posts tagged “Gainax”
[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
24 Sep 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Evangelion, Gainax, Hideaki Anno]
Buy Tramadol Without Prescription, As I'm typing this long-overdue (and lengthy) post I'm listening to the debut record from 65 Days of Static, The Fall of Math (hence the above title), which to me is an appropriate accompaniment to this film. I've gone over how I first encountered the show already but as with most people who have seen the feature-length alternative ending, it has been a long-standing source of wonder, buy no prescription Tramadol online, discussion and head-scratching ever since. Doses Tramadol work, My appreciation of both the likes of End of Evangelion and music that's also thought of as experimental and alternative is fairly similar: they are challenging and take a bit of getting into, are all too able to lose you in the layers of meaning and artistry but you can't but admit that they're an impressive piece of work. That and the fact that the song title in question pretty much sums up how I feel that you don't have to ‘get’ everything about this movie to appreciate it, where to buy Tramadol. A seminal film in anime history is of course quite different from an instrumental rock album recorded by four guys from Sheffield...
The token symbolic-looking screenie, complete with a naked Rei/Lilith to placate the fanboys
The first half of EoE is brutal to the point of excess and the second half feels like a storyteller being deliberately obtuse (given the death threats and various other forms of psychological trauma he experienced, I can't say I blame him either) and yet it's still something I can re-watch, Buy Tramadol Without Prescription. Tramadol description, For one thing it's head and shoulders above the TV show in terms of art quality - we had to wait for the first Rebuild movie to see what Anno and co would do with a big budget. More interestingly it's also the first time we see him take on live-action film making and spread his wings in a feature-length presentation.
It's a brazen and unsubtle attempt at drawing a line under the whole affair but with hindsight we all know how EoE isn't the end of Evangelion at all; in finishing the original storyline however I don't think there could have been a more definite (and petulant) way to wrap things up, canada, mexico, india. The first half, Tramadol maximum dosage, consisting of an all-out assault on Nerv HQ, is bloody violent; it really does feel like the studio staff had some sort of temper tantrum, and leads me to make the tentative criticism that the desire to revel in this violence makes it gratuitous, australia, uk, us, usa. While Air Buy Tramadol Without Prescription, may well have been the original plan for the episode #25 airing, I suspect the bloodletting was upped purely because the cinema would allow more of it than a TV station might have done. Even so, Buy cheap Tramadol, many of these graphic instances didn't provide much more than shock value.
You have been pwned, Japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, etc., etc. Joking aside though, comprar en línea Tramadol, comprar Tramadol baratos, what is the point to this?
The film is basically a physical and mental apocalypse, Generic Tramadol, which means emotion and dramatic effect are upped to the maximum and everything - and everyone - is smashed to smithereens. Nerv is annihilated and almost all human life within is extinguished; Misato, arguably my favourite character of the entire series, Tramadol duration, dies in a bomb blast while the rest of the cast and Earth's population dissolve into puddles of LCL. In a remarkable turnaround, my dislike for Asuka's character disappeared entirely when her final scene sees her fight an impossible battle with heroic abandon and die in the most graphic way imaginable, Buy Tramadol Without Prescription. Rx free Tramadol, At this point, the gallons of blood flowing were totally justified in my eyes; possibly because the deaths of Misato and Asuka are significant, and their ends were so full of pathos, where can i cheapest Tramadol online. These two events have more of a bearing on the course the rest of the film than some hapless Nerv employee being gunned down because they clearly affect Shinji Ikari's state of mind, Tramadol cost, which is what the resolution of the movie hinges on. The genuine character insight and dance of death that makes these scenes so poingnant are painful to watch...but they sure as hell are effective.
My dere-dere breakdown happens around here: Asuka, cheap Tramadol, I'm sorry. I don't hate you any more Buy Tramadol Without Prescription, The whole film is about isolation, destruction, devotion and so much else; the reason why I love the medium of film to convey such concepts is that they are so fluid - the creators can be as specific or as vague as they see fit, sometimes in clever instances such as this do both simultaneously. Ordering Tramadol online, On the downside there have been numerous misinterpretations that have had to be refuted (so much for drawing a line under the story, huh?) but despite these the imagery is enough for me to get a satisfactory interpretation out of it, as vague as it is, buy Tramadol no prescription.
Despite being full of bloodletting, Tramadol natural, dismemberment and various other forms of carnage I still cite EoE as a gorgeous looking film. My favourite section is that of the live-action footage that mixes with the animation: the piano solo arrangement of Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring has a bittersweet and minimalist feel that fits perfectly with the cuts of cityscapes, Tramadol images, swings in parks, Online buy Tramadol without a prescription, cats on roofs and, most intriguing of all, (I think) shots of the cinema theatre the movie was premiered in played back to the very audience, Tramadol blogs.
