Hige vs. Otaku

My first complete experience of RahXephon was something of a disjointed mess. I watched it on fledging UK Anime Time (which even now is a bit of a joke); it being one of the preliminary UK DVD releases in the rebirth of Britain’s anime industry. And this being a number of years ago, when I really didn’t have much money to spend on specialty DVDs, my acquisition of the whole series has pretty much been a four-year commitment. You can imagine how this messed up the experience. But, with a recent visit back home and access to my pre-uni anime stash, I’ve got the whole series all under one roof and apt opportunity for a thorough good marathon. Rah indeed.

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Gurren Lagann Ep. 20

Okay, so my Yoko prediction wasn’t exactly on the money but it was as badass as I was expecting. As much as Nia has grown on me since her shoehorning into Kamina’s cast position, Yoko is still the First Lady of Gurren Lagann and I’m happy she’s back swinging her big phallus around causing suitable amounts of mayhem. The gunshot through Nia’s hair was a nice referential touch, too.

It seems now, with Rossiu taking the Arc Gurren into space and abandoning the planet, the status quo of the show is gradually being restored. Kittan and some of the old vets are getting their Gunmen back (as well as the Key Spiral for later use), which suggests we’re going to see some Dai Gurren Brigade excitement in its original form. Kamina City and its politics are no longer an issue (at least in a civilized sense), returning the setting back to its original ’state of nature’ circumstances, which again harkens back to earlier times in the series. All in all Gurren Largann looks to be rediscovering its roots with the added benefit (for the audience) of having countless amounts of drama to face. Abandoned refugees; Viral (who will so obviously become a good guy with all the martyr-like trimmings); Evil Nia and her Anti-Spiral chums. And of course the small matter of the Moon colliding with the Earth. Even if things seem to be returning to earlier times, Gurren Lagann really can’t be criticised for simplifying things or resting on its laurels. 

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 5

Was anyone else reminded of the lyrics for ‘Fitter Happier’ by Radiohead when Itoshiki started ranting about modern Japanese society? Only with more . . . despair?

No? Yeah, me neither.

I’d also like to point out Mataro’s distinct Love Roma eyes when her flexibility is being measured. CLEARLY THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME. Or some kind of evil-twin situation. Either way, SZS totally wrecks Love Roma’s shit.

And let it be known that SZS OP may, taking into account both music and animation, be the best witnessed in an anime. I find most anime OP complete poo (often to the point of offence), but the mix of decent music and inspired bondage manga visuals equates perfection. I put it on repeat just to rock out and occasionally be scandalised.

Mononoke Ep. 3

Something base and puerile found Yanagi’s manly voice (in contrast to his rather effeminate dress sense) absolutely hilarious. Part of me likes to think I’ve matured beyond childish sniggering at transvestites, but when done well they can call out deep-seated hilarity (he doesn’t have a top lip – blahaha). The overly effeminate monk with severe stubble-shadow was a bit of a push, however. Something tells me he’s probably more untoward than initially thought. Still, I’m happy we’re out of the claustrophobic cheese-dream of the inn and into the only-slightly-less claustrophobic cheese-dream of the ship. I’m disappointed by the lack of actual dynamic movement considering Mononoke is meant to be Mr. Flashy My Backgrounds Are All 3D Don’t-cha-know. All we seem to be getting is clunky back-and-forth movement through corridors, which makes it look like a very colourful Doom mod and not much else. Try harder plz.

Hmm, two years of writing about anime and manga. It really doesn’t feel like it, mostly because I’ve been so intermittent with my activity here, but I’ve had an awesome time logging all my thoughts (and occasionally hearing what others think) nonetheless. It’s been a strangely productive couple of years and I still feel as much motivation now as I did as a fresh-faced naive . . . twenty-year-old, two years ago.

Still, rather than humour the desire to retrospect and eventually get a bit cynical (being such a disaffected youth and all, bleh), I’m going to brainstorm a game plan for the coming months before your very eyes. Not to suggest your very eyes demand such an activity, but I have this annoying problem where I can only really know what I think until I write it down. Sounds like the main principle of an editorial to me. Plus I’m making a commitment by saying it out loud, so hopefully my blasé personality will feel obligated to, y’know, do it.

The necessity for a game plan relates mainly to The University Effect. Recently it’s been witnessed on some other notable blogs and is pretty much an annual occurrence here. The phenomena is characterised by a curious lack of activity during the months of term-time and then a deluge of activity during breaks and holidays. The big problem I foresee with this coming academic year is that it’s my last of university, and my degree is structured so that every single exam I’ll ever have to take will all happen at the end of this year. That’s about eight three-hour exams in the space of a few weeks. And eight three-hour opportunities for me to aneurysm brainmeats out of various orifices and cry myself to sleep with stress.

Needless to say, blogging about anime and manga might take something of a back-seat during this period. So my solution is to consolidate; lots of Anime Reviews, fewer single episode reviews, occasional ABC articles, stuff like that. The aim is to post something at least once a week to avoid any involuntary hiatuses. There’s always going to be the issue of wanting to write more, especially with anime that demands it, but there’s a lot to be said for the discipline of streamlining your thoughts in writing. I’m erring towards journalism as a career (god, what a terrifying prospect) and practising de-waffling my written thoughts would be time well spent. 

