Mad Animation Game

Hey guys are you ready to hear things you probably already knew were true?

Okay: The New Eva is AWESOME but my overdeveloped sense of nostalgia won’t let me say it’s better than the original series and movie, Archer is probably the best animated TV series out of the U.S. intended for a “mature” audience, and Big O is one of the best slash-fics to ever be produced.

For real though, when I started watching Neon Genisis: Evangelion 1.11 at Fanime a couple years back I was like “oh cool, a remake in ‘movie’ format with some touch ups, that’s cool.” I had NO IDEA!! Like an idiot I walked out and didn’t realize until a year later that it was a reboot/retelling/reimagining. It’s so good. I like how they upped the pacing to match the movie format and just SHOW/tell you some of the things you’re supposed to figure out. Although, in retrospect I did a lot of research after watching the original so I might just be that READY for the show. And of course the fanservice is really nice, although there was a time or two when I thought to myself “if this is fan service, it’s kind of fucked up . . . yup, it’s EVA. Hawt.”

I found myself trying to guess how they would do certain things as I was trying to mentally account for promo’s I had seen and fanart I had come across. And then at a certain point in 2.22 (I’ve only watched 1 & 2, I’m waiting for 3, like most of the U.S.) I gave up entirely and just started watching and enjoying. It was excellent.

As for Archer, I would always watch when I caught a random episode here or there and found It thuroughly entertaining, as did T1nk. Then, at some point the discussion to cosplay as characters from the show came up, as I love “easy” cosplays, or at least cosplays that are similar to what I wear on a regular basis (dress shirts, ties, slacks, lab coat/dress coat). Next thing you know I got netflix playing through every episode.

So good. Ants, danger zone, yuuup, Woodhouse, Stirling’s obsession with Burt Reynolds, as well as his sweater fad. The breast cancer arc as well as the Russia Arc really put me in touch with the characters and there was one twist/gag that I was JUST on the edge of being REALLY upset about, but I really got the feeling I was investing too much in the show, and the show simply reminded me what kind of story it told.

I can see if people are put off by the art, or maybe the gags aren’t their bag, and maybe someone would be even more put off then I, but I guess that’s why I love it. It pushes all my buttons just right.

Finally, I watched the first few Episodes of Big O, up to ep. 5 I think. Man. I like it, it tickles all sorts of nostalgia buttons. It's got that jazz/blues soundtrack that reminds me of Cowboy Bebop, as well as some of the songs have an early nineties feel that take me back. The art style has that great art deco flavor that's part noir, but for me, mostly reminds me of Batman the animated series. So far it's got a gothy android chick with snark, something I have a soft spot for, snarky goth ladies, less so androids, and a recurring lady who is also entertaining. Of course giant robots, but some of them have mystery to them, it's quite engaging, if sometimes predictable, although not too blatant, there has been a good twist or two. There's also a great overall mystic? magic? metaphysical? weird? theme largely thanks to the whole "everyone has amnesia from about half a generation back, but sometimes people remember, for no reason." I dig it. For T1nk & I it is now our "we watch this together and aren't aloud to watch it without the other" (along with Strip Search, oh man, soo good) so we will see when I get to watch more.

Oh yeah, want to watch along with me, so to speak, Eva 3.33 DVD is supposed to be released the 24th of this month and Archer has up to season 3 complete on Netflix, season 4 started on my birthday of this year, so HA! And as for Big O, it's a fourteen year old anime, you're on your own on that one.

Memeorable: MemeDeath

So, recently, my better half has made a more concerted effort to take in more anime, as I have taken to the habit of just letting it play, then asking me non-stop questions I cant answer about said show, as I don't speak Japanese.
Most Recently we finally watched Neon Genisis: Evangelion, the original, as it is such an . . integral part of the social circles I run in, and its . . infamy.
Many of my anime associates, such as Epyon Avenger, will make refrence to one of our favorite fan films based on that most mind-fucking of animes . . .

ReDeath!!!!

Local Grown (Silicon Valley, represent) this short is just crazy enough and anyone who actually enjoyed Eva in their own sick, twisted self-loathing way, gets the jokes, and has this great sense of humor about it. And even if you HATED it, I think you can get behind this short as it is an excellent lampoon.
Let us hope these episodes stay up for a long time . . . .

Anime Amusement

(An expansion of a 10 second review I gave at my last job to some costumers who are now good acquaintances. You know who you are, "sport/sparky" )

Lately I have been attempting to boost my anime intake. The current surge started earlier this year in hopes and an attempt to be a little more well versed by the time Fanime '09 hit. So, I started with an anime house I know and love, Gainax . So, I went through the catalog in the Wikki ( I know, I know, wikki is like that guy you hang out with who's always right and knows everything, and is usually basing what he knows on truth but the fucker hasn't even graduated college yet, gee, sounds a lot like me. Maybe that's why I like it. But anyway, its a good enough start for me.)

I have ingested Neon Genesis: Evangelion (good luck with just that link, if you don't know already, you might want to take a few days to fully explore it.) previously, as my first full anime, and I loved it. More on that later, as well as FLCL, um . . . same as I said with EVA, and so my choice was colored.

More recently I lovingly consumed Otaku no Video which continues to be a staple of the Otaku condition in my eyes. Then Ebichu which is ridiculous awesome, but try and find translations w/explanations cause there's a lot of cultural/wordplay goin on in that shit.

And then, ah yes, Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan .

(near exact quote from conversation)
"You remember how Eva was like, rape your brain and leave you broken in an alley and never calls you back? well Gurren, Gainax's only Mecha since then, it takes you out for a lovely dinner, takes you back to it's place, then fucks you in your ear hole, but at least uses lube and says it will call if you want it to. And you do, oh do you!"

I was at both Gurren events at Fanime, and they were awesome. There are better documented occurrences of them than I could post, but I don't know where they are, maybe I will post them later, but, I will say this.

(Tweet)
h47 Asking the panelists questions in rapid fire japanese is CHEATING!

I have since moved on to milking the series Melody of OBlivion . Its not as awesome as Gurren or Eva, yet, but its very old school, combines several elements that don't make sense together. I dig the music, the art style, makes me feel nostalgic when I watch it, like I'm 16 again watching eva in VHS all alone. odd.

Yeah, I think it was Mjerk who told me this, but I use it still to this day. The recipe for any good anime is at least 3 things that don't go together. Eva? Kids, mechs, theology. (yes theres many more) Cowboy BeBop? Kids, space ships, Yakuza. The list just goes on.

Aright, im bloggered out. More later.