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Attraction :: Anime City, Tokyo

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
tokyonight

When it comes to cities in anime, I think Tokyo has the lot covered (equivalent to NYC in film) , and that is one thing I love about it. Every take on Tokyo yields a different hue, and the base atmosphere of a series sometimes gives this city a great feeling. Here is the beginning of a post started sometime late 2006/ early 2007…

The other night, while laying down watching the seasonal picks, I pondered what city is that on screen? Tokyo, definitely Tokyo. I realized that Tokyo graces many many anime with it’s superbly complex and compelling ‘essence’. The streets, suburbs, festivals, views, history and development, etc all pour out from the anime screen.

Would it be necessary to considered Tokyo ‘the’ most used setting in Japanese animation? Or is it easily implied; by default? That is up to opinion, but it is highly used. For this reason, I will fetch my picks of “Best Animated Perspective of Tokyo”, though I really need to recall them all first.

Off the top of my head, there are so many series I’ve watched where the setting was Tokyo, which implies greater things considering my shallow experience history of anime. Out of the multitude, it boils down to a few things that make Tokyo as part of a series an attractive point. Briefly…

Active Environment

Many of the series which came to mind are setup in Tokyo, but not all of them “play in the environment.” How noticeable is the city? Does it feel good? Would I be sad if it wasn’t Tokyo? These are things I ask in order to gauge the level of activity, not that I think about this often. I think one of best examples is the FMP franchise. Really, I enjoy the way Kana and Sagara move about the city, and no I don’t recognize exact details of things, but knowing it’s Tokyo just gives it some sort of imaginable flavor. Yum!

Mood

Continuing with FMP, more specifically Fumoffu, the mood given off is like an imprint. While I don’t think we will have Pavlov in the conversation, but it is a good thing there are an abundance of moods for series set in Tokyo. What would happen if it was the same mood over and over… imprinting? NAO let’s hope not. Perhaps this relates to remnants of a series in memory; enjoyable memories of the city setting. What’s the most memorable Tokyo setting for a viewer? Does it have anything to do with the mood? I am not implying, these are fluid questions.

Framing

Place is one thing, but time is another; physics hubbub 101. There are a few noticeable anime out there with historic or future settings in Tokyo (Rurouni Kenshin and NGE, respectively), and I believe this is one contribution to general effect of the city. While it is Tokyo, it might not be anything recognizable, but still holds marvelously intrigue. Personally, I feel modern Tokyo is an attractive setting for anime, but I did enjoy post-Bakumatsu Tokyo as well as the underground concept brought by NGE (what a mess).

Unlike the quoted opening states, I don’t have a “best” at this moment, but some of my notables: FMP, Keroro, H+C, NGE, and Tokyo Majin (didn’t care for it overall). Though, I wonder if others have taken a favorite blend of Tokyo.

Ryan A

Posted in Anime, Random, weekly | 3 Comments »

Well It’s a Start

Monday, April 21st, 2008
yum

This is the first of my “weekly” posts, which are mostly about status; what was good last week and what am I looking forward to in the next 7 days.

Review

Looking back at my reflections for the week, I enjoyed. I think there is a good showing for Spring, despite appearing unattractive at first [and to many]. The shoujo feels naice, a little wobble in S.A, but the experience for newly premiered series (KKN, LibWars, 20 Faces) was intriguing?….

The Skinny

  • Library Wars in two strong episodes, great comedy, budding romance.
  • Kyouran Kazoku Nikki is ballistic, but I’m still skeptical in proceeding (as with 20 Faces).
  • xxxHOLiC Kei finished it’s first arc nicely, drenched in the tears of Zashiki Warashi, and an eyeball.
  • Nabari no Ou really begins to roll, with a cool, ashounen (like atypical) vibe and interesting characters. Killer e03!

Heroine Sampling

LW
VK
SA
NnO
KKN
xxx

Whoops, there’s a Yuuko sticking out ~~

Forecast

I need my shoujo! The slice-of-life flow of S.A is getting to me, and YUH, I *heart* vampires+goth, and can’t wait to see more fighting over books. I expect a decent showing this week, but it’s early Spring, and I’m on edge only for Nabari no Ou after killer ep03. Perhaps if I was watching Kurenai, which appears that it could go Black Lagoon at any moment while feeling like hearty slice-of-life and solid value, I would be urging for the next episode, but I’m being indecisive.

In any case, I feel good things coming (and no it doesn’t have the slightest relation to spankings).

Ryan A

Posted in Anime, Spring 2008 | 5 Comments »

Spring 2008 :: This should be fun

Thursday, April 10th, 2008
Spring

Blazed through the raws. At this time I believe there is only one series I’m waiting to premier, the one with many alias, but mostly I am happy with the premiers I’m choosing to follow. I’ll get right into it.

Nabari no Ou

nabari
nabari

Impression | First Episode Snaps

xxxHOLiC Kei

xxx
xxx

Impression | First Episode Snaps

Zettai Karen Children

loliesp
loliesp

Impression | First Episode Snaps

Vampire Knight

VK
VK

Impression | First Episode Snaps

S.A. ~Special A~

S.A
S.A

Impression | First Episode Snaps

Soul Eater

se
se

Impression | First Episode Snaps

It’s funny because I can’t really choose a top pick from these; last time I chose a seasonal pick was Nodame Cantabile, which was clear cut. All of them have solid points, but I could easily find myself preferring the manga versions, disliking a rushed end, finding a series too shoujo shounen, or just plain uninteresting. Being a non-episodic blogger has its perks, so I even if I don’t keep up with something, the Year-end Marathon list is always needing attention (Kurenai has already been put on that list, and RD might be as well).