Still, I’ve got a good month or so before anything kicks off education-wise. Service will proceed as normal until mid-September; until then you can expect my usual verbose, gob-shitey ways. They’ve seemed to serve me well so far! TWO YEARS BABY.

Darker than Black Eps. 15 & 16

Proof again that DtB is at its best when it remains within the main continuity of its plot. Granted, even more new characters are introduced with Amber and her chums, but they’re interesting and relevant rather pointless, dull diversions. We spend more time with November, April and July, fleshing out them out, giving them more legitimacy as supporting cast. Everything flows beautifully, with the various plot threads weaving in and out of each other with obvious skill. These two episodes, much like the previous two, demonstrate how BONES should proceed with DtB’s storytelling. This is when it is at its most enthralling, entertaining and meaningful.

The issues raised in this arc, specifically the dynamics between Dolls and Contractors, deal with the real curiosities of the show, too — the stuff that got me so enthusiastic to begin with. How emotionless are these two sets of people, really? We’re constantly given examples of characters that have supposedly lost their humanity behaving and emoting in distinctly human ways. The audience is gradually coming to understand that the supposed maxim of Contractors and Dolls Have No Emotion is obviously false; all we’re left to do now is work out why. And if the damn thing gave us a consistent opportunity to do so DtB could be a real classic.

Gurren Lagann Eps. 18 & 19

The time-skip completely annihilated my conceived notions of Gurren Lagann. Originally an energetic mecha show that relished its hyperactivity and demonstrated GAINAX’s mastery of the genre, it’s now morphed into something distinctly political. True, there’s still loads of mecha action, but the real drama comes from the differing ideologies of Rossiu and Simon and the aftermath of their various conflicts. The biggest surprise is that it really seems to be working. I won’t deny that considering Gurren Lagann in a more ’sophisticated’ way feels awkward, especially in comparison to the breezy excitement of its previous approach, but this new sense of maturity simply works. I would’ve preferred more time to experience Kamina City and get a real feel for it (thus caring more about its fate), but we’re learning more as the show progresses.

Really, Yoko just needs to make a triumphant return – preferably to bust Simon out of jail just as his back is against the wall. Part of me will feel comforted by Gurren Lagann’s charming predictability if it actually happens that way. J’aime Yoko~

Mononoke Eps.1 & 2

This season has had a few contenders for Argh Biggest Headfuck and Mononoke just about wins it with the additional advantage of looking like an LSD-induced seizure. While I enjoyed the first episode in an artistic sense, the second really cemented its worth with some actual, tangible plot to hold on to. Some incredibly disturbing, creepy tangible plot, albeit, but incredibly enthralling and entertaining once you click to what’s going on. Specifically I loved the sinister histories of the innkeeper and her assistant; the character design of her younger self specifically was gorgeous in its wickedness. My main complaint with this arc is its lack of obvious resolution; or at least my lack of understanding it properly. Granted, Shino chooses to ‘give birth’ to all the spirits of the aborted children and in that act of kindness seems to placate the Mononoke, but what happened to the innkeeper and her assistant? Were they literally enveloped by the giant eye monster? I was expecting a more direct, brutal form of revenge for those two. Mononoke seems to command countless rewatchings to truly appreciate its meaning, and that suggests it will make a very entertaining show to marathon when it’s over. Beautiful, creative and sophisticated; Mononoke has graduated from a mild curiosity into something I really anticipate.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Ep. 4

I think SZS’s structure, if anyone would dare use such a word when talking about this psychotic mess of awesomeness, is basically a focus on two students per episode – one for each half. The main benefit we’re feeling by this fourth episode, however, is that the cast and their various quirks [personality disorders] are becoming more established. This means the self-referential humour is getting a major boost and we’re finally starting to get a feel for the show (rather than it just pounding on our brains until we submit into a quivering incoherent mess, par exemple). Still, even with obvious cues for laughter it’s the downplayed moments of bizarreness that get the biggest laughs out of me. Meru might possibly be my favourite student so far, more so than Fuura and her fucked up family history (and potential psychopathy). The OP is probably the best of the season, too. Better than either of DtB’s attempts, at least. Bletch.

WOWOW are rapidly becoming synonymous with anime that exemplifies something distinct, mature and unconventional. Often we decide to watch a new show based on the production company behind it (GAINAX, BONES and so on) but I now find myself watching anime originally broadcast on the WOWOW channel simply because I know it will be worth the time. Ergo Proxy, Komonozune and now Shigurui – they all represent anime specifically aimed at adults, and not in the sleazy contrived sense. Whether it relates to depth or style, or a complicated mess of both, you can rely on them to show interesting, left field, intelligent stuff that doesn’t pander to the sweaty moe/fan-service addicted masses. WOWOW basically embody why I watch anime and why I think it to be more than ‘just cartoons’. Call it self-deceiving glorification if you want. Personally I think we just know better.

