What anime are you watching?

[GeneD]

So apparently I haven't watched any anime since last year September, which is very sad. I finally got back into it with Samurai Champloo. I am 6 episodes in, currently really enjoying it and very glad I picked it.

[Atria35]

Heroman 6-10- Well, I'm enjoying this more than before, but it's really for people who like superheros or super robot shows. I've never really been fond of either, with rare exceptions.

[GeneD]

I watched 2 more episodes of Samurai Champloo yesterday. Beatboxing samurai is the best samurai. XD

[Juliannesan]

Stopped watching DRRR! after listening to a message this Sunday about being careful of what we let seep into our hearts. DRRR! whilst it isn't the worst in say violence, it still has a lot of language and other things that prohibit me from finishing it.

That being said, I did watch some more of Moribito:The Guardian of the Spirit I'm on to episode 23. Reallyreally getting interesting, I can't wait to see how it ends!

Rewatched Princess Tutu, also. Lovelove that show, it's just so fantastic!

Watched some more Toradora! and Shugo Chara! Good progression in both.

[rocklobster]

Started my first new anime of the year: The World God Only Knows, Season 1

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

I watched 2 more episodes of Samurai Champloo yesterday. Beatboxing samurai is the best samurai. XD

Mugen is the best mirite?

[MomentOfInertia]

Finished Giant Robo last night. Great show, its a shame they didn't get to go onto another season.

[AngelicTotoro]

Finished Spice and Wolf II -

Wasn't quite as great as the first season, but it was still amazingly good. (It would have been better if the pacing hadn't been as slow.)
I rather liked how things turned out, also, I really was pleased to see how far Lawrence's character had developed.
[spoiler]He discovered that he had something more important then making a profit; Holo. ^_^ While that kiss in the end wasn't as deep as I'd wanted, a kiss is a kiss, and in anime thats most definitely something to be happy about.[/spoiler]
And of course Holo was still as fantastic and cunning as before.
I didn't like the opening theme as much as the first season, but on the other hand, I liked the second ending theme more.
The rest of the OST was mostly the same as season 1. (Which is a good thing, I don't think having a completely different soundtrack would have worked out so well.)
I was a little disappointed that the ending was so open though,
[spoiler]When is Holo going to get to her home town? And more importantly, what will happen between her and Lawrence once they get there?[/spoiler]
Season 3, I await thee! (Of course I doubt you'll come to pass.)
9/10.

I also watched (& forced myself to finish watching), Tales from Earth Sea -
Now as much as a shock this may be to those who know better, I had actually believed that this movie wasn't going to be as bad as the countless reviews said. (I mean, it's Studio Ghibli! I've loved every single film I've seen by them!) Sadly, it was. In fact, half way through the movie I wanted to turn it off, but I had to know how it ended so I forced myself to stay put. (It was sooo hard. I tried to like it, I tried giving it a chance, I just couldn't take it! )
The ending redeemed Arren a little... only then to have me shout at the screen,
"Why wasn't he like this the entire movie!?" D<
The plot was a mess, the characters hardly devoloped, I hated that fat woman... What's her name? Ugh, who cares, all I know is her dub voice annoyed the crap out of me.
And just who was the main character? That was never made clear. It was supposed to be about Arren, but in fact stupid ole' SparrowHawk got all the good lines and most of the focus; so why didn't they just call it 'The legend of SparrowHawk'. The dialogue, (as sparce as it was.) was extremely confusing sometimes. And in the end, there were no real answers to any of my questions.
[spoiler]Why did Therru turn into a dragon? How did Arren lose his 'light' half or whatever, why did that mean he had to kill his father? The land where this took place seemed kinda awesome and yet there was nothing really said about it. I am ****, that Goro got to take stuff from 'The Journey of Shuna' a fantastic short manga by his father, Hayao and ruin it. (I was really hoping that 'Shuna' would be made into a movie. ) The romance between the two leads was also boring and badly played out. (Which is an another shocker, considering how much I love any hint of romance in anything. ) The overly dark, rather needless villian, made me feel uncomfortable since I wasn't sure why he needed to be so evil or even there in the first place. [/spoiler]
Oh yeah and how come... [spoiler]The movie poster looks epic, with a cool town and dragons and stuff so I when those things did not happen I was all like, "Hey! Where's my cool sword fights, dragons and ancient town!?" I can't believe they were on that stupid farm for like half the movie! And again, there was hardly any dialogue, if you compare it to any other Studio Ghibli film, you'll notice, (That aside from said 'other film' being way better), there is also much more talking! ><[/spoiler] Very misleading. =/
I really, really hope and pray that Goro Miyazaki gets it together and figures out how to direct, write and tell a story as wonderfully, (Okay maybe not as, but pretty close to) as his father, Hayao Miyazaki. Otherwise I feel that Studio Ghibli needs to find another guy to be their lead director or be doomed to make mediocre, semi-crappy films forever! D: (NOOOO! ;__; )

