10-10-2003 22:43									#61
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Don't know if Wraith has mentioned this in the past, but TechTV is starting Banner of the Stars (Seikai no Senki) in November. I own the DVDs and it I highly recommended it, as I've mentioned in a previous post.

http://www.techtv.com/animeunleashe...3538784,00.html

Does TechTV do subs or dubs?

	10-10-2003 22:49									#62
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dubs

Jon Miller

	10-10-2003 22:52									#63
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Hmmm... Haven't tried the dubs yet, so I can't recommend that version.

	11-10-2003 04:52									#64
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--"because I saw the first couple of eps for TV and it was a real snoozer."

Yeah, the TV series is pretty bad.

--"but TechTV is starting Banner of the Stars"

They aired Crest of the Stars a while ago. Unfortunately, the dub on these is really bad. They didn't even do a good job with the subtitles. Bandai really doesn't seem to like this series, which makes me wonder why they licensed it.

Wraith
"Land Rover attack!"
-- Kyusaku and Shinichi ("All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku")

	14-10-2003 08:10									#65
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quote: Unfortunately, the dub on these is really bad. They didn't even do a good job with the subtitles.

I just compared the dub and sub with the fansub on episode one of Banner of the Stars and I have to say that I'm mightily disappointed. The sub has too harsh a tone for what is essentially a love story and the dub is downright frustrating. The fansub hits it just right.

I just bought a bunch of worthless DVDs. I guess I should look at it as supporting the authors with my purchase, even if I always watch the fansub.

	14-10-2003 08:51									#66
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Don't know if this is applicable to anyone other than Drake- sort of, since he can't exactly watch it so easily now- but since Kenshin TV came up earlier, I happened to come across a list of all the edits that the Cartoon Network has made. Interesting, and good to know exactly what's different. Most of it I have no problem with- cleaning up some of the bad language and reducing the amount of blood flying around- although as the edit list notes, there was one fairly major omission in the 3rd episode of the Shishio fight (you recognize it rather promptly for those who watched since it's obvious after the fact what happened, but why they pulled it...), and that I am somewhat rankled by. And I think changing all references from "Hell" to "Hades" was slightly silly as well, but beats me, maybe some people find it objectionable.

That said, I don't agree with what this guy says about how Kenshin TV should be shown on Adult Swim late at night, so fewer cuts would be needed. As a silly action anime for junior-high schoolers, Kenshin acquits itself very well, I think. And really, I think that's where it should be shown. It's not a show I feel you should get too elitist about, and there's no reason why younger kids can't enjoy 95% of the show (and learn about the more esoteric 5% as the show goes on). Shown at late night trying to stand next to, say, Cowboy Bebop, Kenshin looks a lot worse, and would probably attract a smaller audience.

	14-10-2003 11:01									#67
	Got spare money?

Regarding Uchuu no Stellvia, I watched the first episode fansubbed. The protaganist (the little girl) really annoyed me and I couldn't identify with her, so I'm not going to be following the series. Pretty bad voice acting.

A couple of the new series airing in Japan that I found worthwhile are Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and Gunslinger Girl. Kimi ga Nozomu Eien starts out as a fairly conventional schoolkids romance, although it is among the older set of schoolkids. The protaganist is maneuvered into going out with a friend of a friend. The second episode diverges from that formula somewhat, which is making things interesting and worthwhile to follow. So far there are hints of a love quadrangle, but maybe that's just there to throw us off the trail!

Gunslinger Girl is about young girl orphan assassins under the employ of the company (Italian government?). Reminds me somewhat of La Femme Nikita in feel, although the characters and storyline are different. So far, the themes dealt with are emotional dependency and primary human needs. If you have problems watching 8 year old girls splattering the brains of their targets on the wall, then you'll want to skip this one. We'll see how this one goes, since only the first episode has aired in Japan.

Last edited by DanS on 14-10-2003 at 11:09

	14-10-2003 11:16									#68
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Oh, and are the DVDs for Twelve Kingdoms any good? The series was recommended to me very highly, with the caveat that things don't start getting going until episode 9 or 10. Sound is not the most important thing for me.

	14-10-2003 13:34									#69
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Wow, that list of edits makes me feel like I wasted my time watching "Outlaw Star" on Cartoon Network.

	14-10-2003 13:40									#70
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I ahve a subed version I downloaded

Jon Miller

	14-10-2003 17:03									#71
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--"The sub has too harsh a tone for what is essentially a love story and the dub is downright frustrating."

I don't have the Banner II first disc yet, but the other ones had a number of translation problems. I think there's a website cataloging them somewhere; I'll have to look again later.

