Somebody at my local library is doing a WONDERFUL job. Now, in addition to a decent comic book collection, I have discovered Manga and more anime selections. I am so happy!
I love how these art forms don't spoon-feed their stories, and how beautiful the art usually is. I am enchanted.
Yay for whoever is picking things out for the library!
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
<sits quietly like a good boy>
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Good for them. All libraries need manga and anime and graphic novels. mmmm. Graphic Novels. Which manga have you read? You need to read the rest of Nausicaa... Especially the end.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Actually, I'm still wondering what the answer to the title is.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Let's hope they have the sense to watch them before sticking them out on the shelves. From what I hear, some of the manga can be more hard-core than porn.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
It always makes me laugh whenever they put anime in the 'family' section at Wal*Mart and such. Kayla's absolutely right, some anime is unsusally hard-core. Just because it's a cartoon doesn't mean that it's for kids.
However, libraries, booksellers and video stores are getting smarter about this, due in part--I believe--to shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy from FOX. Of course, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim has had a big hand in it by it's marketing of cartoons for adults.
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
Jenny, does your library have Neon Genesis Evangelion?
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
My library has the entire run of Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and Escaflowne.
They have a KILLER foreign films DVD section, including tons of fantastic Criterion editions of films. Better selection than any local video store - and the rentals are FREE! (as long as I bring them back after three days). My library has helped me keep up with my Akira Kurosawa!
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Evangelion: never, ever watch the end. The end ruins it. No end is worse then evangelion's. Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
Did you watch both movies, or just the first one?
Posted by ae (Member # 3291) on :
Or perhaps neither?
Posted by ReikoDemosthenes (Member # 6218) on :
libraries carry anime now? ours only has a little manga, mostly Ranma 1/2...most anime I want I either have to buy or rent at the video store which has a fairly good selection...and manga I mostly end up buying from the comic book store...
and *loved Evangelion, and enjoyed the ending and both films*
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
I watched both endings. All the movies. The whole series. The endings are baaaaaaad. Not bad=awful. It's like...don't watch it least you break the DVD in twain.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Ya know, I really don't get it. The whole anime thing. Just doesn't do it for me. At all. I really can't stand it, actually. Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
I think it's all a matter of taste. I've met people who can't stand Lord of the Rings, and even Ender's game. Heck! I can't stand many things people think it's great. Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Well, yeah, I guess that's true...
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
The video joints around here are chock full of Criterion editions of movies I'd love to see - ie, Seven Samurai - but for some reason, the audio on Criterion DVDs is incompatible with my DVD player.
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
I can't believe Hobbes hasn't made a "What's so great about Annie Morgan" dobie of this thread yet! (And I can't believe I suggested it, either!)
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I started with the Miyazaki films, but now I've seen Cowboy Bebop (yes!) and I've just started watching Samurai X.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I'm with Raia. For me, anime is excruciatingly painful to watch. I hate the way it's executed, and the storylines are so linear. However, it's been many years since I've subjected myself to it, so maybe it's changed. But I doubt I'll take the time.
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Oh yeah my library, San Diego Library, is filled wiht those wonderful creations.
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
Jenny - man, had I only known at KamaCon! We'd have had a lot more to talk about. I would have brought some, too, but unfortunately the manga that I have I picked up while taking Japanese during college. Due to my prof's eccentricities, I have a minor in Japanese and can't speak a lick of it... much less read a full page of dialogue that uses slang.
But, if you wouldn't mind a few recommendations:
Haibane Renmei - just finished it this weekend. It's difficult to put it accurately into words... here's the site's website; it'll be a little more helpful. Trigun - an adventure/comedy/sci-fi/western. A lot of fun, served with equal portions of seriousness, coolness and excellent characters. Serial Experiments Lain - a confusing, cerebral, post-modern mind-job... but in a good way. I enjoyed watching it, but not nearly as much as Vána.
And since you've already discovered Miyazaki, I don't believe that I have much else to recommend. Enjoy yourself!