5/10.
(This is probably the most unkind review I've ever done... and I did it to a Studio Ghibli movie! *sob!* )

[Atria35]

[quote="AngelicTotoro (post: 1526551)"]I really, really hope and pray that Goro Miyazaki gets it together and figures out how to direct, write and tell a story as wonderfully, (Okay maybe not as, but pretty close to) as his father, Hayao Miyazaki. Otherwise I feel that Studio Ghibli needs to find another guy to be their lead director or be doomed to make mediocre, semi-crappy films forever! D: (NOOOO! ]
ust
Well, From Up On Poppy Hill was released by Ghibli just this last summer, so I'm sure we'll be getting subs soon enough to tell how much Goro has advanced. Ghibli does have a second director that's done about as many Ghibli movies as Hayao, and he does them brilliantly, so perhaps not all is lost if Goro still doesn't quite have it.

Birdy the Mighty: Decode 1-2- It's a re-watch, and it's as good as I remember it being.

[Falx]

Finished Spice and Wolf II -

Wasn't quite as great as the first season, but it was still amazingly good. (It would have been better if the pacing hadn't been as slow.)
I rather liked how things turned out, also, I really was pleased to see how far Lawrence's character had developed.
[spoiler]He discovered that he had something more important then making a profit]
And of course Holo was still as fantastic and cunning as before.
I didn't like the opening theme as much as the first season, but on the other hand, I liked the second ending theme more.
The rest of the OST was mostly the same as season 1. (Which is a good thing, I don't think having a completely different soundtrack would have worked out so well.)
I was a little disappointed that the ending was so open though,
[spoiler]When is Holo going to get to her home town? And more importantly, what will happen between her and Lawrence once they get there?[/spoiler]
Season 3, I await thee! (Of course I doubt you'll come to pass.)
9/10.

It is unlikely, but the novel series did end a few months ago. Check the spoiler if you want to know how it ends:

[spoiler]Babies ever after[/spoiler]

[TheSubtleDoctor]

[quote="AngelicTotoro (post: 1526551)"]
I really, really hope and pray that Goro Miyazaki gets it together and figures out how to direct, write and tell a story as wonderfully, (Okay maybe not as, but pretty close to) as his father, Hayao Miyazaki. Otherwise I feel that Studio Ghibli needs to find another guy to be their lead director or be doomed to make mediocre, semi-crappy films forever! D: (NOOOO! ]They still retain the survices of folks like Isao Takahada and Hiromasa Yonebayashi who make some great films. And like Artia said, Poppy Hill shows that Goro has much promise. However, I understand your concern because they all do a different sort of thing than Miyazaki, who does his thing better than anyone else.

[Neane]

It is unlikely, but the novel series did end a few months ago. Check the spoiler if you want to know how it ends:

[spoiler]Babies ever after[/spoiler]

Can't tell if serious.....

Started Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta.

[Falx]

Can't tell if serious.....

Started Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta.

Volume 17's epilogue has it, if my sources are correct.

[Wolf-man]

Wow...I haven't posted on this forum in forever.

Lets see, i haven't watched much anime lately.

Digimon Xros Wars II: episode 14
This episode was actually pretty good. which is saying a lot because most of the episodes of the show have been boring and/or pointless filler. I was super excited to see Kiriha come back. I was waiting for him and I hope that this isn't the last time we see him.
Then of course came the major geek out when the ending revealed [SPOILER]all 5 goggle boys from the previous series!!!! Then we get a close up of Masaru and Taichi with there Agumon!!![/SPOILER] that made up for all the crap that has been in the show so far. Let us hope that this doesn't dissapoint.

I watched Lupin the 3rd: Episode 0: First Contact
This was really good. I love the Lupin specials and movies and this is by far one of the best. Especially since the one I saw before this was Dead or Alive which is the weakest of them that I have seen.
I really liked the explanation of their meeting, they did a great job of making it believable and not like something stupid like "Lupin: 'Hey' Jigen: 'Hey' Lupin: 'let's team up.' Jigen: 'kay'"

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

You guys worrying about Ghibli all seem to forget that Arrietty has both a large amount of acclaim and also is selling ridiculously well, so I wouldn't be terribly worried about Ghibli's future unless he dies really young or Miyazaki kicks him out like he did Hosoda.

[Atria35]

Picked up Blood+ again, after a long, time, so I rewatched eps 1-3. I finally got my disks back from a friend, so I'm gonna power through it!