--"And really, I think that's where it should be shown. "

That's the right demographic for it. I don't know why it would need to be moved to a later slot.

--"The protaganist (the little girl) really annoyed me and I couldn't identify with her,"

I've seen much worse, but yeah, Shima-chan isn't the main reason to keep watching. It's an okay show overall, but nothing really special.

--"A couple of the new series airing in Japan that I found worthwhile"

I've heard of those two, but I'm not too interested in them. You'll have to tell me if they turn out good.

--"Oh, and are the DVDs for Twelve Kingdoms any good?"

The series is great. The DVDs have a problem at the moment, in that they've encoded all the sound as mono instead of stereo. MB has owned up to the problem, finally, and are going to replace them, so it's probably worth waiting a bit until this gets straightened out (this same issue is delaying their Figure 17 release). Other than that, they're pretty good.

--"Wow, that list of edits makes me feel like I wasted my time watching "Outlaw Star" on Cartoon Network."

Heh. Yeah, that's one of the ones that got cut.

But if you want to feel really bad, watch either Cardcaptors (note: no, not Card Captor Sakura) or the version of Escaflowne that got shown on Fox...

Wraith
"Hello, I'm Leonard Nimoy. The following tale of alien encounter is true and by true, I mean false. Its all lies. But they're entertaining lies, and in the end isn't that the real truth? The answer is no."
-- Leonard Nimoy

	14-10-2003 19:33									#72
	Inflate your Upload Space

Well, my class is halfway through FLCL. I think they like it, but are having trouble understanding what's going on. I admit, I was clueless when I first watched it (Of course, I started from Episode 3, which didn't help), but the DVDs give so much information it becomes quite easy to figure out. The director's commentary is great.

	14-10-2003 21:07									#73
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You're taking a class that involves anime? Where do you go to school?

	15-10-2003 11:03									#74
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I'm teaching a class that involves anime.

	15-10-2003 11:31									#75
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

I really like the confusingness of FLCL

my freind actually liked it a lot whlie it was confusing, and not so much afterwards

Jon Miller

	15-10-2003 15:45									#76
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I found once you get past the confusing part you can focus more on the character interactions. Haruko seems like a complete loon until you know what she's really up to.

	15-10-2003 17:25									#77
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quote: I'm teaching a class that involves anime.

Makes me wish I'd gone to college. My sister just took an english lit class on Fantasy and SciFi short stories at the University of Missouri.

	15-10-2003 20:25									#78
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God I hate Missouri.

	15-10-2003 20:29									#79
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Are you a Cornhusker?

Boogiepop Phantom is becoming a major disappointment. I still have three or four eps left to go but I'm having a hard time getting motivated to put them in.

	15-10-2003 20:30									#80
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quote: Are you a Cornhusker?

You're goddamn right I am, and proud of it.

	15-10-2003 21:34									#81
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I was wondering how well that would work out. I for one am very glad I saw BP in an anime-club style setting, where somebody introduced the episodes, had short discussions afterwards where we could eac point out some things others might have missed, and generally insured you stayed up to date. For instance, as an example (that shouldn't be a spoiler for you)...

spoiler(highlight to read): I didn't notice that there were two Boogiepops until it was pointed out for me- one that speaks with reverb and one that doesn't, and obviously having rather different roles.

On the bright side, most of the mysteries are revealed in the last 2 episodes (since generally the episodes before it generate far more questions than answers). I admit I was getting a bit annoyed at the show in the middle too.

	16-10-2003 00:01									#82
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I didn't know that. I just found out what the light is and how certain things exist but what's going to be done about it I know not. When I get done I may ask some questions. It's not so much that I don't understand it as it is that it's so slow. Plus, having the first three seasons of the Family Guy as an alternative has been devastating to motivation.

It would seem BP has all the things I like in an anime. I like the concepts that would never play in a real world film, like the Spriggans and the Ninja Scrolls, and the Metropolises. Hopefully it'll pick up at the end.

	16-10-2003 05:55									#83
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--" I think they like it, but are having trouble understanding what's going on."

I think that was kind of the point of the series. You're not really supposed to understand what's going on the first time round.

Must be a fun class, though. Just make sure none of your students brings a guitar to school. Ukeleles are okay (they suck, after all).

--"Haruko seems like a complete loon until you know what she's really up to."

Nah, she's still a complete loon. She's just a complete loon with a goal.

--" had short discussions afterwards"

Yes, it's definitely one of the more convoluted anime around.

--"it is that it's so slow."

I don't remember having any problems with the pacing, but it has been a while since I've watched it.

I also very much enjoy Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, so take that as you will.