"Is there anybody out there?" I've always wondered if Anno has seen the movie adaptation of The Wall
The problem with being so experimental is of course that the series, Order Tramadol no prescription, at least at first, was geared to one sort of audience - the ordinary otaku demographic who appreciate straightforward mecha and drama sci-fi - while EoE appeals to a slightly different one. It is considerably more demanding of its viewers and expects them to work much harder to glean a meaning from the bizarre imagery; which is all well and good if the fans of the series walked in with that expectation, but in many cases they probably didn't, Buy Tramadol Without Prescription. Aside from the irritating online know-it-alls who split hairs and flame all those who disagree that THEIR interpretation is the right one, my Tramadol experience, this film suffers from something akin to false advertising, Buy Tramadol online cod, albeit possibly intentionally.
I don't know exactly what Anno was trying to say with that live-action segment but judging by the point in the film that it appears, the message it gave to me personally was "This is your world, where can i order Tramadol without prescription. Not the animated fictional world you've been witnessing so far. Tramadol without a prescription, Would you leave this world behind?" It seems to ask, unequivocally and even more directly at the viewer, if the world that these everyday but strangely beautiful images come from deserves to be lost; it's almost as if the film is trying to bridge the gap between the world of anime and live action cinema, buy cheap Tramadol no rx.
Tokyo-1, pre-Second Impact, presumably
Is this postmodern film making. Breaking down the fourth wall. Tramadol schedule, Neither. Both. Quite frankly I don't care because, effects of Tramadol, while I'll never claim to ‘get it’, Tramadol dangers, the visual and musical onslaught and visceral beauty still leaves me speechless and every time I rewatch it, whether alone or with friends, my impression shifts a little, herbal Tramadol. Part of this is noticing new things, Purchase Tramadol for sale, while part is an effect that I only experience every so often: my impression of the film changes as my own perceptions change. I think the messages of a truly memorable film grow and change with you, as this one does with me, Tramadol price, and manages to be universal in its themes while at the same time giving very different and personal impressions that stay with you.
One last Anno-ism for your delectation: for those of you who scrolled all the way through the wall of text in search of more naked Rei/Lilith pictures, hang your heads in shame.
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[10 Comments]
[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
30 Dec 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Evangelion, Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Over-analysis, Self-indulgent nostalgia]
Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, On a number of occasions I've alluded to my somewhat unconventional (albeit not unique) introduction to anime fandom. While it hasn't exactly changed my entire outlook on life or anything, it certainly set the course that my viewing and appreciation would take and even to this day shapes my views on many of the aspects that make up the reviews and editorials on this very blog, for better or for worse, buy no prescription Allopurinol online.
I'm doing this review partly because
Neon Genesis Evangelion hasn't had a full review or editorial here dedicated to it; also it's a way of putting my current opinions on anime in general into context. Two of these are those of the Apologist and Elitist stances,
Allopurinol samples, which hopefully will be accompanying posts in the coming weeks. Everyone's hobbies and interests have to start somewhere, even if that somewhere is a little embarrassing and inappropriate; this was mine, and I'll leave it to you to decide how embarrassing and inappropriate an introduction it was,
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To understand where I'm coming from here, try to imagine for a moment how I felt back in 2003 or so, Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. At that time my anime viewing pretty much began and ended with having seen Miyazaki's Laputa on TV at the age of nine or thereabouts. My knowledge and experience as an anime fan was a completely blank slate, Allopurinol without prescription, although I was exposing myself to the genre of world cinema in a big way for the first time. I was in the middle of a pretty unpleasant course of antidepressants and in the second half of my university degree so my views on a lot of things were in a state of flux and, looking back now with hindsight, in a state of confusion too, cheap Allopurinol. Two good friends of mine at uni were into a lot of musical and film/TV stuff that I was into and perhaps because we had so much common ground they took it upon themselves to show me some more eclectic parts of their DVD collections.
With a certain something playing on his PC in one corner (I later deduced that it was an early episode of the second season of Naruto Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, ), my uni buddy passed me a cup of coffee and declared "this is a science fiction show about some kids who fight alien-like creatures called Angels in giant robots. Let me know what you think." The DVD in question was a R1 import of NGE (at this point the only way to get hold of the box set in the UK was via import and a multiregion player). Buy Allopurinol from mexico, I watched the first episode, and was intrigued. I watched the rest of the first volume and politely requested to see the second. At approximately eight am the following morning, australia, uk, us, usa, with the final "Congratulations!" ringing in my ears, I felt that I'd seen something extraordinary.
