Space dandy: Good or overrated crap?
- Thread starter Zef Otter
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- Feb 7, 2011
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I watched half of season 1 and was fairly unimpressed. Didn't find the humor particularly great, and it bugged me that every episode was completely independent from each other (I mean the guy dies at the end of at least 3 of the first 7 episodes with absolutely no explanation). There were a couple of good episodes in there, like the one with the alien girl who he brings to her grandfather, but those were too few with too much crap in between to keep me interested. I was pretty disappointed because I liked all the other stuff that Watanabe has done, and I'd say that Space Dandy is his most mediocre work.
There's nothing wrong with liking it mind you, I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed the show's sense of humor, but sadly I wasn't one of them, so it did nothing for me.
There's nothing wrong with liking it mind you, I'm sure a lot of people enjoyed the show's sense of humor, but sadly I wasn't one of them, so it did nothing for me.
Along with Kill la Kill, Space Dandy is one of my absolute favourite recent anime.
The sense of humour is right up my alley, the animation is colourful and well done, the music is great, and I love the characters.
The sense of humour is right up my alley, the animation is colourful and well done, the music is great, and I love the characters.
it's both. the absurd incomprehensibility of the show, what with the high scientific concepts and the low concept characters, makes it a mess to watch. on the surface, it's garbage. none of the characters fit together, the relationships between the science and the story and the warring empires are all pointless and trivial as the curtain sets and we no that none of what has happened will matter. the next time the curtain swings back, revealing the same players on the same stage, we'll see the entire show before it even happens. the three idiots inexplicably do something cosmically stupid, it spirals slowly out of control until it reaches this sort of overwrought, underthought cacophony of tone deaf messages blasting against one another to the annoyance of the viewer.
and so we watch it, or we don't watch it. it's message absorbed, we cast it aside like garbage, saying we know it's like and will never know it's kind again.
until one day we find the discarded remnants of something unobserved, a new wrinkle in an old familiar face, and instead of watching and predicting where the story is going, we ask ourselves a question, get really super ripped off our bong, and watch it again, only this time, we're more than watching. we're listening.
The second time we see it, we notice the pattern of cosmic oneness, the unending dance of two warring factions tirelessly pursuing three inconsequential nitwits. The factions know the significance of the three, and we thought that we did, but realizing that what we saw in the three members of the aloha-oi crew isn't necessarily what the Gogol or Jaichro empire saw in them.
What if our conception of the tropes that comprise the whole of the narrative are actually true, we just read it the wrong way. we noticed the typo in a paragraph somewhere, and it got all of our attention. so we ignored the paragraph, which cost us the chapter, where we dismissed the entirety of the tale at the cost of a single, insignificant untruth. an untruth that, for at least a while, anyway, was an absolute truth for you. and now that you're watching it again.
and suddenly you're swept up in the spectacle of the shiny rings and the groovy music, you feel the meth starting to kick in and you start feeling really excited. i mean really excited. like, i've been doing meth for ten years and i haven't been this high since my first time excited. and you don't even know why, but you watch it all, all of space dandy over the course of three sleepless nights because you're tweaking pretty bad and you keep forgetting which episodes go in which order, so you have to keep watching them at random because they didn't make sense in order and then it hits you and you write it down and you finally pass out.
the next morning you wake up, naked, covered in at least one really unpleasant fluid, a single note scrawled in lipstick that you took from the only drawer of your bathroom in your single bedroom cess pool across the fragmented remains of your shattered mirror. You read the words first, but you bandage your hand before you try to internalize them.
and it starts by asking yourself: what the FUCK made me write "Dandy, QT and Mew are protons and electrons?"?
and then the show is garbage again, but at least for two days, it was the greatest ride of your life.
and so we watch it, or we don't watch it. it's message absorbed, we cast it aside like garbage, saying we know it's like and will never know it's kind again.
until one day we find the discarded remnants of something unobserved, a new wrinkle in an old familiar face, and instead of watching and predicting where the story is going, we ask ourselves a question, get really super ripped off our bong, and watch it again, only this time, we're more than watching. we're listening.