Edit:

Quick update on the Studio Ghibli front, but the Porco Rosso dub has been completed. It's currently scheduled for a DVD release next April, with Nausicaa to follow. Unfortunately, there are no plans to release Porco Rosso theatrically.

Wraith
"Madness has no purpose, or reason... but it may have a goal."
-- Spock

	19-10-2003 16:48									#84
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Well, maybe to me she doesn't seem that crazy.

Anyway, do you know if the next disc for Haibane Renmei will also contain pencil boards? I was fortunate to find a boxed set a few days before its actual release (at which time I would be in China). The pencil boards with it are great, and I was hoping there would be more with future releases.

	19-10-2003 18:47									#85
	Got spare money?

--"Well, maybe to me she doesn't seem that crazy."

Well, compared to that Chinese girl you mentioned in another thread, maybe she isn't ^_^

--"Anyway, do you know if the next disc for Haibane Renmei will also contain pencil boards?"

They're supposed to, but they'll be limited again. Only the first shipment out will have them as pack-ins. I'm not sure what art they're going to be using; the cover art again probably, but I don't know about the other side. Some of the doujinshi art would be nice, but there must be some weird issue there or they'd have used it on the DVD silkscreens like with the R2s.

Wraith
"That's my nickname. Waly with one l."
-- Wally ("Dilbert")

Last edited by Wraith on 19-10-2003 at 19:00

	26-10-2003 04:59									#86
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I have watched all of the episodes of Twelve Kingdoms that have been fansubbed so far and think this was an excellent recommendation. Definitely worthwhile on DVD.

The story starts out pretty uninteresting, with way too many crying, helpless girls for my taste, but after that is out of the way (~ episode 9 or 10, as promised by the recommender), the series really rocks. Definitely one of the better series out there.

Apparently, there is going to be a hiatus in the TV series while they finish the manga. This seems like a good decision.

	26-10-2003 19:01									#87
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--"but after that is out of the way"

The dynamic characters are part of what makes the show interesting. There are far too many shows (anime or not) out there where the characters either don't change or change in unbelievable ways. Twelve Kingdoms manages to make the changes work.

--"Apparently, there is going to be a hiatus in the TV series while they finish the manga. "

I think they're waiting on the novels rather than the manga, but for the original author's storyline at any rate. Definitely a good choice; too many good anime have really lost it when they ran out of manga story to follow.

And for those following it, the second Haibane Renmei DVD is out this week. Best Buy already has it on the shelves, at least around here.

Ah, yes, you mentioned Gunslinger Girls earlier, too. I've seen two episodes of that, and that's all I'm going to watch. The first one didn't really impress me, it feels like a bad Noir clone. I didn't much like Noir either, but at least it had a great soundtrack. Unfortunately, the second episode of Gunslinger Girls is half composed of scenes from the first episode...

It isn't a girls-with-guns series, but you might want to check out Shingetsutan Tsukihime, also known as Moon Princess. It's shaping up to be a good, dark vampire drama.

Wraith
"If I'd known I was going to die today, I wouldn't have done all that homework!"
-- Tenchi Masaki ("Tenchi Muyo")

	26-10-2003 20:00									#88
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I was considering blind buying Haibane Renmei, but I chickened out. I just don't have that kind of dough to throw around.

	26-10-2003 20:45									#89
	Got spare money?

quote: The dynamic characters are part of what makes the show interesting.

I agree. The main character's actions are predicated on this change. They would be incomprehensible if this change wasn't shown. Maybe they could have found a way to cut some of it out at the beginning, though. I guess I have no patience with weak-willed women.

	27-10-2003 05:42									#90
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--"I was considering blind buying Haibane Renmei, but I chickened out."

Money's money, so I can't blame you. I have heard that some rental places (even in Canada) are carrying it, though, so maybe you can find it there.

It is my favorite anime, but I will warn again that it won't be for everyone. The series shows a lot of influence by the Japanese shomingeki genre (especially the episodes on the first disk). There really isn't any directly comparable genre in Western cinema. They're essential something I called slice-of-life in a past thread; dramas about regular people doing regular things. There aren't even many available in translation here; you can find a couple by Yasujiro Ozu. Good Morning has been out for a bit, and Criteron just recently released Tokyo Story.
(Ozu, by the way, was an influence on Kore'eda, who has been confirmed as an influence on Haibane Renmei.)

--"Maybe they could have found a way to cut some of it out at the beginning, though."

Feeling impatient, are we? I don't recall you ever saying, so I'll have to ask now if you've ever seen Alien 9? ^_^ Somehow, I don't think you'd like the main character.

Wraith
"Nyaaaa!"
-- Kasumi ("Alien 9")