In the months that followed we'd chill out and watch the opening ep of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi that was on a free DVD on the cover of Newtype, an ep of two of Najica Blitz Tactics (one of us thought it was great, while the other two of us rolled around with laughter), or the full series of FLCL (which is another story), Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. Allopurinol brand name, Sometimes we'd listen to some Our Lady Peace or Counting Crows, or play Operation Desert Storm 2 with the OST to Black Hawk Down as BGM but aside from good memories of good times, I remember those days as being a Eureka Moment when one of my biggest interests first took hold. Granted, Allopurinol recreational, I never saw much of it coming. Joining the UK-A forums, Allopurinol schedule, getting an e-mail from Bateszi with a request to be a reviewer for his fledgling fan site, starting an anime blog of my own. I couldn't imagine any of this happening, nor can I guess where it would lead in future, Allopurinol natural. Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, To Rob and Seth, I know we stay in touch but you guys probably don't read this blog. If you do, you have my sincere thanks; here's hoping we can meet up and hang out together sometime in 2008 and have a laugh like the Good Old Days. Purchase Allopurinol online, The Review
So, Evangelion. If you didn't go all tl;dr by now, you'd realise why I've found it so hard to look at it objectively that only now have I dared to review it, Allopurinol photos. Since certain aspects of reviewing are anything but objective, I hope you can at least understand why it's important from my own perspective. Moving away from my own point of view into facts and hard evidence though, is it still an important show, Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. Order Allopurinol online overnight delivery no prescription, If only from the perspective of understanding why it's such a talked-about series, you can't help but take on board the significance of the strained relations among the creative team and the mythology and rumours surrounding its production. Taking the most simplistic view, the studio ran out of money and did an ending few were satisfied with, Allopurinol without a prescription. The promise of a second chance (and/or a cash injection) prompted a theatrical remake of the ending, which was also controversial. Allopurinol dangers,
Ignoring this decade of furore and cash cow milking on the part of Gainax (through excessive merchandise) and ADV (excessive reissues of the episodes on DVD and VHS, although the Platinum Edition is the one worth having), the series itself is an outstanding one, if flawed in places,
Allopurinol maximum dosage.
Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, When memories of seeing it for the first time are as rose-tinted as mine, overlooking its faults requires a conscious effort to avoid; when making an effort to be objective though, I'm still temped to say it's a well-done piece. The old problem of hype is a root cause of it here, because newcomers are all too often made aware of either its shortcomings or strengths,
Doses Allopurinol work, but rarely both.
I didn't like EVERYTHING about it, mind, and still don't, rx free Allopurinol. The animation quality was uneven throughout, as was the pacing. Allopurinol from canadian pharmacy, It seemed to make lusting after 14-year old girls somehow acceptable. Many of the characters had traits that were exaggerated to the point at which they were representations of archetypes than well-rounded people we can relate to, Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. It might not even stand up to what came later if it were to be made today: the likes of RahXephon, Gasaraki and Eureka Seven are more skilful in terms of portraying how real people would behave, in a believable manner; they are also more consistent in quality, Allopurinol canada, mexico, india. The perennial Rah/Eva debate brings up the question "would NGE be the more famous of the two if it wasn't made first?", for example. Where can i buy Allopurinol online, I suspect it wouldn't, but since it WAS made first, that point is purely academic. I will say though that Rah looks prettier, Allopurinol overnight, has more believable characters and is a more consistent product overall, so if I were to stick my neck out and make a choice I'd say Rah is the more enjoyable series - I'll get around to reviewing that properly in due course too. Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, In getting back to the main point that makes up this latter half of this post, NGE is nevertheless still worth watching and still worth respecting - even though, to put it into the simplest of terms, certain bits of it suck. After Allopurinol, The story isn't as original as it might seem at first glance: the religious imagery and subplots were intended to be superficial but only became topic of discussion when certain viewers (namely overseas ones with a working knowledge of Christian and Jewish lore) read between the lines and sought deeper meaning in aspects that had no deeper meaning. They ignored the simpler messages of facing up to responsibility and, like their Japanese otaku cousins, argued over trivialities such as who killed Kaji, Allopurinol online cod. As I discovered with ef-a tale of memories, which incidentally uses artistic techniques and plot devices similar to Anno-isms, Buy cheap Allopurinol no rx, there are very few *new* stories; the fun comes from seeing old ideas being blended together and told in a new and refreshing way. In that sense NGE did indeed reinvent the mecha genre and offered an exciting alternative approach to storytelling in sci-fi.
Unfortunately an ‘emo’ lead, a blunt approach to presenting its ideas that came across as clumsiness, obtuseness for the sake of being obtuse and sidestories that made themselves out to be more important than they were obscured this by making it fundamentally flawed in several areas, Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. It makes for frustrating viewing at times because it was at first playful and pandered to the drooling otaku (as exemplified by the promises of fan service in the next-episode previews) but later on moodily dared you to enjoy or even understand it; the creative mind's thought processes acted like a tsundere's character development working in reverse.
