What Anime/Manga are you Reading/Watching? Part the Second!

[Bajaratt]

Dance in the Vampire Bund is fantastic, but the anime sucks. They changed Kira(he has amnesia in the anime, where he didn't in the manga, etc) quite a bit for no reason, it looks like they were going to go into a completely different plot arc for the show; but then they ended the anime right after revealing what this massive new plot would be about.

 

[Ecks]

Wow, it's been almost two months since my last update. Time to fix that.

Er.. and suddenly it's not that easy. I went on my Netflix to check what I last watched because honestly I can't remember much other than the last few recent animes and unfortunately due to one of the anime that I watched and the horrible way it was put on Netflix (in short 3-4 episode bundles, because that's the way the dvds came) A lot of the older things I watched got bumped off the Recently Watched list.

So... closest thing to start with isn't really anime, more just animation. But it's Marvel so I'll include it.
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (the series). I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, I remembered watching one episode of it on Youtube out of order, but I still liked what I saw, so when I saw it on Netflix I thought it was time to give it a try. I was not disappointed. There's actually a very detailed multi-layered story going on in this series that ends with the possibility for another season to come after. I think there even is a second season, but it's not on Netflix yet. If you like the Avenger characters, this is a good take on them. Also, I find the main theme catchy as hell.

Back to anime. Next up is Girls Bravo. I didn't know what to think at first but then the story grew on me... and the sweet and innocently shown fan service didn't hurt either. (Fan Service was plentiful, but not shoved in your face) Also the innocently done sexual jokes usually always gave me a chuckle or a laugh. Lots of potty humor that was done in a tactful manner. My kinda stuff. But behind all that was a decent little story about a boy and several girls that were from a different world and a bit of a romance with a story about self respect. I feel maybe the ending was rushed slightly but it still ended well and on a positive note.

Ah.. yes. And there there was an absolutely awesome anime called Moribito. Absolutely beautiful storytelling, music, and animation. You witness characters grow (both physically and mentally), are given insight into other characters pasts that is all relative to the story.. it's just done so well. I can't say anything bad about this one, not a thing at all. I will say though if you are looking just for an all action anime and not looking for a good story, then skip this. There are many scenes and large parts of the anime where there isn't any real action packed stuff going on. However, that said, the few battles that do occur are very brilliant and over all feels like there was more than enough there in that aspect to have kept the anime from getting too dull.

The last anime I watched was Gad Guard. Hmm.. and I have mixed feelings about this one. I remember watching quite a lot of it way back when they used to air it on Cartoon Network, but that's been so long ago that it was practically fresh when I re-watched it this time. Storywise, it seems to jump back and forth between the main characters though it primarily centers itself on one boy in particular however the jumbledness of the overall story while a little sketchy comes together somewhat in the end. While watching it there are certain parts I was left to wonder: "Well why did that happen, yet this didn't happen?" and "So what's the purpose of this character anymore?" However I still largely enjoyed watching this anime, it's music was pretty good. Catchy and Jazzy, a lot like Cowboy Bebop. There were times when I really disliked certain characters. *shrug* It's kind of hard to explain. Still when it was all said and done I didn't have a disappointed feeling. I'd say I was left with a greater understanding of it than I had when I first watched it, which is a good thing.

 

[Bajaratt]

I started watching the relaunch of Hunter x Hunter, enjoying it so far. Fairly typical shounen anime at this point, the main character is really strong for his age, but they've introduced a bunch of interesting characters for the exam. It seems a lot like the Chunin exam in Naruto, back when things weren't completely ridiculous. I never saw/read the original, but a friend of mine has and she's been delighted with the remake so far.

Also watching Un-Go, not quite sure what to make of it, it seems like a mystery show, but there's a supernatural element with the sidekick/boss. I haven't seen the third episode yet(only 3 have aired so far), so I'm not quite sure where it's going.

Both of these are ongoing now, so I don't have a full review other than I'm enjoying them.

Edit: Also, I'm re-watching my way through Read or Die. I still love this series, decent action, some good twists in the overall plot, some great music, light fan service, and interesting characters. Definitely a classic.

 

[Ecks]

Well, it's time for an update. I've watched quite a few series since the last post. Some anime, some animation and it looks like my Netflix menu is messed up and not showing the last several things I watched.

Sooo.. I'll just go with the freshest last anime series I watched and the one I'm currently watching. They're both actually tied together: Clannad and Clannad: After Story.

Now I'm normally one to watch a drama, let alone a relationship drama, unless it's disguised as a fantasy or sci-fi story with action in it. But I figured I'd give this one (or these two) a chance.

Clannad, what I can say. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a very cut and dry tale of boy meets girl, boy and girl build a relationship, finally admit their feelings kind of deal. Though along the way they make a lot of friends and their friends tales often end up involving the two as well. Throughout it all is a rather touching story about love, friendship, family and personal growth. I certainly didn't go into this anime thinking I might get teary-eyed, but I'll be honest there was one pretty powerful scene in the beginning half of the series that brought me to tears briefly. After that though there were definitely some touching moments but nothing quite as strong as that particular scene. There was also a pleasant amount of comedy thrown in to keep things from getting too serious. Out of all of the anime's I've watched this one was perhaps the most realistic of them all, save a certain little ghost girl and the tale about balls of light. I'd have to say the only thing at all that bothered me about this anime is how even toward the end when the main two characters finally decide to date, they are all shy and bashful around each other all the time and at most are only shown holding hands.

