How to Kill a Dying Series: Code Geass R2
Man, last week Code Geass officially died for me. I don't see how they would go and complete destroy the series right at the end. Running around the internet, I'm seeing that this week's episode if the final one. However, they were originally supposed to run for 25 episodes. Either way, I think maybe they realized last week was so bad that they might as well wrap things up now. The image above illustrates the problem. Yeah, I have issues with the blind chick who is nice to everyone and died tragically due to Geass kicking in at the wrong time. Oh wait, my bad -- she's not dead.
Now, they're supposed to explain this away in this week's episode (which apparently is running around subbed by gg but I'm loyal to Eclipse). I, honestly, saw this happen and I turned off my computer and went to bed. I had more things to watch and a couple things to do but that ended my day for me. After all the foolishness that happened in that episode, they top themselves with bringing back characters that no way could've survived. Vaporizing Nuclear-sized explosion and she survives. What we didn't know is that she was really in another country and that bright blue light was her monitor powering up. What the hell, was anime always this bad and I was just too young to realize? Let step it up, where's Death Note when you need it?
Afro Samurai: BET Is a Disease
I've ignored Afro Samurai for quite some time. I saw part of an episode and it didn't seem too bad. However, I actually sat down and watched episode one and I don't see how it avoided a ridiculous level of criticism. Just how some people in the United States probably watch too much anime. The creator clearly has watched FAR too much BET. The dubbing doesn't help at all. It's a careful blend of weaboo and professional ghettoism (if that's even possible). Hiring actual voice actors to speak as if they don't know proper English.
I've lost respect for Gonzo and more importantly, Samuel L. Jackson. What the hell was anyone thinking? Man, this show sucks. The only good quality is that Gonzo did it. Which means the animation, especially during the action scenes, is awesome.
Did anyone of you watch Afro Samurai? Am I the only one upset by this show?
The Mighty GONZO Has Fallen
Man, GONZO used to be an animation studio I respected for quality animation and pretty sick action. A glance at their works list some of my favorite shows: Full Metal Panic, Hellsing, Basilisk, and Speed Grapher. They're even the studio behind the recent hit Afro Samurai. It seems though, that they have fallen really far recently. Apparently, making quality action shows doesn't pay the bills anymore and that is the only way I can rationalize them making such crap.
A large portion of their most recent work includes heavy fan service shows like Rosario + Vampire and now, Strike Witches. What I like about Rosario + Vampire is that it doesn't try to be more than what it is: a show all about fan service. It starts up and then dishes out 20 minutes of jiggly boobs and nose bleeds. It angers me that GONZO produces it but at least their not trying to waste the time of people looking for action.
Strike Witches on the other hand makes me a little more upset. It's fan service but it disguises itself with quality animation, superb coloring and effects, large guns, and big explosions. It is everything I want in an action show. And then they add in cutesy loli characters with stupid cat ears and tails. It's like they speaking directly to me. GONZO is saying: "Yeah, we can do what you want, in fact look, we can do it quite exceptionally but you know what? Screw you, take these loli girls running around in underwear!" And I'm like OMGWTFBBQ, I can't believe this is happening.
I want to say, well there are still really good studios out there making quality work but BONES doesn't always deliver with Soul Eater, Sword of the Stranger was a one-time thing and truly great shows like Death Note and Full Metal Alchemist only come around every so often.
The state of anime is so bad right now, Code Geass R2 and Macross Frontier have their flaws but there is literally nothing else to watch so I can't just go around discounting shows. Man, I can't wait for Entourage to start back up -- they always deliver. *knock on wood*
Corporate Weaboo Lies: Fansubbing and Anime
This post is more a follow-up to this post: The death of what, now?
Quick Summary: Localization companies (ADV, Funimation, etc.) are complaining about fansubbing ruining their business. That's essentially a lie. People everywhere aren't buying DVDs and other details about the fanbase hint at lower sales.