The second time we see it, we notice the pattern of cosmic oneness, the unending dance of two warring factions tirelessly pursuing three inconsequential nitwits. The factions know the significance of the three, and we thought that we did, but realizing that what we saw in the three members of the aloha-oi crew isn't necessarily what the Gogol or Jaichro empire saw in them.
What if our conception of the tropes that comprise the whole of the narrative are actually true, we just read it the wrong way. we noticed the typo in a paragraph somewhere, and it got all of our attention. so we ignored the paragraph, which cost us the chapter, where we dismissed the entirety of the tale at the cost of a single, insignificant untruth. an untruth that, for at least a while, anyway, was an absolute truth for you. and now that you're watching it again.
and suddenly you're swept up in the spectacle of the shiny rings and the groovy music, you feel the meth starting to kick in and you start feeling really excited. i mean really excited. like, i've been doing meth for ten years and i haven't been this high since my first time excited. and you don't even know why, but you watch it all, all of space dandy over the course of three sleepless nights because you're tweaking pretty bad and you keep forgetting which episodes go in which order, so you have to keep watching them at random because they didn't make sense in order and then it hits you and you write it down and you finally pass out.
the next morning you wake up, naked, covered in at least one really unpleasant fluid, a single note scrawled in lipstick that you took from the only drawer of your bathroom in your single bedroom cess pool across the fragmented remains of your shattered mirror. You read the words first, but you bandage your hand before you try to internalize them.
and it starts by asking yourself: what the FUCK made me write "Dandy, QT and Mew are protons and electrons?"?
and then the show is garbage again, but at least for two days, it was the greatest ride of your life.
WAY TO NICK A THREAD TITLE YOU JERK
Lol I kid
I've only seen 2 episodes of it but I liked it. It was pretty dandy! I really should watch more of it at some poit I just never got round to it.
Lol I kid
I've only seen 2 episodes of it but I liked it. It was pretty dandy! I really should watch more of it at some poit I just never got round to it.
It's basically Excel Saga in space.
The name Watanabe brings a certain expectation to the table and I reckon Space Dandy isn't going to sit right with a lot of people who are expecting a regular story structure like with Bebop and Shamploo.
What I've seen from it I liked, but I didn't get too far into the show. I like that an episode can go any direction even to the point where the main characters straight-up die or turn into zombies, even the robots.
The name Watanabe brings a certain expectation to the table and I reckon Space Dandy isn't going to sit right with a lot of people who are expecting a regular story structure like with Bebop and Shamploo.
What I've seen from it I liked, but I didn't get too far into the show. I like that an episode can go any direction even to the point where the main characters straight-up die or turn into zombies, even the robots.
Overall I'm not really impress by it.
I only watched it cos it was done by Watanabe and the concept is interesting (Dandy in space!). I find the dyanmic chemistry to the group to be boring, granted they are funny but they don't interested me at all (an incompertant alien hunter who want some ass, a robot vacuum cleaner and a lazy cat alien otaku).
What annoyed me the most is just how each episodes are not related to each other at all since they have been killed a couple of time only to be fine and dandy in the next episode. That's the same reason why I had the reboot The Prisoner miniseries!
Granted they has been a few good episodes like the space noodles, parallel universes and the robot fall in loved but overall it's the least favourite shows I am currently watching (I'm watching several at the moment).
I only watched it cos it was done by Watanabe and the concept is interesting (Dandy in space!). I find the dyanmic chemistry to the group to be boring, granted they are funny but they don't interested me at all (an incompertant alien hunter who want some ass, a robot vacuum cleaner and a lazy cat alien otaku).
What annoyed me the most is just how each episodes are not related to each other at all since they have been killed a couple of time only to be fine and dandy in the next episode. That's the same reason why I had the reboot The Prisoner miniseries!