[ August 30, 2004, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: Lime ]
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I told you Haibane Renmei was cool. It had me weeping my eyes out and I never do that!
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Syn - yeah - I'd have cried if I'd let myself (but, since I was watching it with the guys, I didn't. But I loved it.
As for serial experiments lain - whoever said that anime is too linear (afr, I think), Lain is...not. No.
I liked lain so much I figured out a way to use it in a paper on personal identity. That was a hard paper, but my prof was really impressed.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Coolness! Thanks for all the recommendations. Sometimes I watch TriGun on "Adult Swim" on the Cartoon Network if I am insomniac.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Haibane Henmei - A beautiful piece of art. Love it.
Lain - Prepare to have your brains...shaked, boys...you're in for a looong trip :-).
You should also watch Escaflowne and Rexhaephon.
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
Anime is beautiful. It expresses things and tells stories in ways that nothing else can. A lot of it does suck, though.
I recommend Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, Trigun, Fruits Basket, Geneshaft, Haibane Renmei, Scrapped Princess, and...numerous others. Saikano, Wolf's Rain, and Hellsing have come highly recommended to me, though I have not seen them yet.
I do think that there is something for everyone in anime....maybe you skeptics have just not found the right one yet. Posted by WraithSword (Member # 6829) on :
I'm going to start a new thread in which I will insult your collective morality, intellect, spirituality, and any other quality which comes to mind. Why? Because none of you are watching Madlax, and my deep agony cannot end till I share the madness with others. That is my truth.
I could be lying, though.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Welcome to Hatrack, WraithSword! Now...could you explain to us about this "madness" of yours? Posted by WraithSword (Member # 6829) on :
No. You'll just have to follow me into the fire.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
LONG LIVE ANIME!
Classic works that need to be seen:
Akira Robot Carnival Unico Lensman Evangelion Vampire Hunter D Big O Wolf's Rain Robotech
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Jenny, is the Samurai X with english dubs? Ick if it is. Are you renting/buying them? The fansubs of Rurouni Kenshin are much preferable, unless you don't like subtitles.
E-mail me if you're interested in a more original form of Rurouni Kenshin. =)
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
I'd like to put in a word for Hikaru no Go. The art is beautiful and the character development really draws you into the story. Unfortunately it's hard to find English translations now that it's been licensed in the US, but you can read a few episodes at Shonen Jump. The anime follows the manga pretty closely, and might be easier to find, but IMO it's not as well done.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Anime is totally weird and I wouldn't suggest that people just start watching. The best way to get into anime is, if you like a show in America that is a dubbed anime, such as Sailor Moon or Dragonball Z, try out the Japanese version next. You already know you like the show, so watching the "weird" version will just be funny to you. Then you can move on to other shows.
It's a context thing and a culture thing. Anime isn't inherently bad or terrible, it's just something people aren't used to. I think if you grow up in Japan you're likely to think most anime is great, or at least tolerable.
edit: for my obligatory plug for "Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Noche Guu".
[ September 03, 2004, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I grew up watching "GI Joe" and "Transformers".
I can't say that I care for "The Powerpuff Girls."
Same analogy?
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Hmm, are you saying that, according to my analogy, you should like Powerpuff Girls? Or that you shouldn't?
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
I think that if you're interested in anime but haven't seen any or much, then you should try to figure out what kind of anime you would enjoy. There are boundless genres of anime out there, and not everyone enjoys it all.
Science fiction? Drama? Conspiracy theory? Creepy and slow moving? Silly and light-hearted? Samurai? Get someone who's well versed to point you in the right direction. One person might love Evangelion, while another would hate it but would be thrilled with Oh My Goddess.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
That's really true, Suneun. I think to say that one doesn't like anime is similar to saying they "don't like cartoons". You have to not like a whole lot, or an entire way of making films, to dislike all anime.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Don't watch Sailor Moon dubbed in English. You'll only encourage them. They totally ruined it. Especially my favourite 3rd season. Haruka and Michiru Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
I just saw Escaflowne (the movie, not the series), and I must say it was riveting, though I didn't like the way the characters were drawn nearly as much as the way the settings were drawn. But whatever.