I lay my praises and criticisms alike at the feet of Hideaki Anno, Allopurinol from canada, who I see as being prone to bad judgement but also prone to being a genius. He knew his storytelling approach was risky and self-indulgent; I don't necessarily think he should have done all of it in the way that he did, Allopurinol australia, uk, us, usa, but he had personal reasons for his semi-deliberate mistakes. The bottom line is that I love his daring and the Anno-isms: the odd camera angles, the abstract animation styles and the self-confidence in his direction that enters the realms of over-confidence, are not the core of the story but get the messages across in a way that had not been done before; the thing is, buy Allopurinol from canada, they often worked and when they didn't, you can't help but admire their inventiveness. Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, The groundbreaking mecha designs (which are awesome partly because they aren't mecha at all), Sagisu's excellent soundtrack and Sadamoto's iconic character designs all work together to make it great. Allopurinol description, The one aspect that makes it both epic win and epic fail simultaneously is the creator's brazen and deliberate attempt to make an animated science fiction series into not only a successful commercial product but a successful artistic one and a ‘fuck you’ aimed at the fan culture he both worked for and derided. Anno is a complicated man but he's a gifted film maker too. I can't NOT respect him, even when I don't like what he's doing at the time, Allopurinol results.
In Closing
NGE isn't perfect. It isn't even original or the best show of its type; it is however an important and therefore worthwhile viewing experience, Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription. For me personally, Comprar en línea Allopurinol, comprar Allopurinol baratos, its mystery-thriller elements made me appreciate stuff that makes you think, and made me into something of an elitist. Its combination of glaring faults and moments of brilliance taught me to overlook the negatives to appreciate the positives, and enjoy something that was both flawed and brilliant; this was the beginning of my life as an apologist, Allopurinol street price. It made me the fan I am today but also did the same for others. I can sympathise with newbies who got into anime through NGE as I did: those people who declare it to be ‘the best evar’. Buy Allopurinol Without Prescription, It isn't. Real brand Allopurinol online, All I can say to those people is, give it time and you'll see other shows that do the same thing, perhaps more effectively: Rah did the mystery and epic scale better, Gasaraki handled the politics more convincingly and Eureka Seven had a more likeable lead with a more engaging romantic subplot, purchase Allopurinol online no prescription.
NGE is however a landmark of its respective genres, if not the best one; it formed for a number of us a springboard to a wider and more varied experience of the medium as an alternative to Pokemon, Studio Ghibli and Shonen Jump. I don't recommend it because it's the best; I recommend it because it shows how an animated story can succeed and fail, how a sci-fi drama can be told. Controversy aside it still matters and I'll still look at it as something special.
From the point of view of you, the reader, this is either the best post I've made to date, or the worst. I honestly don't know which.
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[6 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
26 Dec 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: ABC, Gainax, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Twelve days of Christmas]
Stromectol For Sale, And so, with the final day of our Twelve Days of Christmas countdown, I've worked my way through a metric tonne of turkey, numerous glasses of assorted alcoholic beverages and a countless number of mince pies to give you guys the last Highlight of 2007. Some will cite Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann as a classic in the making for the mecha action; some will have appreciated Yoko's fanservice x girl with gun combo but for me the series is purest win for re-affirming my faith in Gainax, about Stromectol. Stromectol dosage, After some pretty mediocre efforts I can't stress enough the importance of seeing them getting back to what they do best, and doing it well, Stromectol pics. Stromectol description, *Glaringly obvious spoiler within*
I'd salute that
There's something about Gurren Lagann that can turn even the most articulate and insightful bloggers into raving fanboys who eschew thoughtful commentary for fanboy raves peppered with superlatives and CAPS LOCK. Before placing my reviews on temporary hiatus after ADV's licence announcement I tried to get a grasp on the reasoning behind this bizarre phenomenon and came up blank, cheap Stromectol no rx. I guess the truth is, Gurren Lagann has a pure and simple raison d'être: it is supposed to be MINDLESS FUN, Stromectol For Sale. Order Stromectol from United States pharmacy, See. I'm hitting the caps lock button and I'm only onto the second paragraph, Stromectol from canadian pharmacy. Stromectol pharmacy, At the time of writing I have merely the slightest inkling of Nia's place in the story, with no knowledge of the spirals vs, where can i order Stromectol without prescription. Stromectol without prescription, antispirals and whatever happens in the second half. Stromectol For Sale, I did however catch a few minutes of the last episode which, while not being enough to be spoilerific, seemed to show entire galaxies being thrown like ninja shuriken on an outrageous scale that matches the two Gunbuster OAVs. This is possibly where Gurren Lagann acquires its cult following: it is so gleefully over-the-top, buy no prescription Stromectol online, Fast shipping Stromectol, gar and self-aware (or rather, fan-aware) that it endears itself to the audience, is Stromectol addictive. Stromectol forum, Memorable Moment