Now, after watching mostly all of After Story I understand. The anime simply doesn't ever show them being intimate with each other except for the hand holding and words of love, but the intimate moments still occur. Now I haven't quite finished this second season, which I guess you could call it that. It's a continuation of the story, almost exactly as it left off. Currently I've watched 19 of the 25 episodes and for a little more than half of this season I was simply watching it and enjoying it, but was a bit surprised at the lack of moments that really moved me. But then BAM! You get an emotional kick to the face and after that happens, so far, almost every episode since has delivered an emotional response from me. The story is incredibly sad but still filled with joy and hope. I finally had to take a break from it. As a guy, I've cried way too damn much today. So it's time to do something a bit more manly and play some video games after I finish typing this up. I am sure when I finish the series I'll still have enjoyed it all the same. Definitely a good story here, just be prepared to have a box of tissues or a roll of toilet paper handy at times. This one touches the heart, don't care how tough you are.

 

[Ecks]

I remembered one of the last anime I have watched and it's definitely worth mentioning. Honestly I don't know how I forgot about it, it was the anime I watched before watching Clannad.

Chrome Shelled Regios.

In a word; Awesome. In two words; Not enough. At first I didn't know what to make of this anime, there were machines and giant alien bug creatures (similar to Blue Gender), and yet there are swords and numerous other weaponry as well as what might as well be described as magic. This is just one of those weird anime where there is literally every kind of anime all in one. There's relationship drama, plenty of action, sci-fi and fantasy all mixed together with an almost space-like feel to an apocalyptic Earth. I'd say the only thing this anime doesn't have are is outer space and giant mechs, unless you count the cities themselves since they are indeed giant metal constructs. All that aside there is a really awesome story here, in fact, there are actually 2 stories that sorta merge at the end. One of them is the main story and the other cuts in and out in the form of an older style movie that the main characters actually are often seen watching.

The only bad thing about this anime at all is that there is no second season. What so bad about that you ask? Well it ends with a lot of things to lead off into another season. New badguys, expanding plot devices, even new characters that are really only shown in the last few episodes (the majority of The Heaven's Blades). Well it does end as far as there being a conclusion of the essential story, but it leaves more question open to future possibilities than answers. I could totally watch a second season of this anime and would if there was one. Sadly, it does not seem there is one.

 

[Bajaratt]

I felt the exact same way. I was reading Chrome Shelled Regios: Missing Mail, which is a slightly different version of the first story, and started watching the anime. I had the same kinda of reaction as "that's it?!?" I think the manga kept going, but they cut the anime very short for some reason. Unfortunately, they teased the hell out of more plot throughout the last half of the show. Great show, but just ends far too abruptly.

 

[Raesvelg]

Chrome Shelled Regios is a light novel series originally, incidentally. So there's quite a bit more to it than has been seen in anime/manga, but for whatever reason they're not making more of the anime just yet.

 

[jyakotsu]

Quick question, does Gintama get a little more serious? Or does it stay the same till the current episodes? I am on episode 45 atm.

 

[Ecks]

Finished Clannad: After Story yesterday morning.

And I am pissed. Not because I didn't like the anime. Or because of anything in particular that happens to the main character. But because within the last few episodes they do a magical do-over to the guys, quite tragically sad, life experiences. Right back to the part where things first took a turn for the worst.

Now I suppose it could be fitting because there is all this talk about "hidden worlds" and parallel existences during some parts of the anime. Also, essentially what we see for the last 3-4 episodes could merely be just a what things would be like if it was a happy ending in lala-sunshine-and-marshmellows-land. Except during one of those episodes he's telling his daughter of all these memories he has about all the bad things that happened, yet didn't happen because he's talking during the happy ending timeline. It really doesn't make any sense. However, considering how tragic the story is before the magical do-over, it's nice to see how happy the characters live in a world where none of the terrible things happened that happened in the last 90% of the anime.

I also enjoyed the alternate world ending about the twins. Same with the first season and the tough chick. I guess in those alternate worlds the guys main love interest in the normal story never meets him, and neither does he meet many of the other characters that are in the normal story.

 

[Ecks]

Wow. I haven't updated this in quite a while. Figure now is as much a good a time as any. Specially seeing how the site's working with my browser right now. (most of the time it won't load)

I'm pretty sure I watched other anime since Clannad but I can't quite recall what might have come first, so I'll start with what I remember.