For the season

I’m now using AniSnaps!, don’t mind watching a lot of these raw, and melative reflections have lifting my burden of episodic style. Therefore, I do intend to give Aloe Dream more attention. (pimpin) For reference, aloe’s melative reflections are updated frequently, and there is a feedback mechanism (comments, pings, etc) in the works.

Ryan A

note: the series with many alias is Daughter of 20-Faces. *edit: I totally forgot Library Wars as well, 720p yessah. On the reflections.

Posted in Anime, Priority, Spring 2008 | 2 Comments »

true tears :: Enforce the Discipline

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

It will be soon, the last aired episode of true tears, I will experience it… and end this “crunch marathon“. Basically, I found the series wonderful, for a number of reasons, but not perfect personally (what is these days).

Nature and Animation

These are perhaps the most noticeable attributes of true tears. The nature of the series begins as simple, un-fantastic life; it is a normal story, and continues to be so. One implication of this is that it is not relying on anything other than reality to get the message across; normal slice-of-life. Not every series can accomplish such a story well, but in trade of solid, realistic storytelling, the story lacks some dynamics, though the characters make up for variation. Of course, if the experience holds interest+intrigue, the dynamics are secondary.

The nature may be semi-bland, but true tears came with excellent animation for a seasonal production. I was entirely astonished at the 720p, which seemed to bring shining sequences every episode (see here), as well as fashionable character design. From the ANN page, P.A. Works has had some experience with notable series (recently Darker than Black), so I would say this is a great solo result. (It would be wise to look forward to more of their stuff.)

Execution and Character Development

If I were to choose the brilliance of true tears, it would among these particulars. Regular story, regular characters, but the presentation, the ordering of details, the timing… bravo! Really, everything in it’s right place. These writers had a great vision, and the harem result doesn’t matter after that; there has be good reasoning behind whatever the final may hold.

With notable execution, it is inevitable that the series had good characterization (light, moderate depth, and good flow). I believe I most enjoyed Aiko/Ai, simply for her ‘S’ appeal the progressive picture she came to be. The other two girls were pleasant. I didn’t latch to either of them, but their developments were awesome. Noe was a kaweirdo, and progresses as a weirdo that is cute, while Hiromi started as this coldish girl and became a colourful, tear-shedding beauty [with a slightly intimidating defensive side]. It’s great.

I shouldn’t pass off Noe as such a weirdo, she is perhaps the most intriguing character of the circle. Her expressions, ideas, and statements open a window usually seen in KyotoKey projects, but she dances worldly meaning and symbolism around Shinichirou. Innocent, yet innately mature at times, she was a good focal point for the story (is she the final girl).

Necessary Reduction

I did enjoy the moments of moe and little bits of fluff, but the previous points are worthy of the experience. Though, my personal key flaw, was lack of connection, I did not feel strongly compelled for the overall result (heart connection).

How can it have such an amazing aura,
yet lack the essence of connection?

This may have to do with story dynamics (compare to H+C), but I just didn’t FEEL that definitive TUG (identification). I would imagine it’s not universal, because the story is so very real and understandable, and beautiful, that it should be widely identifiable. I believe the last series which game me a similar feeling was, mmm, Irohanihoheto. And that’s about my only minor gripe.

From here I go…

At this point, I’d like to elaborate on what is learned from this series; from my point of view, it is an enforcement of a discipline. One of the true tears drivers is the notion of dishonesty. It sounds bad, but most of the characters aren’t honest with themselves, by way of action and in emerging circumstances. They aren’t lying to themselves, they know their respective truths and accept, but they have not acted upon the path from the start or announced their feelings; lying is the driver, courage is the solution, but then no story, and no true tears.

My own idea about paths is simple, “weigh properly, the bits of doubt; honor the unwanted path; step forward or do not step at all.” Ai is the clearest example, as she not only stalled her wanted path (Shinichirou), but took a path of doubt which she did not want (Miyokichi). Looking at Hiromi, this is also the case, but misinformation was her stall point, though I think she was reaching her limit of suppression; a love so great, it would explode.

Remarkably, I find the truest character to be Noe, but again, the end girl? It’s possible, acceptable, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Ryan A

For reference: my definition of “crunch marathon”, is probably better said as a lead-up marathon, where it is timed so that the final episode is released and view shortly after all previous episodes. Yea, it’s made-up.

Posted in Anime, Reflection, Winter 2008, marathon, true tears | 2 Comments »

The Watch List :: Winter 2008

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

I mentioned that I wasn’t going to do Winter/Summer Priorities etc. I think the watch list is a good idea though. This season, I didn’t want a large pickup list, so I’m basically sticking to my roots with 5 series, most being single-season length (I think).

(more…)

Posted in Anime, Aria, Gunslinger Girl, Minami-ke, Priority, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, Winter 2008, Wolf and Spice | 4 Comments »

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