A consistent element of WOWOW anime is its lofty production values and unique visual style. Kemonozume, moreso than later-stages Ergo Proxy (ahem), demonstrated this perfectly, and Shigurui continues the trend with its intense visual presentation. I’m transfixed by every single frame of this show – so much so than I have a bitch of a headache by the end of each episode. I’ve mentioned that atmosphere is basically what Shigurui is about (without being as shallow as that suggests) and episode two doesn’t let any of the standards drop.

The plot structure seems to be less sophisticated for this episode, but only because we’re fixed in a specific time now rather than the gradual retroactive business of the first. Expanding on the flashback of the final scenes of episode one, the focus is now of Irako’s admittance to the Koganryu dojo and the various trials he faces. Personally I’m relieved he didn’t continue to be the unbeatable lady-faced badass portrayed in the first episode. Allowing us to witness Fujiki’ defeat at Irako’s hands seven years before went a long to strengthening the tension of their ‘present day’ showdown in episode one, but it would’ve been tiresome if Irako systematically pwned the entire school (and somewhat undermining to the ten remaining instalments, I think).

I was happy to see it was the guy with the big fuck-off sword who put him in his place, too. Ushimata represents the kind of force I wish more fictional tellings of feudal Japanese swordplay would recognise. Too often it’s the wiry, nimble little bastards who are celebrated as the geniuses of their skill, and when they face massively built (usually stupid) representations of power they dispatch them with obscene ease. And in the shut-off microcosm of 17th century Japan it’s perfectly believable; speed and technique trumps power when all you’ve got is a sword and a kimono. Take these master sword fighters out of the strict decorum of their society, where honour and etiquette are crucial to their success, then someone built like a stone-brick shithouse would completely ruin them.

Maybe this is my Hun-like European ancestry rearing its deeply-browed head, but every time I see some agile little gimp eviscerate an physically intimidating opponent all I can do is imagine is what would happen if there weren’t any swords involved and it was just bare fists and no rules. Somewhat ruining the whole ’suspension of disbelief’ aspect of anime watching, I know, but still. I’m two-thirds Irish. All we ever want to do is beat the shite out of each other.

And while episode two of Shigurui doesn’t quite give us the satisfaction of a thorough face-pounding ruck, it doesn’t pander to the standard tropes either. Excellent, entertaining stuff. Give me an anime that has a character who openly pisses himself and retains all the foreboding presence of his build-up and you give me success. Bring on episode three.

Initially, with this follow-up, I wanted to address everyone’s articles and share my thoughts on each. But, like most the readers, I’m totally overwhelmed by the wealth of opinion produced. Each article deals with a multitude of facets relating to the topic — so much so that to respond to each one properly would require massive collection of independent posts. So I intend to cop-out a bit and talk in general terms with my own post being the central concern. To make up for my shameless laziness, however, I’m going to reread every article involved and post a comment on their respective sites. That’ll quell the guilt a little, I hope. :3

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Originally this began as a shared topic between myself, Bateszi, Hidoshi, Impz, Martin, Owen and TheBigN. Following our collective synchronised posting, DrmChsr0, DS, lolikitsune, Michael and Yumeka also shared their thoughts.

We, the Original Seven, were given the above statement to formulate an argument for/against/nebulous middle ground. This is what I wrangled from my brainmeats . . .

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I think Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei might actually be impossible to blog.

On one hand, I want to ramble incoherently about the tiny, often hilarious, quirks I pick up on in each episode. On the other, I want to try and normalise everything just so I can put together a lucid process of thought (which is ridiculous considering the anime itself seemingly has no lucid process of though).

Regardless of the method chosen, SZS demands three or four watches per episode before anything can be said at all. The amount of textual distractions means you’re either following the dialogue or reading the background ‘meta-text’, and it’s impossible to do both at once. Yet, out of sheer enjoyment, I do do both; rewatching however many times it takes to appreciate all the humour is time well-spent. But then having to write about everything in a blog after all that commitment? It’s pretty freaking demanding considering I do this site for the sake of recreation and fun.

Still, being overwhelmed and not writing about it at all would be a disservice to one of the most entertaining shows this season.

So . . .

"Death NEET" BLAHAHAHAHAHA.

"Gourmet? Don’t you mean fat ass?" AHHAHAHAHA

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed gaijin that rants about the injustices of Japanese society towards foreigners but has a second personality that abides by every single little-Japanese-school-girl stereotype ever? HAHAHAHAHA

A bizarre homage to the Dragonball Z Gotenks fusion dance? MAN I CAN’T BELIEVE I GOT THAT REFERENCE AHAHAHAHA SO MUCH WASTED YOUTH

A disenfranchised student that sold his student roster number in order to escape the hierarchical, class preoccupations of modern Japanese society? *holds sides while hyperventilating*

Completely random scene where the school councillor does a hand-stand as her skirt gradually reveals panties, boobs a-wiggling all the while? *brain synapses disconnect, death*

Why do I always feel the need to neck a bottle of Ritalin and sit in a dark room to reacclimatise to the world after every episode of this anime. Quite apart from having no idea how to write about it, it can’t be good for my mental health. Pretty bloody enjoyable, though.

Oh, and did anyone notice how each student has their own camera angle/perspective? I thought that was pretty cool.

(Help me)