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Anime talk

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I've decided to create an anime thread, since it seems to be none here. I'm sure lots of Star Wars fans are also anime fans, such as myself.

I've watched the WHOLE "Neon Genesis Evangelion Director's Cut DVDs" right now - which is making my eyes hurt badly, giving me terrible headaches, and contributed to my always increasing dementia, and I have mixed up feelings about it. It was released before the Star Wars DVDs, yet it has great similarities. I love both, I consider both to be modern art masterpieces, and the original version of both are now lost thanks to pointless special editions versions

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Neon Genesis Evangelion, here's IMDBs plot summary, which makes it look sillier than it is, it is actually VERY complex: "When the Angels start attacking the planet Earth in the year 2015, only a handful of 14-year-old EVA pilots are able to stop them. The weak-minded Shinji Ikari suddenly finds himself forced to pilot EVA-01, a giant organic mecha, designed and constructed by NERV, that is the only thing that can stop the Angels."

The thing is, when GAINAX released those DVDs, they have changed the series in the same way Lucasfilm has changed the O-OT. Episodes 21 to 24 have re-done animation (The SW SE's changes come to mind), extra scenes (Jabba's scene in ANH comes to mind), and some altered scenes to "fit" with the REAL ending of the series, "End of Evangelion" (Anakin at the end of ROTJ comes to mind). Episodes 25 and 26 were the original ending for the TV series, but they now have been "replaced" with a movie released in 1998 called "End of Evangelion", which was based on the original plans for episodes 25 and 26. (At the end of episode 24 we see a "preview" of what would be the episode 25, Air, but the animation for the episode was only partially done back then, before they eventually scrapped the idea thanks to budget limitations, so it looks very rough, almost scary to watch).

To Evangelion fans only, might contain spoilers:

OK, so, Longinus spear is NOT on the moon anymore (wtf?), Adams legs grow up when the spear is removed by Rei so it would fit End of Evangelion, Asuka tried to had sex with Kaji (in a sickening new scene), and Kaworu had some connection's with Seele. OK, I admint, there are some good things, such as some improved animation, specially on episode 24, but... Has Evangelion become what Star Wars is now? Have we lost it forever? Are there going to be more changes for the 10th aniversary, next year? One thing's for sure: I'm not getting rid of my old copies of the original broadcast of Evangelion, with video tracking problems and all.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Sounds cool. I tend to like anime a lot but a) there's so much out there I wouldn't know where to start b) I'm really not struggling to fill up my spare time right now, and c) I'm always worried I'm going to stumble into some "mature themes" before I know what's going on.

I did however get sucked into Cowboy Bebop. That's one that's fairly accessible in the states since they show it on the Cartoon Network, and in my opinion it is a masterpiece. I still have about 4 episodes to go, but unfortunately I had a hint of what happens at the end :/
If you're going to take forever, then I'm having a hotdog!
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To begin, Cowboy Bebop is amzing.

Now, Ric - pertaining to EVA, I like some elements of the directors cuts, but its doesnt seem quite like SW to me. I still have my full set of DVDs of the original broadcasts, and they are still available en masse. Personally, I like End of EVA, and Death/Rebirth better than the tv series ending episodes. I guess thats just me. The episodes fit in with the pyschological undertones present throughout the series, but you have to love Asuka mincing the SEELE baddies.
At any rate, ive been an NGE fan since the series originally was available in the states, circa 97-98. The only Anime exposure I had before that was Dragonball on Italian tv (I lived there from 94-97) and of course the seminal Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Ninja Scroll.

I think this thread is a great idea, hopefully we can keep it going.

On the topic of updates (in a sense) I saw Ghost in the Shell 2 recently, while it was still in theatres. I was very impressed. Im glad to see that the stateside version maintained the overtly philosophical nature of the film, and didnt needlessly beef up the action.

Other Anime ive seen in theatres: Mononoke Hime, Spiritied Away, and X. Two of three are Miyazaki - that man is a genius and one of the best anime directors/writers/animators around.

I know thats a lot of stuff, I guess this is a very broad response. Thanks for the thread Ric.
"You don't own space, so stop actin' like you do."
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I've never seen any anime in theatres, but I'm huge fan of Miyazaki. Anyone here seen Grave of the Fireflies?

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Unfortunately my anime watching has been limited to TechTV, Cartoon Network, and various bits and pieces of many series that I've caught glimpses of.

But I'd like to change that, can anyone suggest some good anime for me to start on?
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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Starboy you might want to see the original version of Cowboy Bebop. I've heard Cartoon Network runs a censored version.

Lethe, the thing is, I've watched a copy of the original TV release of Evangelion, and it blowd my mind the same way fans of SW were blowed away in 1977. So... I don't know, I feel like it's altering a masterpiece.

GundarkHunter unfortunally no, but I know that anime, and I think my brother has a copy, I'll ask him.

TheSessler: start with Evangelion, if possible the japanese DVD version - since there are two versions now, why not watch the "most complete" one? Gaaahh I feel dirty saying that, like GL is laughing and rubbing his hands somewhere. OK other animes you could watch:

If you like the goofy anime style, I recomend "All Porpouse Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku", if possible the OVA, not the TV series. Also "Naruto" or "Ranma 1/2", which have relatively easy plots and are fun to watch.