Because the show followed a no-holds-barred attitude, I found it difficult to pick out, Stromectol no prescription, Doses Stromectol work, say, one particular mecha battle that was particularly outstanding because so many of them had me glued to the screen and grinning like a dumb kid on a sugur rush, no prescription Stromectol online. Buy Stromectol without a prescription, The sudden gear shifts into characterisation mode were ironically the times when the series scored so highly in my view because it managed to show guts and a sense of fun but a great deal of heart too. The story is after all about Simon's emergence from an underground village as a shy young boy to becoming a Badass Hero™; if the characters were not as colourful and engaging, my Stromectol experience, Order Stromectol from mexican pharmacy, this could never work. So, Stromectol wiki, Stromectol from mexico, as my parting shot I declare a (predictably) high point of Gurren Lagann, albeit an early one, rx free Stromectol, Stromectol alternatives, as being the clash of eyeball-melting action with the manly tears of tragedy to be, the eternally awesome Kamina and his heroic last stand, buying Stromectol online over the counter. Stromectol gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, Huerrgh.
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[4 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
21 Apr 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Huerrgh!, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]
It's not often that we see a new GAINAX show but even I have to admit that it's not always necessarily as good as it sounds - now that there's a 'new generation' of staff there now it hardly seems the same studio any more. That said, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an absolute blast.
Apparently the director was also the one behind Dead Leaves, which may explain the frantic energy behind
TTGL (sorry, the title is one hell of a mouthful and a pain to type out in full). In some ways it reminds me of
FLCL with its youthful and manic vibe; there's no deep and meaningful stuff under the surface here though. Instead
TTGL is pure, unbridled fun: right from the opening scene that looks like it was born from spare storyboards left over from Top o Nirae! 2, it already shows the 'hard work and guts' mantra. Instead of aiming for the stars however, our hero Simon has less lofty ambitions: reaching the surface!
The series is actually set underground, in a village in which Simon works as a driller, burrowing through the earth like a human mole. The first scene with its dramatic explosions is presumably some time in the future, because Simon and the other central characters are stuck underground in constant fear of earthquakes and the like. In the mother of all in-jokes Simon winds up as the pilot of a mecha that is to save his friends from giant hideous monsters.
I know it smacks of GAINAX flogging that old idea to death but
TTGL really feels different from their earlier series. Firstly there the pacing, which feels like you've necked an entire box of Pro Plus with a bowl of sugar for afters; secondly I was having too much fun to care that the characters are (possibly intentionally) derivative. Kamina, who adopts Simon as his kid brother, is macho to the point of being a hazard to himself while Yoko is the definitive Gainax fanservice character. That's right people, the (in)famous Gainax Bounce is alive and well!
Therein lies the main potential problem with this show: the presumably deliberate recycling of ideas for comic effect, as well as the nauseatingly over-the-top speed at which the events play out, could prove to be too much to handle; I suspect that it's the kind of thing that I couldn't sit down and watch too much in one sitting. For short, bright and outrageous entertainment that never stops to draw breath (and doesn't give the viewer chance to draw breath either) though,
TTGL is an absolute winner.
[No Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
15 Apr 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World]
Okay, I bought this DVD because I'm a GAINAX nut. Normally this sort of show would scarcely catch my interest but I have some sort of blind faith that it's going to take a formulaic premise to places it's never been before...because that's what GAINAX do. For TUYBW I hope to hell that this is what's going to happen. There are a few signs that it will turn things on their heads in a big way, although it's not yet obvious; for now, the fanservice is cranked up into the stratosphere and it's the ecchi-flavoured saccharine stuff that I normally sit through with gritted teeth. On the other hand, there are dark undercurrents that bubble to the surface on occasion, so the show has potential in my eyes.
The premise really is thoroughly formulaic. A teenage boy sees a falling star that takes the form a beautiful (naked) girl who coincidentally is the picture of his ideal woman. After somehow acquiring momentary super powers (that are not seen for the remainder of the volume, I might add) he rescues her from a vicious monster and she ends up living in his house...with predictable results. That's pretty brief I know, but it's very difficult to discern what's significant and what's part of the normal run of things. Being part of the studio's 20th Anniversary (along with
Gunbuster 2), it's visually impressive at least - the colours are bright and vibrant, and the animation quality is pretty good too.
