Does anyone besides me watch Japanese animation?

[Pazu]

Regarding the Studio Ghibli collection... I wanted to get that at one point, had it all called up on E-bay, ready to bid, then I noticed this...

Audio Tracks: Dolby Digital
Dialogue: Japanese
Subtitle: English/Chinese (On/Off)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Released By: Manga
Running Time: 1440 min.
Genre: Miscellaneous
Region Code: All region, NTSC ALL
No. of Disc: 6

English and Chinese subtitles? Uh-uh. If those are normal "english-like" subtitles you get on most chinese imports, I'll pass.

Any word on their quality?

It is all region, though.

If this is the same DVD collection that I have, be aware that this is a non-licensed release. Official DVD releases of the Studio Ghibli films haven't been completed even in Japan (Region 2) to date, and, IIRC, the only legal region 1 DVDs of Ghibli films currently are Princess Mononoke and Grave of the Fireflies, although I think My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service are coming soon.

Regarding the subbing, the translations on the ones I've watched (Pom Poko, My Neighbor Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, Only Yesterday, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky) have been decent, but the timing is often pretty off. Pom Poko is particularly bad in this regard.

-- Pazu

 

[Pazu]

And, as far as favorite anime go, my personal list.

1. Anything by Studio Ghibli (as you might have guessed from the handle). Up to and including the animated video for On Your Mark by Chage & Aska.

2. I'll jump on the bandwagon for Cowboy Bebop. The music is amazing, and the way it's integrated with the episodes works very well.

3. Vision of Escaflowne (TV series). The movie was very pretty, but I preferred the original story.

4. Excellent movies include Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Jin-Roh, Metropolis, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell. I'm probably the only anime fan who fell asleep during Ninja Scroll, but that one just didn't do it for me. Maybe I should watch it again. I enjoyed Spriggan, but thought it didn't really live up to all the preview hype. X/1999 was visually spectacular, but felt rushed on-screen (I understand the pacing in the TV series is a little more measured).

5. I really enjoyed Rurouni Kenshin up to the end of the Kyoto arc (except for a couple of the one-shot episodes). The two-part OAV is very good, if depressing. I understand the concluding OAV (currently released in Japan) is even more depressing.

6. I also really liked Neon Genesis Evangelion, including the original ending. I found The End of Evangelion to be rather heartbreakingly desolate.

7. I still enjoy lots of stuff by Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, Inu-Yasha).

Stuff that I think is somewhat underrated:

1. Demon City Shinjuku. I actually find that this is a great introduction to anime for folks who think it's all Pokemon and giant robots.

2. Silent Mobius, the TV series. For some reason, I just have a soft spot for the characters.

3. Outlaw Star. I think it suffered from not being Cowboy Bebop during the "space-western" genre mini-frenzy, but on its own, I found it enjoyable.

4. Oh! My Goddess, OAV series and movie. I know folks often think they're sweet enough to induce tooth decay, but hey, I guess I'm just a softie.

5. Gatchaman, 1993 OAV. More or less pure nostalgia with a slice of extra gratuitous cheesecake.

Okay, I'm going to stop here now, since once I get rolling on anime, I can fill pages and pages with blather...

-- Pazu

 

[Mr Fidgit]

I'm probably the only anime fan who fell asleep during Ninja Scroll, but that one just didn't do it for me. Maybe I should watch it again

i'd say give it another shot, it's one of my favorites

i also liked Jin-Roh (although this is another anime that when i watched it, i thought it could have been a live-action film)

i'm afraid that i can't bring myself to watch Metropolis. the whole 'androids look like people, but people look like Astroboy' thing bugs me..

 

[WizarDru]

i'd say give it another shot, it's one of my favorites

i also liked Jin-Roh (although this is another anime that when i watched it, i thought it could have been a live-action film)

i'm afraid that i can't bring myself to watch Metropolis. the whole 'androids look like people, but people look like Astroboy' thing bugs me..

Jin-Roh may have been live-action, as well. There were some live-action movies made in the same world.

I would give Metropolis a chance: yes, the God Of Manga's style didn't change much over his lifetime...but he invented Manga, and his nuanced story-telling and dramatic graphic style are worth seeing in this adaption. I'd also recommend BlackJack, while you're at it. The Madhouse adaptions have character designs completely unrelated to the original artwork, although I actually prefer the manga more.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

I would give Metropolis a chance... I'd also recommend BlackJack, while you're at it.

i may just do that

the problem is, if none of my friends have it, and no video store carries them to rent, i'm not going to see it (i don't have the money to go out and buy them, sight unseen)

...which bites because there of plenty of movies and series i'd like to see (BlackJack, as you mentioned, and the Escaflowne series)

 

[Darkness]

Hey, I'm this boards Anime Mascot

Well, no one has apointed me the title, but it's vacant to my knowledge, so...

/me coughs and points at his sig.

Granted, I'm not a mascot, but...

 

[Darkness]

My campaign gets much of it's life from the Slayers anime. I am MOST eagerly anticipating the Guardians of Order Slayers D20 Guide next year.

Very fortunate that Mongoose isn't doing this - or it would be the Slayer's Guide to Slayers.

 

[Enchantress]

And, as far as favorite anime go, my personal list.
2. I'll jump on the bandwagon for Cowboy Bebop. The music is amazing, and the way it's integrated with the episodes works very well.
3. Vision of Escaflowne (TV series). The movie was very pretty, but I preferred the original story.
3. Outlaw Star. I think it suffered from not being Cowboy Bebop during the "space-western" genre mini-frenzy, but on its own, I found it enjoyable.
4. Oh! My Goddess, OAV series and movie. I know folks often think they're sweet enough to induce tooth decay, but hey, I guess I'm just a softie. -- Pazu

I agree competely that the music in Cowboy Bebop is great, lllllooooooved Vision of Escaflowne (both movie and series, though the series better by far), I think Outlaw Star had it's own charm to it and still enjoyed it. And, being the gushy romantic that I am, I llllllooooooove Oh! My Goddess.

 

[Kesh]

Well, might as well chime in.

1. X - Aka, X/1999, a story about the end of the world, and one boy who gets to decide: will the Earth be saved, or destroyed? I've only recently stumbled across this one, and I'm addicted to the TV series. I'm holding off from seeing the movie, to avoid spoiling the ending.

2. Perfect Blue - Good lord. This one will either quivering because you've just seen an incredible movie, or curled up in a fetal ball and crying because you have no idea what just happened. A very entertaining romp through the mind of a young pop star as she begins to crack under the stress of stardom and stalkers.

3. Princess Mononoke - An excellent tale set in feudal Japan, with a fictional twist. Animal gods roam the sacred forests, while humans attempt to rip the resources from the land for their own needs. In the middle is a young boy, dying from a demon's curse, and a young woman raised by wolves.

4. Akira - The quintessential anime, one most people start with. Incredible animation & music, combined with a complex story make for quite a satisfying movie. You really have to watch this more than once to get all the subtle connections between the events. This is a story of genetic manipulation and the dangers of a society allowed to wallow in its own pity.

5. Cowboy Bebop - Bounty hunters in outer space. Need I say more? Oh, and it has a cute dog too.

6. Outlaw Star - Not a favorite of all who see it, but it's a fun action sci-fi series about a man, an android, and the secret that governments and pirates are willing to kill for.

7. Hamtaro! - I'm sorry, but this show is just so damn cute. Please kill me now, I can't be saved!

 

[Enchantress]

7. Hamtaro! - I'm sorry, but this show is just so damn cute. Please kill me now, I can't be saved!

You're right. You can't.