Dreams of the Year Behind :: 2007 Series
Monday, December 31st, 2007Series of 2007
Archive for the 'Sketchbook: full color`s' Category
Midway Flux :: Sketchbook
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
NekosAt first take, Sketchbook came off as the peaceful-cute, slice-of-life of Autumn, given, but halfway down the lovely path, Sketchbook is blooming other amusing, enjoyable aspects.
Via Left Field
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007I recently was pondering my anime watching habits and ideals, when it occurred to me that I’m not very good at following seasonal series; I’m inefficient. Part of this handicap stems from my acceptance of a wide variety of styles, genres, and themes, and my lack of dropping, but alas I am trying to improve… for my sake.
I bring up left field because it is the source (figuratively) of grandeur and distress when experiencing most series. Left field being the source of unforeseen occurrences which strongly alter the situation, not solely in terms of comedy aspects. Standards usually include death (Kamina), misfortune (Washimine Yukio), intro to split-personalities (Kogami Akira), suppression of morale (Makoto), accidents (Akiko jam-u), etc. Personally, each of the characters’ situation noted, added to the glory of the anime, except Makoto (School Days), because I couldn’t tolerate his lack of sense, but also in left field lies the potential to modify the flow in a way the viewer rejects.
I cannot truly say left field is full of the unforeseen, because its natural to expect changes and surprises throughout a series, but hopefully, it is clear how significant shifts add and subtract from a series. From what I’ve seen, these shifts usually enhance the experience.
De-prioritized By Left Field
It comes into question, when does left field really persuade me to backlog, even drop, a series? This cannot be answered objectively, for each person takes a plot shift differently. Some viewers may have hated the fact that Kogami Akira”-deeesu” was violently bipolar, I found it amusing, particularly the change in vocal tones.
Touka Gettan is a personal example where the surprises didn’t help. I viewed 20 episodes of TG before I completely knocked it out of my priorities. It was not really interesting anymore after “Curtain” (episode 19), when the every girl’s nightmare startling back story of Yumiko was acted out via play. Obviously the characters of TG are messed up, they have issues, but their issues weren’t interesting, and the story I was wishing would amass, never started. After 19 episodes, the viewer is rewarded with an unexpected past, but it doesn’t pay, it isn’t a shift in the right direction, the boat of hope, sinks. Hell, if it would have continued the slight slice-of-life + bishis style it had going from eps 12-18 I may have finished it, no matter the rubbish slice-of-life elements.
Now, I do not have extensive examples where a change in plot hit for the worst and dramatically changed my priorities, because I don’t often drop stuff, but here are a few things that didn’t entice me (off the top of my head, viewed this within the year):
- sola: Yorito is made of paper OMG!
- Code Geass: Euphie’s episode.
- Bokura ga Ita: Takeuchi gets serious, but doesn’t.
- Lamune: Jee, Kenji wrecked his motorcycle and is in a coma. Forced drama.
- Mai-HiME: Everyone lives. Seriously didn’t see that coming.
Thoughts About Preventing the Left Field Influence
I believe there is a way to protect myself from left field run-down, and it is quite simple; slice-of-life. The slice-of-life genre is such a self-explanatory realm, and a true slice-of-life lacks significant plot line. Hence, eliminate the plot line, eliminate the threat of left field! In fact, I’d venture to say that slice-of-life is the most stable of all genres. It is probably difficult to thrive on slice-of-life alone, but as a seasonal staple I enjoy a few of these.
So that’s my bland write-up, how does this help make me a more efficient seasonal viewer? Be familiar with left field, and be true about new plot developments that arise. That’s my self-development. If I’m not entirely comfortable with the new direction of a series, feel it out, think it through and ask “Is it worth watching this right now, in the stream of the season?” I shouldn’t pounce on the next episode of a separate series and forget my thoughts on whatever I just watched. Really, there are 16 series I’ll be trying to follow this Autumn. Rather, I’d like to have 6 or 8, so I’m hoping this idea will help me drop or backlog some of them. As for the slice-of-life, they’re basically immortal to this method (Sketchbook and Minami-ke are worthy at this point anyway).