The show shares a lot of the production staff with
Mahoromatic, another sci-fi romance that hid a darker streak amongst the fanservice and the fluff. That series was surprisingly enjoyable, and I have similar hopes for
TUYBW; it also shares
Mahoromatic's high quota of fan service - there are plenty of breast shots and the like here but it's (mostly) in context. You see a girl half-naked but that's because she's just fallen to Earth or is taking a shower: the nudity isn't exactly essential for the story but it doesn't feel forced either. There are one or two moments of excess, mind - the show could do without the character of Jennifer Portman altogether - but overall it comes across as GAINAX twisting the tried and tested again. Let's face it, what other studio has this much practice with the fanservice genre anyway?
That said, my moe tolerance levels are very low so the characterisation is going to be the main thing that will keep me following the series. Takeru is an engaging lead and it's novel having but not one but two 'mysterious' girls turning up, in the form of Hikari and Akari; the dynamics between the members of the cast are impressive considering how we are introduced to a relatively large number of them very quickly. The character designer allegedly worked hard to pull off the feat of making them individual and interesting while keeping to the 'cute' template and I have to say it shows; I'm still not convinced that they need to fit this 'cutesy' archetype but that's the course the writers have decided on so I'll just have to live with it.
There are some inconsistencies or rather moments that feel out-of-place, though. The initial meeting between Ryou and Akari for instance feels like it was thrown in a bit suddenly, and everyone seems quick to accept that Hikari is an entity from outer space; this all feels like sloppy plotting but it could just as easily be the first signs of something very unusual going on.
Summary
The first episodes of
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World show much promise, provided the sugary and moe-laden aesthetic doesn't put you off first. There are hints of darker and angstier times ahead though, so I suspect it's going to live up to its title and deliver a satisfyingly hard-hitting tale as the series progresses. At least, I hope so.
[4 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
24 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Kare Kano]
"...and that's the script for episode 26."
All: "Noooes!"
Okay, I'll be serious about this.
As the series reaches its final phase the whole school is a hive of activity in the run-up to the culture-fest and there is more than enough worry, angst and stress to go around. Arima still has uncertainties concerning his relationship with Yukino; a dilemma not helped by the fact that she has much in common with Tomani and as a result gets on very well with him. Arima in contrast is suffering from the hectic study/festival preparations schedule and is wracked with guilt for feeling jealous over the friendship they share. Can Tomani realise before it's too late? Meanwhile, the play that Aya is writing could well be cancelled: can the girls learn their lines, find a practice space and get it onto the stage?
All in all it's setting up for an edge-of-the-seat finale where characters old and new clash at the end of term and the whole situation gets some closure. At least that's what I was hoping. Unfortunately the age-old Gainax Ending throws it all into chaos and everything that has built up to this point begins to fall apart. There isn't really an 'ending' to speak of at all as a matter of fact: it just feels incomplete.
I know that there were 'extenuating circumstances' that surrounded the conclusion of this series that require more explanation than I have space here: as with
Fruits Basket and Miyazaki's
Nausicaa it would have been too much to ask in 'properly' ending things when the parent manga was still ongoing but in all honesty there are several ways in which some particular problems could have been avoided. I wasn't expecting a 'happily ever after' conclusion to the Arima-Yukino relationship: it was portrayed as a realistic romance between two realistic people and for things to be over like that would have gone against what that relationship was about. It was the fact that a subplot was introduced at a really late stage and as a result the existing story arcs were not given the screen time they deserved. What happened with Aya's play and the culture festival? Was there really a love triangle? Did Asaba's sleazy plan work out? You'll have to read the manga I'm afraid because there are no answers here.
Don't get me wrong, it doesn't render the whole series a waste of time; far fom it. Apart from one or two recaps too many, this show is nigh-on flawless and will always have a special place in my heart - more than
Evangelion even. The last episodes were just so...abrupt. You really get attached to these people, you want to know what happens to them. Even
Eva had some sort of resolution, obtuse, vague and unexpected as it was. Here, there's a distinct impression of things that need to be said, going unsaid, that go beyond what you can guess for yourself.
Final thoughts
I suppose really did lay into
Kare Kano too much there - I don't want a bad ending to make you think it's a bad series. In all but the last couple of episodes it actually overcomes its weaknesses and turns them around to make it more interesting: the simplified imagery that resulted from time and budget restraints actually conveyed some things more effectively. Let's face it, how often do you see a rom-com win over a jaded sci-fi thriller fan?
I would never have thought that the everyday lives of everyday characters could be more interesting and compelling than anything else I've yet seen. Perhaps it's Masami Tsuda's amazing story (one I will be reading for sure in the near future); perhaps it's Hideaki Anno's ability to home in on the deepest human emotions and bring them spectacularly to life. My guess is, it's a bit of both. Try to forget how badly it ends: this series deserves to be remembered as a shining example of how moving character drama can be.
