I dunno, as cliche of a theme "hope" sounds like, that definitely fits the bill for what the original show's theme was. Not only that, but IMO it explored said theme really, really well. Each character's prime characteristics revolved around their relationships with and ideals involving hope, and both the good and bad sides of it. The whole "being a magical girl is bad" part was secondary to its use of "being a magical girl" as a way to explore all the different aspects of it.
Blind hope, naive hope, selfish and selfless hope (and the razor line between them), the disillusionment unfulfilled hope can bring, desperate hope, stubborn hope, the hopes parents place on their children. Pure hope: the wish for the future to contain less suffering. Despair: the lack of hope, an all consuming apathy. All of these and more are touched on, using a magical girl anime (known for its focus on the value of hope) as the canvas. I have a lot of respect for Madoka, because of its masterfully implemented themes that are done so in a natural way.
Or maybe I'm just thinking too much about cartoons.
You know, I jokingly compared Hamura (E: Hamura? I'm not even fixing that. I'm just gonna add a useless side note here instead duly noting that I noticed that.) to Yuno Gasai early on in the series. Then Rebellion happened.
Anyway, I understand what you mean with all the themes and characterization and stuff, but that's not the point here. It's not where I took issue.
Like I said, the big problem I have was with how the plot flowed toward the end of the movie. It felt to me like they tried to jam 7 different things together at once in the last 20 minutes and it just ended up being a blurry mess. Really had pacing problems to me.
The thing about rebellion's ending is i feel like it is setting up for something else. So I guess it would make sense to have it feel kind of cramped with ideas, then. I can respect its drawn out nature for that reason - its all meant to fuel speculation about the next entry - and the writer did say that Rebellion wasn't the end before it even aired. Although now its been quite a while with no sign of when that story is actually going to continue, so, uh... that defense only holds true if they actually do that. And they honestly need to, given how sad a state the anime industry is in...
So Baccano! is goddamn amazing.
...but the 3 DVD episodes felt wholly unnecessary though.
As I understand it, the series basically amounts to a more self-contained of the first 3 or 4 light novels. That's where the problem lies.
I feel like they were trying to expand on a few of the characters and tie up some loose ends, but honestly, I feel they did their job and wrapped it up perfectly in e13. Heck, the bonus episodes made a whole lot more loose ends than it tied.
I get the whole "A story without clear endings is more fun." or whatever, but that's not a good excuse to just go create whole new plot threads and leave them hanging, even if they're pulled from the original light novels which I admittedly haven't checked yet. Plus it contradicts itself in how it felt like those last 3 existed to tie up loose ends in the first place.
On that note, I really want to go check out the books now.
This all said, I feel the very last episode was really good and salvaged the DVD stuff well, for and pointless as it felt. Also actually seeing the VP and Carol again was nice.
With Baccano! over, next logical thing to do is move on to Durarara!!
4 episodes in. Doesn't really immerse you straight up like its predecessor, now does it? It's good so far though; just still waiting on a hook.
I am just flying through these episodes. DRRR!! is pretty great. I've learned that I really love this ensemble cast stuff.
Three things I have to say:
It took it's time throwing out a good hook, but stayed interesting enough for me to keep watching until one was thrown out.
Izaya is ultimate troll. I love it.
And last, I really want to see Ladd beat up Shizuo even though that's not at all really possible to happen. Ladd was a super interesting character, but Shizuo's backstory of "I'm strong because because." is just bad and lazy. I mean, they sort of almost half explain it like "Oh well adrenaline and the brain and whatever..." but then just give up on trying and it doesn't really go anywhere and ends up not really making sense.
Oh also, Rail Tracer over The Slasher any day. The whole Saika reveal could've gone somewhere, but ended up dumb.
So all in all, Baccano! is still much better. I feel like that will hold up, but hey, maybe I'll be surprised.
e: Also, the Isaac Miria cameos were a nice touch.
TheFinalSentinel wrote:Izaya is ultimate troll. I love it.
Yeah, I don't understand what Izaya's original is, but that's Izaya for you: loves to mess up with other people.
