The State of American Animation

[Desdichado]

Which I'd agree with. I've found some animes that I like well enough.

I'm pretty much convinced that I'll never be a "true believer" though -- even the best ones I've seen have been only "OK" to me.

I agree it's difficult to classify just what anime is, but I think medium is the wrong word. Depending on what you think a medium is, either all anime is one medium (but so is all other animated motion picture) or it's several media, including movies, open-ended series and "miniseries." But so would all other non-anime animated pictures fall under these classifications.

It's a bit difficult to call it a genre, because it encompasses multiple genres. Its a bit difficult to call it a style per se, because it encompasses more than one style. I think a related group of styles all based on a shared cultural assumption (i.e., they're all Japanese) is probably the best bet.

One side effect of these discussions, though, is that every time we have one I'm inspired to try out a few more titles. I've stuck Berserk on my netflix queue as well as the Street Fighter animated movie (again) and the Tekken movie (because after I selected Street Fighter it popped up too) and some more light-hearted ones like Cosplay Complex and Najica Blitz Tactics.

Which brings up another odd anime convention that I've always been curious. They sure love to show these flashing panty shots, don't they? I've heard anecdotally that Najica has a lot. What's that all about?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Which brings up another odd anime convention that I've always been curious. They sure love to show these flashing panty shots, don't they? I've heard anecdotally that Najica has a lot. What's that all about?

My girlfriend calls the first Vampire Hunter D movie the Panty movie because of this.

BTW, Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust is another serious all action animated feature that doesn't go that route, but ironically enough, Yugi-O the manga does quite a bit.

Little deviant bastards.

 

[Desdichado]

I've seen the Vampire Hunter D movie and don't remember that at all.

That reminds me, there was a series that I saw an episode or two of about a teenage girl that gets supernatural power to fight demons and the like. I know, that probably describes fourteen dozen animes, but I've always kinda wanted to watch the rest of it and can't for the life of me remember the title. I thought it was Vampire Hunter, or something like that, though.

 

[WizarDru]

Which brings up another odd anime convention that I've always been curious. They sure love to show these flashing panty shots, don't they? I've heard anecdotally that Najica has a lot. What's that all about?

It's just an odd cultural thing, I suppose. I've never found a deep explanation for it. Mostly, I think, it's a way to allow titillation without showing anything, particularly in a region that anime has long been restricted from showing.

That is to say that in Japan, up until recently, showing pubic hair in any form was verbotten, be it in manga, anime, live TV or live movie forms. It was always a loosely enforced standard, most likely with its roots in the Nationalist movement that had it's origins in pre-WW II Japan, which in turn had it's root in Victorian era. Drawing a particularly graphic picture in a weekly manga usually resulted in a call down to the local prefectural police house for a short 'don't do that, again' speech.

This had a very odd side-effect however, which was the preponderance of characters with invisible, missing or hairless private parts. Another way this was bypassed was to pixelize the offending areas, like watching Cops where they hide someone's face. Now, enter into this the idea of panties, which allow the showing of said region without actually showing anything at all; it's enough to get a 14-year old boy going "Oh...yeah!" without actually violating any rules. It's also a fairly likely scenario, given the typical Japanese school girl uniform. It's a lot easier to show a girls panties than it is to show actual nudity, at least as often as some shows have done.

And yeah, there are some fans who don't get that some folks just don't find anime that compelling, and are darned irritating. I've met people who don't understand why I don't think Ranma 1/2 is really that interesting after about 8 or so episodes, for example, or who figure I just haven't watched enough Gundam, yet. No, no...I've watched TOO MUCH Gundam, son, that's the problem.

If you're looking for some shows that are very far from that mark, one very understated and underrated show, to me, is "Master Keaton". But then, some folks aren't willing to try watching a show about the globe-trotting adventures of an insurance investigator for Lloyd's of London.

 

[WizarDru]

That reminds me, there was a series that I saw an episode or two of about a teenage girl that gets supernatural power to fight demons and the like. I know, that probably describes fourteen dozen animes, but I've always kinda wanted to watch the rest of it and can't for the life of me remember the title. I thought it was Vampire Hunter, or something like that, though.

Heh. You ain't just whistlin' dixie, brother. Vampire Princess Miyu, perhaps? Did she have a protector who wore a mask? Anything distinctive you can remember about it?

 

[Desdichado]

Don't remember a protector. I remember in the first episode she went off with her boyfriend for a "romantic tryst" of sorts and he got killed in the act of fondling her breast or something like that. And, uh... there was a Japan-pop song during the closing credits?

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

No, no...I've watched TOO MUCH Gundam, son, that's the problem.

There is no such thing as too much Gundam. Especially if you can get a hold of the old 80s SD Series. Ahh, the bootleg Gundam series that populate my shelves are many...

 

[Rackhir]

Don't remember a protector. I remember in the first episode she went off with her boyfriend for a "romantic tryst" of sorts and he got killed in the act of fondling her breast or something like that. And, uh... there was a Japan-pop song during the closing credits?

Can you describe the outfit she wore when fighting demons? Did she use weapons, spells, sex, etc... to fight them? Was it especially gory or violent? Was there a definite style to the character designs and/or artwork?

 

[Desdichado]

Can you describe the outfit she wore when fighting demons?

Maybe red? Kinda slinky? Don't remember exactly.

Did she use weapons, spells, sex, etc... to fight them?

I mostly remember weapons. I think she might have fought them at a school, actually, in one of the very first episodes.

Was it especially gory or violent?

Reasonably so, yes. Also featured some nudity. If it were American and live-action, it would definitely be rated R.

Was there a definite style to the character designs and/or artwork?

Not really; pretty standard anime. Not too "cute", not too "realistic." Kinda dark.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Coudl be Devil Hunter Yoko.

Maybe Devil Lady?