Ryan A
Fall in the North :: Priorities
Sunday, October 28th, 2007Yes, a month into the season and some actual wonderment.
(more…)
Fall in the North :: Pre-priorities
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
miko miko miko!
Fall 2007 Priorities
- 1
-
Sketchbook: full color’s (スケッチブック ～full color`s～)
+4-koma + seinen manga source. School life with 3 main female characters, one of which is VA’d by Hanazawa Kana (Ryoko in Zegapain, Potemayo in Potemayo). I’m thrilled! AniDB -
Ghost Hound
+Could be a mystical/philosophical story. AniDB
- 2
-
Juushin Enbu: Hero Tales (獣神演武 - HERO TALES -)
+Work of Arakawa Hiromu. Adventure + fantasy; I’m thinking this should fill Seirei no Moribito’s spot graciously. AniDB -
Minami-ke (みなみけ)
+Slice-of-Life based around the lives of three sisters. Based on seinen manga and could be funny. The characters look intereing to boot. Sisters… Also, Chihara Minori VA. AniDB
- 3
-
Shion no Ou (しおんの王)
+Mysterious plotline, hopefully intellectual. When I say intellectual I mean along the lines of Death Note, but I’m sure it won’t reach that complexity. AniDB -
Bamboo Blade
+Seinen based, and the premise is fun. Sensei must find five girls for a kendo competition. Simple, but I’m guessing it will be a comedy. AniDB
- 4
-
ef - a tale of memories
+ I clicked through the characters on the Official page, and didn’t go any further once I saw bishi with a patch; consider me in. From the info it seems like this will vibe like School Days, but maybe, hopefully, not with an idiotic main character. AniDB -
Shugo Chara! (しゅごキャラ！)
+OMFG shoujo manga, I’m in! Or something like that. Mahou-shoujo, I bet it’ll be cute too, which is nice (I mean there are just so many episodes of CCS). AniDB -
Rental Magica (レンタルマギカ)
+The name is so cheesy, I guess it would have to be slight fun. The character designs from the Official Site look nice. Based on light novel. I wouldn’t be afraid to drop this (aka. no strings attached). AniDB
- 5
-
Dragonaut - The Resonance (ドラゴノーツ)
+Chihara Minori VA and seems to be many characters in the plot. It is GONZO, so there is at least a 50% chance of droppage, but I bet hope it will be a bit more interesting than that Pumpkin show that wen’t down last Fall. AniDB -
KimiKiss Pure Rouge (キミキス pure rouge)
+Pretty+Light character designs. I’ll dabble. AniDB
- 6
-
You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle (逮捕しちゃうぞ フルスロットル)
+I really wish I could, but this being a sequal to a 52 episode series and 26 episode series, I don’t think it is likely. Wishlisted for another time. I hope a lot of people are psyched for it though. ^^ AniDB
It’s Fall! Fall brings the second large, and [possibly] great batch of series to the airwaves. I didn’t really keep my priority sights on Summer, but Fall seems a little more eminent with a larger variety (I think).
So to the right is my priorities, top-to-bottom. I cannot forget the lovely Shana, in the sequal to Shakugan no Shana, but that needs no links or likes, I’m going to watch it, that’s a given. It will probably strike the top of the priorities.
On another note, I’m glad to see only a smaller portion of game-conversions this season, and delighted to see more seinen-based adaptations. Much to look forward to!
Right, well I’m not getting much side time for anime viewing, but hopefully I will stick it out with at least half of the series I’ve picked, and slowly hack through the backlog I’ve accumulated thus far. As for blogging current stuff, I’ll do a little when a series strikes me just right.
Cheers to Fall,
Ryan A