TheFinalSentinel wrote:And last, I really want to see Ladd beat up Shizuo even though that's not at all really possible to happen. Ladd was a super interesting character, but Shizuo's backstory of "I'm strong because because." is just bad and lazy. I mean, they sort of almost half explain it like "Oh well adrenaline and the brain and whatever..." but then just give up on trying and it doesn't really go anywhere and ends up not really making sense.
That's what makes him unique among the rest. Although, he has a tendency to throw more bending machines when you pissed him off.
TheFinalSentinel wrote:The whole Saika reveal could've gone somewhere, but ended up dumb.
Saika is one of the only things that I like about Anri.
And thus ends DRRR!!X2 Part 1.
So why exactly does it seem like people are divided on this?
On another note, my best friend is strongly recommending me Akame ga Kill. He showed me the first episode, and it felt... generic.
Really it felt like one of the most forced setups I have ever seen, like the plot was leading the events instead of the events leading the plot if that makes sense.
I need second opinions.
i have no idea what Akame ga Kill is about but the name alone sounds really generic in terms of modern anime honestly
so... i guess my assumption is right, then?
btw has anyone been watching ranpo kitan? it's flawed, but entertaining. whats notable about it is that its based on the writings of an author whose style actually set some precedents for what would later become anime tropes
I finished watching Azumanga Daioh, and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it's as amazing as people make it out to be. I would have to say my favorite character is Osaka, simply because of how weird she is.
One Punch Man is as great as raocow said it was. Glad he mentioned it, or I might have never tried it out.
Noragami is pretty good. And nothing more. But nothing less.
It's like that pizza place near you that you like, but there's another like half an hour further that you like a lot more, but you'd be content with the one closer for tonight — to make a weird analogy.
Would watch the second season when it finishes, but not a priority for me.
Also, just started Eden of the East tonight, and I have to say...
That was one of the most solidly constructed opening episodes I've ever seen in an anime. The next couple episodes are completely consistent in quality too. If it keeps it up, this could be a rare 10/10 from me. Then again, I have 8 episodes to diminish my interest, or for it to screw something up, or something.
Also, I am absolutely in love with that ending credits sequence. ♥ I think it might be my favorite ever; I just can't think of any that beat it out.
Wolfolotl wrote:princess tutu is a nice and heartwarming anime where everyone is bi as hell
I've been meaning to watch that one.
So tell me... ?
TheFinalSentinel wrote:
Also, just started Eden of the East tonight, and I have to say...
That was one of the most solidly constructed opening episodes I've ever seen in an anime. The next couple episodes are completely consistent in quality too. If it keeps it up, this could be a rare 10/10 from me. Then again, I have 8 episodes to diminish my interest, or for it to screw something up, or something.
Personal opinion zone, gonna spoiler it so it doesn't effect your enjoyment
I really wanted to love Eden of the East when I started watching it. It's first episodes showed such a neat concept, a lot of intrigue, and were generally extremely compelling.
Then... It didn't do much with it. There was hardly any payoff for a lot of possibilities set up, it felt like it wasn't building to anything, it wasted a lot of time on stuff that wasn't too important in the long run, and in general felt like it didn't know where it was going. It felt like the writers had this neat concept, but wrote the episodes just as they went, without really structuring the show or anything. The ending of the main series was somewhat satisfying, but kinda felt like the writers were like "man we gotta have something climactic happen, i guess this'll do"
The movies though... were... disappointing. They pretty much felt like they were made to tie up loose ends and such, and in part they did, but... then it felt like they kinda forgot. Instead, they got distracted again, and ended up just raising more questions. Both movies pretty much consist of a bunch of scenes of people talking, and... that's pretty much it. Maybe one or two things "happen," but I'll be damned if I can remember any of them in any great detail. The ending of the second movie, the ending of the entire series, I remember being especially disappointing. Not because it did something wrong, but because... it didn't do anything. I for the life of me can't remember the ending. That's not a good sign.
I love the show we could have gotten from Eden of the East. I'm just sad we didn't get it.
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