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Watched the first episodes of Ano Natsu de Matteru, Another and Bodacious Space Pirates. Also watched half an episode of Daily Lives of High School Boys...

(Out of the above, I probably enjoyed Bodacious Space Pirates the most... Not sure if I will stick with everything...)

Also started My Ordinary Life! YAY! I really enjoy this show! It is so fun!

[QtheQreater]

Just finished Fullmetal Alchemist. Pretty neat. Unlike some others, I think I could watch it again...

[CrystalChalice]

Chihayafuru episode 14 - We finally get to see the Queen in action, and she is tough. I don't know how Chihaya will jump back from this game, but I know it's gonna be exciting.

Daily Lives of High School Boys episode 1 - It's a Nichijou/Gintama hybrid with high school boys, it couldn't get more hilarious than this.

Papa no Iukoto o Kikinasai! episode 1 - I wasn't expecting the first episode to show the events before the plot, but it was a pleasant surprise. It's probably gonna be sad when the next episode comes though.

[Atria35]

Today was Clannad day. Got through the entire first season, plus the extra chapter, plus the Another World: Tomoyo chapter. I'll see what I can get through of Afterstory tonight, probably eps 1-6 if I push it. Not that I'm in any rush to sleep- it's dark, it's snowing outside, and I am curled up underneath some nice warm blankets

[the_wolfs_howl]

D.Gray-man episodes 28-32. Fun side stories, but I hope we some progression on the hunt for General Cross soon.

[Atria35]

Clannad ~Afterstory~ 1-10- Still holding up to the excelent quality of the first season, surpassing it because the maturity of the characters and the storyline has grown. Also, Shima = <3

Gankutsuou (complete)- While I realize that 16 year old males don't have very good temper control, and Albert's is exasperated by his pride, he really, REALLY needed to calm down after [spoiler]his little temper outbursts got a friend KILLED. Really, Albert? He just. Doesn't. Learn.[/spoiler] Other than that, I thought it was pretty interesting, though I'm wondering if the romantic undertones are there because the creators of the anime wanted them to be, or because when the book was written men could be that chummy and it wouldn't be unusual at all. Reminds me of all those moments in LoTR, actually, with the men being very manly but still being able to show emotion and friendship.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Atria, I wanna know when we are going to hear about Tekkon Kinkreet.

BTW, glad you liked Gankutsuou. Fantastic show.

[rocklobster]

I liked Gankutsuo too. Maybe I should rewatch it this year.
Anyway, starting Romeo X Juliet. I love the Japanese version of "You Raise Me Up", even though they completely changed the lyrics and the meaning.

[GeneD]

Mugen is the best mirite?

I quite like Jin too but yes Mugen is awesome. I am up to episode 10 now.

[Mei-Mei]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Episode 52.

[Maokun]

Finally finished Kaiba (thoughts in the corresponding thread,) started watching Nisemonogatari and started Ghost Hunt, a series I borrowed from the library. Having finished college is doing wonders for my anime watching.

Three episodes in, Ghost Hunt is... adequate. Good use of atmosphere, decent animation and an interesting premise: a catholic priest, a shinto priestess, a buddhist monk, a celebrity medium and a jerk young genius scientist [s]walk into a bar[/s] attempt to banish the spirits that may or may not be haunting an old school, and your relatable highschooler of a female protagonist gets mixed in.

However, for the premise and treatment, I expected the show to be much more cerebral. After tons of foreshadowing that made me expect a twist ending for the arc that would blow my mind, the solution to the first mystery was the very same that was heavily foreshadowed and that even a baby could have predicted by the half point of episode 1, which came as a big disappointment. That, coupled with some eyebrow-raising production values such as extensive use of flares and dubious use of 3D here and there, have killed much of the high hopes I had for the series. I'll stick for a while longer and I'll definitely drop it if it attempts to insult my intelligence once again.

[Atria35]

Thermae Romae 1-2- I really, really hope that they make more of this. I don't care if it's flash animation, it still looks really good, and the story is utterly hilarious! And the lovely background music really makes up for what it lacks in animation.

Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino 1 - Terrible use of shaky camera work to try and hide that they're using still pictures and no one's moving in them. There's also a bunch of cheap animation tricks to try and hide the lack of budget (speed lines, bluring the frame, etc). The dub work is rather wooden this episode, with Jose sounding almost wooden- strange since it's the same VA as in the last season- and Henrietta was chipper in a scene that made it sound rather out of place.

[SincerelyAnomymous]

Episode 14 of Hunter X Hunter. Has some witty writing, even if it has a lot of plot twists.

[Sai-Chan]

ep 6, shugo chara.
lol