Granted they has been a few good episodes like the space noodles, parallel universes and the robot fall in loved but overall it's the least favourite shows I am currently watching (I'm watching several at the moment).
Whoa... You just blew my mind, baby! For now on, I will always keep watching this show the same way I've always been watching it since the beginning... which Shinju oh-so kindly pointed out:Brian Bess said:
Casual Shinji said:
OT: Well, I told myself that I would be buying this show on Blu-Ray immediately when it comes out even before the first episode was broadcasted... and that thought process hasn't changed once!
So, yes... The show is "good"... No wait... It's more than good... It's actually quite dandy, baby!
However, is it overrated? I would actually say no, but counter by saying that it's a bit "underrated" because of how bat-shit random it can get, even to the point that apparently some would not give the show the benefit of the doubt after X amount of episodes...
But, what do I know? I fucking love Excel Saga...
Why I love Space Dandy so much is because of two main reasons
#1 The pedigree of the director
Shinichiro Watanabe is my absolute favourite director of anime. With his crowning masterpiece Cowboy Bebop and my personal favourite Slice of Life Kids on the Slope being evidence to that fact. The reason why I love the guy so much is mainly his use of atmosphere in a lot of his works. With Space Dandy taking all kinds of different styles in each episode and as a result you get a different kind of feel to each one. One episode can be bouts of complete insanity while another can be a sombre affair with others being very psychedelic, and even the ones that are aren't as good still stick in your mind due to the events and how colourful it is.
#2 The relentless imagination present in each episode
The sheer amount of creativity that is present in the show is another reason why I love the series. From the variety of the vehicles, alien designs, settings, planets. With a sci-fi setting and the leash being being let off for the creators, the places that they could go to and the creative potential for stories (like the entirety of space) is limitless. From a war between two factions that disagree on undergarments, A Wacky Racers inspired episode and a really sweet episode concerning an alien girl and finding her grandfather.
In conclusion, yes Space Dandy is very well deserving of its popularity in the anime public eye and anyone who hasn't seen the show should do so immediately. The humour might not be for everyone and admittedly an episode or two does fall flat at times but the sheer fun and imagination that is present in each and every episode is reason enough for anyone to pick this show up and watch it
#1 The pedigree of the director
Shinichiro Watanabe is my absolute favourite director of anime. With his crowning masterpiece Cowboy Bebop and my personal favourite Slice of Life Kids on the Slope being evidence to that fact. The reason why I love the guy so much is mainly his use of atmosphere in a lot of his works. With Space Dandy taking all kinds of different styles in each episode and as a result you get a different kind of feel to each one. One episode can be bouts of complete insanity while another can be a sombre affair with others being very psychedelic, and even the ones that are aren't as good still stick in your mind due to the events and how colourful it is.
#2 The relentless imagination present in each episode
The sheer amount of creativity that is present in the show is another reason why I love the series. From the variety of the vehicles, alien designs, settings, planets. With a sci-fi setting and the leash being being let off for the creators, the places that they could go to and the creative potential for stories (like the entirety of space) is limitless. From a war between two factions that disagree on undergarments, A Wacky Racers inspired episode and a really sweet episode concerning an alien girl and finding her grandfather.
In conclusion, yes Space Dandy is very well deserving of its popularity in the anime public eye and anyone who hasn't seen the show should do so immediately. The humour might not be for everyone and admittedly an episode or two does fall flat at times but the sheer fun and imagination that is present in each and every episode is reason enough for anyone to pick this show up and watch it
I like it. Nice art style, weird humor, and a disconnected episode stream meaning you can miss an ep, and still be caught up by the time you catch it again.
Also, BOOBIES!!
Also, BOOBIES!!
I gave it a shot, but found the characters both uninteresting and boring. The animation was pretty, but the fact that each episode was more or less independent of the next, made me not care about anything that happened at all. The stories didn't grab me and I really didn't connect with the humor. I mostly just wanted to reach through my television and strangle everyone.
