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Wraith
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Austin, Texas, USA
Aug 1999
time: 23:28
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Hahaha!! Bow to the Otaking!
--"Where's a good place to start for a newbie to the scene?"
Well, it really depends on your taste in movies. Anime is just another medium. Let me know what kind of movies you like and I'll give you some suggestions.
--"I've heard a lot about Ghost in the Shell (being a compsci geek), is it a good one? "
It's a pretty good one. It's equal parts action and cyberpunk-ish philosophy. It's definitely one of the most well-known ones in the US (and, I imagine, in Canada) since it's been out for a while. I will have to suggest watching it subtitled rather than dubbed, since the dub was pretty flat. If you're into cyberpunk you'll probably like this one, although I do think Bladerunner was better.
Apocalypse is right about Lain, too. Excellent series, my second-favorite.
--"Any terminology I should be aware of?"
Lots if you get into it, but nothing incredibly critical for a starter. Just keep in mind that while it's perfectly acceptable to call a US anime fan an otaku, don't ever try that with a Japanese fan...
Wraith
"What the hell did you use?"
"Your standard issue big gun."
-- Motoko and Batou ("Ghost in the Shell")
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Asher
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Calgary, Alberta
Nov 1999
time: 22:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Wraith
Well, it really depends on your taste in movies. Anime is just another medium. Let me know what kind of movies you like and I'll give you some suggestions. |
Basically I like something that's well-styled, well-acted, with an intelligent plot. I really wouldn't know what to tell you about a favorite movie, I don't have a favorite movie or movies really. The last movie I saw that I liked was Matrix Reloaded...
quote:
It's a pretty good one. It's equal parts action and cyberpunk-ish philosophy. It's definitely one of the most well-known ones in the US (and, I imagine, in Canada) since it's been out for a while. I will have to suggest watching it subtitled rather than dubbed, since the dub was pretty flat. If you're into cyberpunk you'll probably like this one, although I do think Bladerunner was better. |
The subtitled version is better? I suppose I'll try that, usually subtitles distract me too much from what's going on screen, though.
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Wraith
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Austin, Texas, USA
Aug 1999
time: 23:28
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--"Basically I like something that's well-styled, well-acted, with an intelligent plot."
You won't get well acted from the dub, but I'd guess you'll like Ghost in the Shell based on the Matrix. Also consider Jin-Roh, although if you require lots of action it won't be your thing (lots of political intrigue in that one).
--"If you don't mind less than stellar voices once in a while, then dubbed is fine."
This depends. Sometimes there are large changes made in the dub script that greatly alter the story. End of Evangelion is an example of this, and that was only a small number of changes. Some of them, especially ones done by the likes of Steven Foster (of ADV) can completely ruin the story.
Of course, there are good dubs out there, like Cowboy Bebop.
In Ghost's case, it's more a matter of the dub acting just not being very good.
Edit: To clarify, it doesn't suck horribly, but it's not going to win any awards either. It's listenable, but not what I'd pick. I don't find subtitles distracting, though.
Wraith
"What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face" -- Motoko ("Ghost in the Shell")
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SnowFire
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New York City, NY
Jan 1970
time: 00:28
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Wraith is correct when he says that anime is just another medium. Myself, I hated most of the anime exposed to me early- Ninja Scroll, Dragonball Z, etc. Once I got to college and had friends with good taste in anime, I gave it another shot, and found that there is some highly decent stuff out there. So don't trust your first impressions always; much like American television, lots of anime is bad, but the good stuff is worth the effort.
As for Ghost in the Shell, I know some people like it, but personally, I hate it. Your mileage may vary.
