The State of American Animation

[johnsemlak]

He said, also, that in addition to nerdy hobbies being more or less acceptable in Japan,

I think it may be more of a case of nerdy hobbies havinga stigma in the US, rather than them more acceptable in Japan. Certainly, Japan is not the only country where Nerds are accepted a bit better than in the US.

 

[Desdichado]

Well, maybe that's also part of my problem; I've seen very few series and considerably more movies instead. It sounds like, WizarDru (with one D) you're saying that may be a bit back-asswards.

Although with Street Fighter, I thought the show was terminally boring (only saw the first three? episodes) while I really enjoyed the movie.

 

[Desdichado]

Y'know, I'd probably also enjoy something that totally didn't take itself seriously, and was really campy to boot. I saw a preview for Cosplay Complex and I thought to myself that I'd probably enjoy that campiness of it.

I dunno. I'll probably try it anyway.

 

[Mad Mac]

Heh, I think you've stumbled unto a couple of factors at once there.

1. Many anime movies are extras, intended for fans of the T.V. shows, and don't really make sense to those who aren't already familiar with the series. There are a number of exceptions though.

2. A great deal of anime television series, in turn, are based on manga (comic books). As popular manga will often run for years, not many t.v. series actually succeed in covering an entire manga run before being cancelled. Also, the t.v. producers inevitibly add changes and side adventures to shape the story the way they want it. Lots of t.v. shows based on manga have "filler" episodes, designed to take up time while they wait for the next comic book chapter to be finished. Filler is rarely very good. :\

3. Sometimes the movies are still better. Street Fighter the Movie is waaay better than the Street Fighter T.V. show. (I think, officially, the t.v. show is considered a prequel) The show does have it's moments though. Ken vs Vega is a cool fight, and Zangief vs Guile isn't bad either. Not including Blanka is unforgivable, though.

 

[Chun-tzu]

Some comments on some of the shows mentioned already.

Exosquad totally kicked ass. Despite the failure of the toy line, I've been tempted many times to seek out one of JT Marsh's exo-frames just because it looks so cool. The theme song (orchestral) is one of my favorite themes, too. It ranks among my all-time favorites.

It took me a while to get into Cowboy Bebop. The final two episodes, titled "The Real Folk Blues," however, are what really makes the show stand out. Of course, that's the pay off, which you won't be able to properly appreciate if you've never seen any of the other episodes. The series is all about a bounty hunter named Spike. He's a fairly laid back guy with a smart ass attitude and a touch of Peter Parker luck, and he manages to pull off a genuine aura of coolness. He's got some cool fighting moves, but he's not Jet Li; he's not going to win every fight through sheer skill. What the final two episodes are about is how he comes to terms with his past, as a former affiliate of the mafia (the Red Dragons), including the woman he loved but who got away, and the rival who wants him dead. It's a great story, with action, drama, romance, and tragedy. The animation, voice acting, and translation are all top notch. If I had only 10 DVDs to watch for the rest of time, you can bet your ass this would be one of my picks.

I also have to disagree that Ninja Scroll has great action but a weak storyline. Ultimately, it's an action movie, yes, with some inspired fight scenes (the duel with the blind guy is my favorite). But it's also a somewhat different kind of love story, about a tragic character named Kageiro, who is incapable of making connections. Her touch is literally poisonous, and she sees herself as nothing more than a lowly ninja whose life is completely expendable. The way Jubei is able to get through to her, and treat her as a real person and not just a means to an end, is a far better story than the kind of drek we see in most romantic movies that Hollywood puts out. Maybe the story doesn't do much for you, but it's far from weak. It's quite well written (although a bit jumbled at times). The TV series, though, is extremely mediocre, with none of the heart of the movie.

 

[WizarDru]

Well, maybe that's also part of my problem; I've seen very few series and considerably more movies instead. It sounds like, WizarDru (with one D) you're saying that may be a bit back-asswards.

Although with Street Fighter, I thought the show was terminally boring (only saw the first three? episodes) while I really enjoyed the movie.

Mad mac definitely pointed out some of the reasons, but as he mentions, it really depends. Fist of the Northstar is a show I've loved since the mid-80s, but I love the manga much more. The movie was fun for someone who knew the show, but it wasn't what I'd call good. Let me clarify on Ninja Scroll...I think it's got some great set pieces, but I think that many fans give it way too much weight...personally, I thought the last third of the movie was somewhat jumbled. Tastes vary, which is the point.

Sometimes the movie is a summer blockbuster to cash in on the series...this is common for series for a younger crowd...Dragonball Z is a classic example. It's had what, 10+ movies?

If you want a show that's fun and doesn't take itself seriously, watch something like Lupin III, or better yet, watch the Castle of Cagliostro or Revenge of Fuma Ninja Clan movies, which are both exceedingly funny AND good. A show like Paranoia Agent COULD have been done in live action...but takes advantage of the medium, as opposed to resorting to it to tell the story because of budgetary reasons [it's done Satoshi Kon, of Tokyo Godfathers fame).

Lodoss War IS D&D (that's what the original novels were based in), although the TV series is not as good, IMHO...but still somewhat fun. Beserk! was...mind-blowing.

There are many shows which don't fit the standard teen anime mold...but you have to know what you're looking for, sometimes, or just be experimental. Hellsing is a little from column A, a little from column B, for example. Trigun starts out resoundingly silly, but it's a shell over some very serious material. And so on.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

To Joshua Dyal: Hell, I am not that bad compared to some people I know. I myself am not particularly fantatical about anime and dislike about 98% of the stuff. I just have to keep my Japanese up and I was just in the mood to type some. I too find the fanatical ones obnoxious beyond all words and they are exactly the reason why I left my Japanese class. So, sorry I if I came across as being obnoxious.

 

[mojo1701]

To Joshua Dyal: Hell, I am not that bad compared to some people I know. I myself am not particularly fantatical about anime and dislike about 98% of the stuff. I just have to keep my Japanese up and I was just in the mood to type some. I too find the fanatical ones obnoxious beyond all words and they are exactly the reason why I left my Japanese class. So, sorry I if I came across as being obnoxious.

I took a japanese course (and planned on continuing) for the ability to taunt obnoxious fanboys and girls.

 

[Alzrius]

To be completely honest, it's folks like you that also turn me off from anime. "Look at me, I so wish I was Japanese!" I mean, I don't have anything personal against that vibe, but I simply don't get it, and when I detect it, it immediately shuts down my brain.

Don't take this the wrong way, but this seems to be your own prejudice showing through here.

You seem to be misinterpreting the sentiment that Galeros was (IMO) trying to get across. The idea of being more "into" anime because one can speak (some) Japanese isn't some sort of cultural envy; it's because, one enjoying a foreign product, it helps to have additional knowledge about the culture that created said product. Anime is created in Japan for Japanese consumption. As such, there are indelible aspects of Japanese society in any particular anime; there's nothing wrong with wanting to study the language and culture to try and understand that better.

It's fine that you don't understand this, but don't misunderstand the difference between some fanboy-ish obsession, and a true desire to learn something. If someone is inspired by anime to learn to speak a foreign language, that's to be applauded, not scorned.

 

[Alzrius]

Sometimes the movie is a summer blockbuster to cash in on the series...this is common for series for a younger crowd...Dragonball Z is a classic example. It's had what, 10+ movies?

Thirteen, actually.