I guess I'm not the target audience. <_<
I guess I'm not the target audience. <_<
Watch the Chameleonian episode of Space Dandy (Episode 12) and try and tell me that episode isn't genius.
I love it. The tone for each episode never strays, it's western style format for episodes justifys it's unique and wacky antics, the English Dub is incredible, the dialogue is a ton of fun, and the animation... literally and orgasm of color and flare, I can never get tired of it.
Truly an animator's wet dream.
Best way to go about this show is to just go with the flow, cause that's the Dandy way.
I love it. The tone for each episode never strays, it's western style format for episodes justifys it's unique and wacky antics, the English Dub is incredible, the dialogue is a ton of fun, and the animation... literally and orgasm of color and flare, I can never get tired of it.
Truly an animator's wet dream.
Best way to go about this show is to just go with the flow, cause that's the Dandy way.
I love it to pieces, it's practically one of the only anime I can stomach (mainly Watanabe's works if I'm honest).
I love the way he pretty much gave the middle finger to all the die hard fans who wanted bebop2, electric boogaloo and did his own thing.
It's crazy, nonsensical, colourful, whimsical and utterly space-operatic, but with the focus on some bumbling fools.
Harry Flashman in space!
I can understand why some people would dislike it, the humour can veer into crude and the nonsensical plot/ no actual continuity (though given the hints so far, that could be a major theme of it) and people deriding it as dumb I think are missing something(I mean, that plant episode and the weird time-space one had some very dark subtext), or I'm just looking too hard into it. It's so unlike any 'normal' anime that's come before it (in some ways, others it's fairly standard) and the voice acting and animation are sublime.
This may be looking far too deeply into it, but I honestly think (considering the directors pedigree) that the entire thing is just one huge commentary on anime culture and ~philosophy~ in general, given the continuing themes of possibility, meaning and personal philosophies that seem to pop up.
Also, like Bebop and Champloo the idea of hunger and people needing food is pretty prevalent, which always pleases me as some pieces of media just tend to gloss over the whole 'sustenance' part of life.
I love the way he pretty much gave the middle finger to all the die hard fans who wanted bebop2, electric boogaloo and did his own thing.
It's crazy, nonsensical, colourful, whimsical and utterly space-operatic, but with the focus on some bumbling fools.
Harry Flashman in space!
I can understand why some people would dislike it, the humour can veer into crude and the nonsensical plot/ no actual continuity (though given the hints so far, that could be a major theme of it) and people deriding it as dumb I think are missing something(I mean, that plant episode and the weird time-space one had some very dark subtext), or I'm just looking too hard into it. It's so unlike any 'normal' anime that's come before it (in some ways, others it's fairly standard) and the voice acting and animation are sublime.
This may be looking far too deeply into it, but I honestly think (considering the directors pedigree) that the entire thing is just one huge commentary on anime culture and ~philosophy~ in general, given the continuing themes of possibility, meaning and personal philosophies that seem to pop up.
Also, like Bebop and Champloo the idea of hunger and people needing food is pretty prevalent, which always pleases me as some pieces of media just tend to gloss over the whole 'sustenance' part of life.
The animation and creative design are enough to take a tour of that there show. I kind of feel that it is not always super organic in it delivery but it does grow on you and when it shines its just amazing.
It is a free form, creative exercise, art house, animators-and-screen-writers-fucking-around kinda show. Having a solid opinion seems futile.
That being said, I do love the show, even if the stylistic venture they decide to indulge in that week isn't really hooking me. It's got a real creative soul and heart and mind in it, I wanna see what they decide to do the following week.
I really liked the recent fish episode too. That really good mix of artistic indulgence (holy shit those water colors) and it had a solid plot behind all the crazy too.
That being said, I do love the show, even if the stylistic venture they decide to indulge in that week isn't really hooking me. It's got a real creative soul and heart and mind in it, I wanna see what they decide to do the following week.
I really liked the recent fish episode too. That really good mix of artistic indulgence (holy shit those water colors) and it had a solid plot behind all the crazy too.