For good movies or short series, Princess Mononoke is pretty easy to find, and is quite good (side note: the dub is good as well). Grave of the Fireflies is excellent if you want to see a very serious anime; Roger Ebert stuck it on his Great films list if it makes a difference, but in any case, the quality is certainly very strong there. If you're up for something Blade-Runnery, my personal suggestion would be Battle Angel over Ghost in the Shell; it's not technically a movie or OAV, but being that they only made 2 episodes of it, it's functionally a movie in two parts. Lastly, the Rurouni Kenshin OAV (not the regular series; be careful) is very high quality; it's a historical fantasy, I suppose, set in the Meiji era of Japan. Nice mix of action & random philosophy & a good plot, which is the case in a lot of the best animes.
Anyway, I mostly listed movies because you can watch them quickly and find out what style you like a lot faster than with series. Although as already pointed out, if you want a good techie style series, Serial Experiments Lain is a great place to start.
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Wraith
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Austin, Texas, USA
Aug 1999
time: 23:28
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--" Most people I know started their "anime fetish" with Ninja Scroll."
I didn't really like Ninja Scroll much. The violence level is way over the top. This isn't what I'd recommend to a beginner unless I knew they really liked that kind of thing.
--"Whatever you do, DON'T start with AKIRA, despite the fact that so many have."
There's a new translation available that isn't as bad.
Cowboy Bebop would be a good one to start with, though.
--"maybe the wrong title? Wraith knows what I'm talking about"
Dominion Tank Police? I haven't actually seen that one, so I can't comment on the quality.
--"Definetly DON'T start with Excel Saga"
Hehe. Excel is not a starter anime, no. It's too wrapped up in parodies of other animes for it to work that well for someone who's just getting started.
--"For good movies or short series,"
These are all good suggestions, again depending on what you like. Grave of the Fireflies, for instance, is a pure drama movie. You shouldn't expect any action at all from this one.
--"But I strongly suspect its because we're not really understanding it"
No, they really are better at it on average. I do speak some Japanese, so I can tell ^_^ Basically, voice acting is a much bigger deal in Japan than in the US. As a profession it's more respectable than in the US (not that it'll rank with teachers or anything, but it's higher up on the scale than in the US, where there is a stigma attached to it even without the idiotic SAG rules that make things worse), so the quality is higher.
There's also differences in recording methods. Japanese studios like to get all the VAs together to record, so they can play off of each other's acting. US studios tend to get the VAs in one by one to do their lines, so they're pretty much acting against nothing.
--"I like Inuyasha & Trigun myself."
I just started Trigun, and it starts a bit goofier than I would like. Seems okay otherwise so far. Inu Yasha does start strong, but it's a Rumiko Takahashi series, which means it's long and never really resolves.
--"Watch berserk."
But only if you're into extremely grim hack-and-slash fantasy adventures. Otherwise it won't appeal.
--"Both are made by the same person IIRC,"
Both were made by the same studio, Studio Ghibli. Not by the same person, though. Miyazaki (Japans equivalent to Walt Disney if you want a measure of his popularity) made Mononoke. Grave was made by Isao Takahata, who is definitely very good, but not the same person as Miyazaki ^_^.
--"What's "Gravitation"?"
Utter crud. Stay far, far away from it.
Okay, now I'll make a few other suggestions.
Crest of the Stars/Banner of the Stars. If you like Space Opera this is the best you'll be able to find until someone releases Legend of the Galactic Heroes outside of Japan.
Twelve Kingdoms. This one is about to start release, so you'll have to wait a bit, but it's very good epic fantasy. Based on a series of novels, this one is still airing in Japan, which is unusual.
Visions of Escaflowne. More fantasy, this one with a steampunk twist. Good tight story, although it does get a bit weird near the end. Some of the best villians of all time are in this show. Plus it's got catgirls.
Key the Metal Idol would be a good one if you end up liking Lain.
Perfect Blue would be a good movie if you like thrillers.
Anything by Miyazaki, as has already been brought up. Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke. Just keep in mind that he does family films, although Mononoke is a bit atypical for him.
Tenchi Muyo. The OVAs and movies are a good introduction. It's kind of romantic comedy mixed with sci-fi.