If you are into something more adult, perhaps "Cowboy Bebop" if you like sci-fi and noir. If you enjoyed Matrix, perhaps "Serial Experiments Lain", althought I hated it. "Akira" and "Ghost in the Shell" are good movies.

If you wanna see some good old classics, I'd recomend any anime by Osamu Tezuka (but avoid anything produced after 1990), or "Yamato" (known in north america as Star Blazers) - I could recomend the movie "Yamato Final".
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Well, I've watched Cowboy Bebop I don't know how many times over, so...

I think I'll see if I can find Yamato, I've heard others speak good things about it as well.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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I do not actively seek out anime, but if I see something interesting on, I'll watch it. Mostly what I've seen is the stuff Cartoon Network plays/played.

I have a question myself, for any of you that have seen a lot of anime.

I have strange memories from a very early age of a couple ?anime? movies/shows I saw. I'd like to describe what I remember, and see if you have any idea whatsoever I might be talking about.

1. Sometime during the early 90s, 90-92 I'd have to say, newly formed Sci-Fi Channel advertised and showed 3 anime movies. One movie I couldn't care less about. Another was Vampire Hunter D. The last I remember, but can put no name with.
All I can remember, is some kind of furry character (like a wookie, but with shorter fur) repeatedly saying "If we get out of this, I'll give up ______." and he'd list drugs or women or alcohol, or something like that. He also says something to the effect of "I better stop getting myself into these situations, or else I'll have nothing fun in my life."
I think I also remember something to the effect that this character was a smuggler/gunrunner.

2. Far earlier than the above, I have memories of something far more strange. A race of very large...umm...I guess the best way to describe them is pillbugs. They are under attack by humans. At some point in the film, a young child is on a shore or something with one of these creatures (a young one). Both are wounded, and the water is salty or acidic or something, anyways, the bug wants to go in the water, and the child is pushing against it to keep it from going. The kid isn't having much luck, and gets slowly pushed into the water, with the water going into the wounds.
At some point later in the movie, this kid is dead/severely wounded, I'm guessing from the wounds and the water. A large number of these 'pillbugs' are sorrounding the body. Slowly, one-by-one, these glowing things (Antenna...probes, I don't know how to describe them) come out of the bugs and start to pick up the body. The probes start to inspect the wounds on the body. As it turns out, the bugs are healing the kid.

I also have a random memory of one of these bugs suspended by hooks (digging into its shell/flesh) being taken somewhere. Could be the same bug that I mentioned above (that tried to go into the water).
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Hmn I can't remember anything like it - I'm not such a good otaku (anime fan) after all. I'll look into it, and try to find out about those two animes...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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If anyone wants to discuss/mock/criticize/defend anime, do it here and stop cluttering up other threads with the BS talk.

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 (Edited)

The only anime I’ve ever watched was one episode of something called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any anime for quite some time, if ever.

EDIT: I watched various Transformers shows when I was younger, and I think some of those might technically be considered anime.

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DuracellEnergizer said:

If anyone wants to discuss/mock/criticize/defend anime, do it here and stop cluttering up other threads with the BS talk.

It’s not BS, it’s fact.

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suspiciouscoffee said:

The only anime I’ve ever watched was one episode of something called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any anime for quite some time, if ever.

Must. Have. ELABORATION.

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DuracellEnergizer said:

suspiciouscoffee said:

The only anime I’ve ever watched was one episode of something called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any anime for quite some time, if ever.

Must. Have. ELABORATION.

This guy named Jotoro (or JoJo) is in prison and his grandfather (who doesn’t look nearly old enough to be a grandfather) tries to take him home because his sentence is over but he won’t leave because there’s some “evil spirit” haunting him. Grandpa brings out some Egyptian guy who has his own evil spirit and their evil spirits fight. JoJo then decides to leave prison now (because reasons) and his grandpa says his family is cursed to have evil spirits follow them around because one of their ancestors died on a boat but apparently didn’t die and just became an evil spirit himself.

.

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Sounds like something you’d need to watch on acid to fully appreciate.

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suspiciouscoffee said:

The only anime I’ve ever watched was one episode of something called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any anime for quite some time, if ever.

I watched a movie called Forest Gump. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any movies for quite some time, if ever.

hmm…

Ooh! Also, I played a video game called E.T., So it’s a no-go for me and games.

Heard a band called Nickleback. I assume all music must grate the ears and irritate the other senses as well.

Ray’s Lounge
Biggs in ANH edit idea
ROTJ opening edit idea

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ray_afraid said:

suspiciouscoffee said:

The only anime I’ve ever watched was one episode of something called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any anime for quite some time, if ever.

I watched a movie called Forest Gump. Needless to say I won’t be trying to watch any movies for quite some time, if ever.

hmm…

Ooh! Also, I played a video game called E.T., So it’s a no-go for me and games.

Heard a band called Nickleback. I assume all music must grate the ears and irritate the other senses as well.

None of those things include tentacle porn.

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I like Inuyasha and Mushi-Shi, but that’s about it.