity. Overall, I do recommend, but with caution. This is old-school, ultra-violent, 80s schlock anime. Peace out.

Goku: Midnight Eye. An entertaining, schlocky, male-power fantasy that takes place in the far off future.......of 2014! Can you tell it's an anime from the 80s?! This two episode OVA is based off a manga that ran for two years.The manga was created by Buchi Terasawa (Space Adventure Cobra), while Yoshiaki Kawajiri directed the anime adaption. The same guy who did Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, Ninja Scroll, and Cyber City. Remember the film Upgrade? Think of it as that, but way over-the-top and full of anime cheese. The title character named Goku, gets a computer in his left eye after an assassination attempt. How he gets, who does the operation/rescue for him, or why is never explained or found out in the OVA. Apparently, the manga answers those questions. Honestly, it does not bother me in the slightest, because this OVA is so goddamned silly by playing it straight. He can basically hack in to any computer, vehicle, or security, because everything is hooked online. I don't know what else to say, except that if you want an hour and forty minutes of entertainment, you got it. I let Bennett described the rest.

​

 

[Thaluikhain]

The Dragonlance animated film. They put loads too much stuff in a way too short movie (despite omitting some stuff), but it's not bad for a low budget 80's film. Unfortunately, it turns out to be made in 2008, almost exactly halfway between the last LotR and the first Hobbit film. It wants to be LotR (or perhaps the book it was bassed on did), it's really not doing a good job at it.

Got some names in it (and people who were names way back 13 years ago), but really needed a lot bigger budget and running time.

 

[Worgen]

Finished watching A Certain Scientific Railgun season 3. Started off kinda rocky but then it got quite good and stayed that way even with an ending arc that started babling about souls.
Started watching a Certain Scientific Accelerator. Its ok, there is a necromancer who is who is such a generic anime damsel, although it looks like she finally got pissed and is going to do something. But up till then shes one of those anime girls who is so passive and needy and useless. Which is really annoying since shes also a necromancer and it seems like they aren't really doing much with that despite it being a major plot point. The only thing that stands out from her being a generic damsel is her literally not caring about being naked in front of others.

 

[Marter]

I've pretty much only been watching anime for the past year and a half (in case you care). The last one I finished was Assassination Classroom, which I absolutely adored. Hilarious first season, surprisingly emotional second season. Great all around.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I've pretty much only been watching anime for the past year and a half (in case you care). The last one I finished was Assassination Classroom, which I absolutely adored. Hilarious first season, surprisingly emotional second season. Great all around.

Yeah, I think I only watched the first season. That was weird, but watchable.

Also, really liked the song in the end credits. "Hello shooting star, hello shooting star again"...not seeing what I had to do with the show, though.

 

[BrawlMan]

The weird thing is though, Disney+ has X-Men: Days of Future Past, which drops the F-bomb, and it's uncensored. Plus, they got that Star addition now that has adult content, like Alien and Deadpool. There's some things about Adventures in Babysitting that I can understand they edited out, like the gay bashing and the rape joke. But just regular swears like 'asshole' are now awkwardly changed to 'airhead'.

It begins....

​

 

[Casual Shinji]

It begins....

​

Yeah, but this is just them putting a parental lock on those movies right? Like, you can still watch them, but they're not under children's content anymore? Unless I misheard. Because if this is the case I'm fine with it.

 

[BrawlMan]

Yeah, but this is just them putting a parental lock on those movies right? Like, you can still watch them, but they're not under children's content anymore? Unless I misheard. Because if this is the case I'm fine with it.

The main thing that irks me is that all of these movies you can still find on the shelf at a Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart and a kids could still buy them since they're rated "G" or "PG". No store gonna stop kid from buying a kids film. I see as them sorta pointlessly hiding something for no other reason, when a label warning would have been fine enough. It's what WB does with their cartoons. Show some fucking acknowledgement for your past. Quit hiding and denying for the sake of your fucking money tree. Pretending to look and be all innocent.

​

I may not like Drawn Together as much as I used to back in my teens, but they had a huge point here in this clip.

​