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22 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Kare Kano]
The focus of the series shifts back towards the Yukino/Arima relationship once more as Yukino spends the remainder of her summer break soul-searching and analysing her own feelings. Soon it is time for an emotional reunion for them both, just in time for an hectic new semester featuring an old face coming back to haunt Tsubaki. As if this wasn't enough for them to worry about, the upcoming culture-fest promises yet more demands on their time and energy, but with the possibility of free lecture notes for the lucky winners...
A lot happens in this volume, with a second subplot exploring the life of one of the supporting characters. With a cast as varied and engaging as this, it's a shame there isn't time to explore them all: Tsubaki's 'old friend' (below) is an interesting sort who will undoubtedly make school life a lot more colourful later on!
The main event is, of course, Arima's arrival home and the situations that result between him and Yukino. After the temporary diversion in disc #3 it's great to revisit them and see the effects that the summer break has had on their relationship; while initially Yukino was questioning where it's all headed, the joy they both feel when they meet again is truly heart-rending. There won't be a dry eye in the house when you watch this, trust me.
Perhaps inevitably, the subject of their romance going to the 'next level' is explored, in the episode
Progress. I won't go into too much detail here but suffice to say that a very important issue is dealt with but it's handled in a really eloquent way. After a deep and meaningful conversation the two of them are caught in a rainstorm; Arima offers to take Yukino to his house to shelter from the downpour and...
This is where Anno's deft touch as a director really shines. Little is shown but enough is implied to convey the significance of the scene without descending into gratuitous fan service; the music and subtle imagery work in perfect harmony to mark a very sensitive turning point in the story. Credit is also due to the seiyuus for Arima and Yukino, whose performances deliver the superb dialogue with sincerity and, to put it bluntly, damn good acting.
All in all this has been a brilliant return to form for
Kare Kano and not even the patchy animation can detract from the sheer quality of the material. Series like this are rare, and it's a real shame that UK viewers have to resort to importing to get hold of it. Honestly, it's a gem.
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20 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Kare Kano]
Arima has left for the National Kendo Championships so Yukino is left at home and decides to while away her time studying and hanging around with her friends. Tsubasa (the cute but bratty little classmate from the last volume) is having trouble at home however: her dad is remarrying and Tsubasa is so distraught that she storms out of the house only to move in with Yukino's family.
With Arima out of the picture the story shifts its focus towards the friends surrounding him and Yukino: Tsubasa's predicament is particularly interesting and highlights the problems associated with the loss and gain of family members. It is understandable that she resents her dad finding another woman in his life (below) but with
Kare Kano being what it is this is not as clear-cut as it seems. Tsubasa has to go acquire emotional maturity and fast: she needs to understand her father's feelings as well as her own.
Two unexpected things come out of this: firstly, the evil stepmum figure is actually a really pleasant and caring person (a perfect companion to Tsubasa's absent-minded but well-meaning dad) and secondly, she has a son who happens to get along really well with Tsubasa. It's really nice to see a character go from being a selfish, spoilt child and become a more considerate individual who now has an likeable brother figure; after all, this is a role that Arima is finding increasingly difficult to fulfill!
The Tsubasa-orientated story arc could have easily have become a filler section but it is so enjoyable on its own that it is instead a refreshing diversion from the main story. Yukino becomes a supporting character for a while but her fiery friend and her family have more than enough entertainment value to keep the viewer occupied. We even go into the pasts of Yukino's parents and how they met; an interesting exercise in comparing this with their daughter's experiences of first love.
Unfortunately this portion of the series is exhibiting even more pronounced cost-cutting measures in terms of animation (either that or it's Anno being experimental again), the worst of which being the blight of anime TV series: the infamous Recap Episode. In
Kare Kano most episodes begin with a minute or two of catch-up which is usually short enough to be bearable; in this case the studio are clearly stalling for time and it is best avoided. With Arima yet to return home I really hope that this excellent series isn't coming off the rails as it enters its second half.
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12 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Kare Kano]
At the end of the first volume of His and Her Circumstances we see Yukino and Arima meet, fall in love and begin their relationship. All six episodes were very concerned with their feelings, hopes and fears; this time the focus goes outward to the family and friends and we see how their romance affects those around them, and vice-versa.
The incessant dating that they have been going on is beginning to make itself felt: their grades (particularly Yukino's, much to her own dismay) have suffered and they are pulled up in front of the teachers for some unpleasant home truths (below). They are told that unless they refuse to see each other, their parents will be called in - can their relationship survive the harshness of studying?