Essentially, it's come to my attention that Funimation is not evil, all the anime localization companies are just stupid. They are whining that they're foreign cash cow dried up with the expansion of the internet and instead of embracing the fanbase and cutting costs they would rather bitch and moan about the times.
Technically, downloading fansubs is illegal due to copyright laws. Last time I checked, no one gives a damn. Simply put, animation companies in Japan earn next to nothing from airing anime. They make money off the licensing deals. That's right: anime video games, figurines, movie deals, etc. The basic premise is sell the anime to a TV station for just enough in revenue so your lights don't cut off and then pray that there are enough nerds out there who want scantly clad plastic dolls of your anime's female lead.
How does fansubbing fit it? More people are now watching your show -- more people will buy your stupid dolls. Clearly, I'm not one of those people...until you start talking about the anime video games, wallscrolls, or other things not ridiculously pervy.
Honestly, I'm not going to pay $20 for 3 episodes that I could've watched a year (sometimes even two years) ago for free. Especially when part of the cost is unnecessary shoddy voice acting and unwanted frills (half-assed character profiles and other crap they smack on to the DVD).
Fansubs are giving us what we want. Clean fonts, stylized karoke for intros, with all the spiffs of chapter skips just like DVD navigation (in MKVs anyway). They're doing this for free and often within 24 hours of airing in Japan.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention in HIGH DEFINITION. DVDs paltry 480p doesn't hold a candle to the 720p (sometimes 1080p) Over-The-Air (OTA) rips often found in Japan. Just like TV over in the states is often in HD, anime airs in HD in Japan.
Essentially, I'm paying a lot more money for a lower quality product. I heard good things about the Gurren Lagaan localization. Start bringing anime over here in HD, faster, and for less and I guarantee you'll see those sales climb again.
There really is no need for these expansive dubbing projects. We have our own after-school cartoons -- it's called Avatar, complete with well-done English voices.
EDIT: Apparently, the previous image had the server blocking image stealing. So I grabbed it from someone else. Yes, I am too lazy to download the images and re-upload them to flickr/photobucket/etc. when I make posts at 1AM or while I'm at work.
Guilty Animu Pleasures: Candy☆Boy Short
This is a bit old but I but it's rekindled. My love for Candy☆Boy. The super short ONA came out quite a bit ago and I loved the quality of the art and was suprisingly interested in the story. It's a romantic comedy of two girls. I missed the part of growing up where lesbian sex is super awesome but this is actually leaves me quite pleased.
Why the sudden post about Candy☆Boy? Well, the series has started it's run. It's supposed to be 7 episodes long and the first two are available now. I will report on how good they are. Coming in at eight minutes, the first short had pretty much no time to really be bad so I'm wondering what they accomplish with 14 minutes.
NOTE: This anime is family friendly. (Read: It is not hentai in anyway)
Reverse Pedophilia?
Kurenai is officially the creepiest anime I ever watched. When seven year old girls are telling you they wish they could grow large breasts so they can please you something is wrong. Watch the show, just for episode 8 if need be.
Soul Food
So, I'm really late with the hotness. Soul Eater is pimp new stuff from Bones (they also have Stranger which I'll post about later). Any true action anime fan needs to check this show out. Two episode treatment has been given and I am in love.
I am a believer in the two-episode treatment. For awhile, I fell back to the love-at-first-sight methodology but it took a loss the other day when I jumped the gun on Nabari no Ou. Basically, any anime show needs to have a serious watch for at least two episodes before you dismiss it or praise it. OVAs and movies are, of course, exceptions to the rule.
Petaphiles are creepy, especially when they lie…
Japan has issues. I'm questioning why I want to go more and more.
First Image
Attention: In this game, every girl you can date is OVER 18. This is because there are absolutely NO middle school or elementary school girls in it.
Second Image
Hanako: "I'm 14! I'm a 2nd-year middle-schooler."
NOTE: Another post shamelessly stolen from blogs I frequent.