I'd like to recommend Revolutionary Girl Utena, but it'd be a matter of your tastes. It's highly symbolic and rather unusual, but very good if you're into the more intellectual and arty stories. It's essentially about a princess who's so impressed by the prince who helps her when she's young that she decides to grow up to become a prince... It's not really a starter show unless you really like arty pieces, though.
Castle of Cagliostro is a fun, Pink Panther-ish movie about a thief named Lupin.
Ah, that'll do for now ^_^
Wraith
"Whaaat? And it's just getting interesting! Boo!"
-- Rabi-en-Rose ("Di Gi Charat")
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chegitz guevara
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Ft. Lauderdale, FL Communist Party of Apolyton
Jun 2000
time: 00:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Seeker
Whatever you do, DON'T start with AKIRA, despite the fact that so many have.
Many 'logical-rational' type geeks get really turned off by the stupid, badly translated 'Imagine a man with the power of an amoeba' part. |
There's a new translation out. 
Asher, I'm a big fan of the cyberpunkish stuff, though, obviously, being in an anime dead state, my knowledge has fallen behind.
Akira for all its problems with bad transations (and horrible voice acting--Bronx accents in Japan???) is an incredibly detailed movie. If you don't care about the problems, the art is unbelievable. I'd put it off, however. That's like starting film apreciation with Citizen Kane.
Battle Angel Alita, is a good place to start.
Ghost in the Shell is very good, but it gets a little boring near the end, and the plot is a little hard to follow. Still, it's one of my absolute favs. I have the soundtrack too.
For some reason I hear Bubblegum Crisis presented as cyberpunk, but it ain't. I've never particularly liked it. It's okay.
The second (or maybe 3rd) Dominion Tank Police movie is very Bladerunner-ish. I'm led to believe it's by the same movie house as GitS. The manga are by the same author. (I'm annoyed that the lesbian aspect of the Major's character from GitS was removed from the American version, but oh well.)
The first PatLabor movie was very cyberpunkish. It's also based on mecha, I don't know how you feel about that.
A.D. Police, is definately cyberpunkish. I've only seen the second one. Bunnygrrl has wanted to see any more because it's a "little" sexist, but you have to allow for such things coming from as sexist a culture as Japan.
Armitage III, is heavily cyvberpunk, but it suffers from the previously mentioned sexism. It's pretty cool up until we get to the emotionally wounded androids. Actually, it's very sexist, but it's still good art.
Coyboy Bebop, 'nuff said.
I liked Gall Force, Earth Chapter. Human race pushed to the point of extinction on Earth by the machines they've created . . . wonder where that theme has popped up?
Last edited by chegitz guevara on 08-06-2003 at 20:43
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Jon Miller
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Cowboy Bebop
Ghost in the Shell
Metropolis
Perfect Blue
DBZ, Ninja Scroll and some others are way over rated (Ninja Scroll is watchable unlike DBZ)
Lain seems like it might be good (but I am confused about it)
a lot of anime shows have it so that a single show is not very self contained, Bebop is (and is on Cartoon Network, another reason to check it out)
Jon Miller
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Jon Miller
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I am not at all sure if it is good starter materail though
my freind, who likes Anime, is having a hard time getting into it because it is so disjoint
and he only watches occasionally
Jon Miller
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Jon Miller
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another good intro, besides the 4 I mentioned, would be Princess Monoke
Jon Miller
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Cruddy
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I'm not anime fan, but I definitely liked Akira (the subtitled one was slightly better, but both were good) and the Tank Police series. Just haven't watched any since then - too much ducking and diving.
In my opinion, anime is an excellent escape from reality sort of movie. Don't expect perfect physics or believable plots - anime ain't for you if these are important.
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08-06-2003 06:30
)
). He produced a whole bunch of excellent anime films, such as My Neighbour Totoro and Valley of the Wind.
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