As if this wasn't enough, Arima has to contend with a not-so-secret admirer who has returned to school only to find he is now with Yukino...at the same time Yukino is coming to terms with the unwanted attention and jealousy that her new approach to life brings.
The opening episode is pretty serious stuff, dealing with the issue of how social and academic lives clash - compounded with Yukino's and Arima's recent changes in attitude and priorities, this makes for some of the most serious (and compelling) drama so far. The way in which both sets of parents react to the news is both surprising and insightful - it's good to see that the writers have taken care into the supporting cast.
Speaking of supporting cast, Yukino's experiences are an eye-opening insight into high school social politics, in which scheming classmates (such as Maho Izawa, above) try to bring her down. When one of them has a crush on her boyfriend this is hardly going to help; Tsubasa, the girl in question, is an interesting character who injects a lot of manic fury into the situations that present themselves.
As before, the distinctive Anno-isms and the less desirable money-saving animation measures are very much in evidence. Fortunately this adds to the charm and enjoyment rather than detracting from it and the zany humour is almost always spot-on with its timing. Sometimes the simplest techniques work best; a lingering glance or a holding of hands saying more than any amount of dialogue could. The biggest pleasant surprise of all is that, even though it's a teen rom-com from GAINAX, there is no fanservice whatsoever. During the entirety of this disc I didn't notice a single panty flash, cleavage shot or dash of toilet humour - as someone who at best tolerates fanservice and at worst is actually put off by it, I cannot stress enough how refreshing this is.
So, the second helping of
Kare Kano is another triumph of romantic comedy-drama - the comedy really is funny, the romance feels genuine and the drama
really makes the viewer care about what happens to the characters. On top of this Anno adds his trademark moments of deep introspection and unconventional direction to create an absolute gem.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be humming the theme tune for days.
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07 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gainax, Hideaki Anno, Kare Kano]
I'll be adding a full series review for the main site in due course but a volume-by-volume journal will be helpful for writing it up and it's made such an impression on me I can't help but share! ^_^
Kare Kano (a.k.a. His and Her Circumstances) is the first series Hideaki Anno directed after the storm of publicity that surrounded the Evangelion TV series and feature films. I'll openly admit to being a massive fan of the stuff that's come from the creative minds of this guy and his Studio Gainax colleagues but I was curious to see how they'd go about doing a simple and straightforward show that's devoid of giant robots, invading aliens, or even a love triangle. At first glance this adaptation of Masami Tsuda's manga series sounds like an ordinary high school romance story. But of course, this is Anno we're talking about here...
Meet Yukino and Arima. Yukino (left) is the perfect student: intelligent, cute, popular and successful. What her friends don't realise is that she is living a lie. Her 'top of the class' persona is a facade for loneliness, insecurity and an overwhelming desire to be admired and praised by those around her. Then she meets Arima (right). He too is good looking, intelligent and popular...and his grades have bested her own. Yukino immediately swears hatred to this student who appears to be superior to her in every way...until she starts to realise she's falling in love with him...
For the above reasons I was unsure what to expect from
Kare Kano. The visuals took me by surprise for a start: unlike the clean smoothness of FLCL the drawing style is very 1990s and gives it an almost retro appearance. Indeed, there are numerous moments of cost cutting - it is made for TV after all. At the same time there are plot devices that I can only decribe as 'Anno-isms': unusual colours, animated sequences and viewpoints. The opening credit sequence (with a delightfully uplifting Jpop tune) is full of strange drawing/painting techniques and the closing credits include odd live action shots that are different for every episode.
There is quite a lot of silly, cartoonish comedy too (above) which nevertheless somehow strikes a good balance with the really tender and heartfelt moments; one of the most amazing things about
Kare Kano is that it has the beautiful and the downright daft sitting side-by-side. Enough of the artistic side for now - I'll move onto what
really matters in this show: the characters and story.
At first I felt a mixture of dislike and sympathy for Yukino - the dishonest way in which she goes about life is shameful but thanks to her first encounters with Arima she learns the error of her ways and goes through some deep soul-searching and realises the importance of being true to herself (Anno-ism #1). It also becomes clear that Arima has his secrets too, and we soon see how both are nowhere near as happy with who they are as they try to make out. This is all building up to two inescapable facts: Yukino and Arima are made for each other, but the path of true love is not going to run at all smoothly!
All this is only touching on the various situations and events that surround our young couple; a lot happens in these first six episodes. In summary
Kare Kano has everything to make it a great high school romantic drama: In terms of storyline not a lot happens in actuality but its greatest strength is that the two central characters are fundamentally likeable, pleasant people who deserve each other in every sense. Add to this some inventive direction that works more effectively than it could ever be expected to and the result is the sweetest, most engaging animated romance show I've ever had the fortune to see.
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