I liked the first half of the Gundam Wing series, but have yet to see the second half, as Netflix doesn't have it. *grumble*
Princess Mononoke is especially cool, to me. I named my laptop Ashitaka.
My brother in law has X-1999, which is pretty to look at and haunting, but is also just as achingly slow-paced as the manga. Oh, please, get on with it, already!
Ghost in the Machine (movie) was interesting. Pretty to look at and stuff. Kind of a mind-bender. Perfect Blue was also a mind-bender, but not sci-fi-ish.
Never really got into the Neon Genesis Evangelion... Not really a big a fan of giant robot anime, except Gundam. I really went for Zechs. *sigh*
Vampire Hunter D is fairly crudely animated, but I liked it. The sequel is drawn better, but less visceral.
To answer the title question, I would say I like it because it's beautiful. I like the pretty girly-men, the heroic struggles and hyperbolic destinies.
Oh, and did I ever mention that my first ever TV crush was on Speed Racer? Golly, how I hated that useless tart, Trixie. If there's one thing that annoys me about Anime, it is the pervasive weakness of female characters. That is, however, not as true as it used to be.
About Manga... I don't think they have translated much doujinshi, so I don't really worry about the kiddies too much. What is available might be more violent than your average r-rated movie, depending.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yeah, I agree it was terrible. I'm just saying that if your first introduction into anime is the dubbed version, you'll have a better time than people who are thrown into it, not knowing what to expect. I really loved the English Sailor Moon, having never seen any other anime, until I saw the original. When I went back all I could do was laugh at how bad the dubbed one was.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
you guy should look for Live Action Sailor Moon (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, official title). Here is what I'm talking about. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Live...Action...
Ok. Stop.
-Trevor
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
I've seen it. It was terrible. : )
Wait, wait, wait. Wrong live action. The one I saw was a play.
Still terrible. : )
[ September 03, 2004, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
*wonders if Ryuko likes her Sailor Moon curtains*
I'll occasionally watch Anime on Adult Swim. The only one I have a true fondness for is Cowboy Bebop, and I confess it has everything to do with the dog. I laugh at the corgi and then get sucked into the rest of that episode.
Yeah I know, a stupid reason, I don't watch for the artistic merits as much, but hey it's me.
AJ
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
I dunno, my first introduction to anime (back when it was called japanimation) were Vampire Hunter D, Laputa Castle in the Sky, and Fist of the North Star. Oh, and Akira. I'm pretty sure Laputa and Akira were subtitled, which didn't bother me at all. But then, that was back in 6th or 7th grade, so maybe that counts as growing up with it. But also, I've always preferred subtitles to dubbing.
Actually, hearing the voices is one of my favorite things about foreign film, not just anime. Why would you want to replace that with something that's most likely done by unskilled voice actors reading a poor translation? I'd rather read the poor translation myself. Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yeah, dubbing is lame.
The worst part is that they try to affect that sort of hysterical tone that the japanese voice actors use when they're excited, and it's really bad because it's so unnatural.
Good example, for anyone who hasn't seen it, is Strongbad's Japanese Cartoon. The part where he's wigging out because Pan-Pan sat on the Homestar guy is painfully accurate.
Depends on the anime - Cowboy Bebop has excellent voice-overs, for example.
Others, not so much.
-Trevor
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Zechs is so dreamy. And Trieze too.. *hearts* I saw the dub of that on Cartoon Network. Never missed an episode except part of one and that was because of the stupid New Jersey bus system. Plus I really want more Gundam toys but I have to fix the ones I already have.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
I'm really hoping that they'll get some good voices for "Hare+Guu". I'm thinking about trying out as soon as I see a press release announcing that they're casting.
Too bad I don't have an agent.
[ September 03, 2004, 03:25 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
I also loved Cowboy Bebop, but I never saw the dubbed version, that I recall. I loved *LOVED* the music. I play The Egg and I in the car sometimes, and the themesong.
I was introduced to Fist of the North Star and Akira, etc. back in the late 80s, early 90s, but we always called it Anime, because that's what our source, Tadashi, called it. Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Yoko Kanno did the music for that. If you want a CD filled with her, I'm the one to talk to Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I grew up on the dubbed version of "Cowboy Bebop" - the same English voice actors who do "Big O", if you've seen that show.
Which makes me like "Big O" even more than I might otherwise.
-Trevor
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
What'd Big O about? Sounds mildly questionable...
I downloaded some of the Bebop music, listed under the bandname 'seatbelt'. Ring any bells?
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
It shows up on Adult Swim's Cartoon Network from time to time.
-Trevor
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
quote:I downloaded some of the Bebop music, listed under the bandname 'seatbelt'. Ring any bells?
Yoko Kanno is the composer. The Seatbelts are the performers Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Awesome. See, now we seriously have to have a Hatrack anime con. Because we could invite Jenny and it would rock!!!
I don't have many suggestions that haven't already been suggested, but I will address the question at the head of the thread. There are many great things about anime and manga, including interesting and expressive art styles, stories that don't talk down to people, and steps forwards in the animation genre.
However, when people talk about how great anime/manga is, they often talk only about the good stuff. At its worst, anime can be derivative, cheap, socially harmful, and culturally confusing. Anime fans can be just as bad, which turns people off from anime as entertainment. Even deeply mired in the bowels of fandom as I am, I find that many fans just... irritate me. Yep. A lot.
Meh. Whether people like anime/manga or don't is their own personal choice, a truth many fans have problems with. ("How can you only like Miyazaki films!? There are other great directors too! OTOMO!!!!")
Anyway. My favorite manga are Shaman King, Please Save My Earth, Firefighter Daigo of Fire Company M, Kodocha, and Magic Knight Rayearth. I actually like manga often much more than I like the anime based on it, mostly because they don't often innovate when making the anime.
Movies that are really really good are Tokyo Godfathers, Perfect Blue, and X. (though X is rather confusing.)
I had something else to say, but I can't remember what.
Oh, and for the record, I love my Sailor Moon curtains. Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I remembered. In the past there has been a lot of difficulties with movie rental joints and so on knowing what is porn and what is not. It's gotten a lot better lately, which is frankly a relief. It's kind of a shame to think that people have been prevented from being able to see good anime because of danger of possible porn. Also, kids who like anime are sometimes persecuted by their parents because of the possible porn.
It's also a matter of another culture... :/ It's not as if these animations are being showed to children.
Posted by WraithSword (Member # 6829) on :
There's also the slight risk of certain kinds of anime causing insanity. The fact that I'm posting on this board is proof of this.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Ryuko...somehow, I knew you'd be the "kind of person" who likes Hayearth and has Sailor Moon curtains.
(I'll never let my girlfriend read this thread, or she'll also want sailor moon curtains. I can't STAND sailor moon. I abhor the series. )
Now...I had the oportunity of buying the "Tokyo Godfathers" DVD. Is it good?
(By the way, Ryuko...Naruto is a blast!)
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I REALLY want to see Tokyo Godfathers. I loved PErfect Blue, and really enjoyed Millennium Actress. Satoshi Kon is a name to watch out for in my book!
--
And while I've never seen an episode of the show (dubbed or subbed), I have read the Dragon Ball (pre-Z era) Manga, and find it absolutely hilarious. Akira Toriyama is a mad genius. The beginning of Dragon Ball is more absurdist comedy than non-stop fighting. That didn't happen until quite a bit down in the story's run.
I have watched and read some Naruto, and agree that it soo is tons of fun.
And now... my guilty admission: I've been watching some of the un-cut original Japanese Sailor Moon from the first season, and... *wince* I like it. It's cheesy, but has actually made me laugh out loud a few times. The Usagi-Mamoru encounters always make me grin.
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Awesome. See, now we seriously have to have a Hatrack anime con. Because we could invite Jenny and it would rock!!!