Guin Saga. I enjoyed this anime (was watching it dubbed) however the only bad thing I can say about the dub is that at times it's like the voice cast purposely voiced their characters completely out of character. And it has to have been done on purpose because there's just no way an editor would have let those slide were they being serious about keeping the voice acting normal. This is a fantasy anime in a made up world and it follows two twins and a leopard-headed man and a small host of other main characters that have their own intertwining stories be it from the "bad guys" perspective or our "heroes". As far as the story goes, I really enjoyed and I would hope that perhaps there will be a second season as the end of the first kind of leaves the story in a mid story feeling. There's still a lot that's going on in that world's story and the end of the season wasn't a clean and crisp ending at all. Basically more questions left unanswered, so that's why I'm hoping the story continues even if it's only in Japanese. There is only one part of this anime (dubbed) that is absolutely horrible and that is a particular bard character who's voice actor can't sing for shit and for some god awful reason they decided to torture the listeners for minutes on end and on multiple occasions while he actually tries to sing (instead they should have just left in the original Japanese track). Now the character itself must actually sing well since people are always smiling and applauding rather than punching him in the face and telling him to stfu already.

Whew, okay.. enough of that.

Next was Strike Witches. I always wanted to check out Strike Witches but I always felt like a pedo every time I saw anything related to it. But I decided 'what the hell I'll give it a chance', and boy am I glad I did! Despite the tons of blatant fan service that usually made me feel like a pedo, the story and characters were pretty damn awesome. Even if they were 98% female. The battle scenes were pretty amazing to watch. Given the show really has such a silly concept, it was very entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

After that I watched Oh Edo Rocket. I had roamed across this one many times before when looking for an anime to watch on Netflix and by it's story premise and cover art I wasn't expecting much. However this one completely surprised me, pleasantly surprised me, and had me laughing and shaking my head at it's silliness. Netflix lists it as an action anime, this is totally wrong. This anime is 75% comedy, 20% action, and 5% drama by my estimations. It's humor reminded me of Excel Saga and Louie the Rune Soldier. It is dubbed by Funimation, and so, had many references used for jokes from other Funi anime titles and even a few gags the voice actors themselves did, of themselves. I loved it! It has a pretty solid storyline, completely wacky characters and jokes, and it's action scenes were actually pretty solid. This anime apparently came from the mind of the author that did Gurren Lagann because they actually call on him a few times in the anime and of course he just drills himself right out of the ground with drill hands while wearing shades. They even go as far as to show one of the main characters of Oh Edo Rocket wearing Kamina's red shades in one scene. I loved it.

Finally I just finished up a really short anime the other day called Masters of Martial Hearts. This anime is only 5 episodes long, which was one of my reasons for watching it. The other was because it's about babes fighting each other. Sounds like a win win right. Well this anime was really good for being so short. The first 4 episodes are kind of your typical story of a girl that finds herself in a tournament to win a wish for whatever he heart desires. The catch, she's not fighting for any reward but for a certain plot driving device, and apparently she's a super badass. Episode 5 is a complete mindfuck, and that's about all I can really say about that. It's crazy, yet believable and what all happens in that last episode is so f'd up and awesome all wrapped in one. I don't think I've seen anything quite so brutally awesome.

And there ya have it. All I can think of for now.

 

[Strid]

I know it's a bit late, but about Chrome Shelled Regios. It was supposed to miss two seasons then come back with 24 episodes at least, but they were talking 48. That said it's been what, 3 years now? Zexcs even stopped any and all talks about their future plans on the anime version after the first 12 episodes (they only had a deal for the first 12 episodes as it was so the other 12 was a bit miraculous). It was rumored that the author of the original sources wanted to complete the story before finishing the anime, this run was just to get more fans on board for the light novels. That said, it's just a rumor that was banging around some forums that I can't even remember the name of anymore. Still, with the success of the light novels and manga (aside from the Beans Ace escapade), I wouldn't count it out just yet. I'd love to see the anime finish, it was a lot of fun to watch.

 

[Raesvelg]

Yeah, I can recall them saying, shortly after the existing run ended, that they were going to make more, but so far nothing.

I mean, in theory I suppose you could get translations of the novels, but I've always found directly translated Japanese almost unbearable to read lol.

 

[Strid]

Really? The fan subs on them use to be fairly good, but I can't be assed to read everything I'm interested in anymore. As popular as the lights are though I suspect we'll see something when they start winding down, I mean, that's just money waiting to be made right there.

You guys watching any of the new animes this season?

 

[Ecks]

I haven't really been keeping up with anything new. I've been sticking with what's available on Netflix, and my selection is slowly winding down. So eventually I might have to hit up RightStuf! again and see what deals they have on anime.

 

[Raesvelg]

Only thing I've really watched this past season was Nisemonogatari. I've been told that Guilty Crown is pretty good, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Bajaratt]

I just watched through katanagatari, the wooden animation on the faces was a little weird, but I enjoyed it over all. It's a couple years old, but very enjoyable. Although hour-long episodes threw me off at first.

Guilty Crown has some great animation and amazing music throughout. Some of the plot twists are a little predictable, but the characters are done pretty well. One thing I definitely enjoyed was the main character was not a whiny brat or a useless emo idiot like shinji; which is a nice change of pace from a bunch of anime out there. Bad shit happens, he's upset about it, but he deals with it and in a decent amount of time.

I just started watching Medaka Box(because it just started last week), I've been a fan of the manga since it came out, so I'm glad they made it into an anime. Based on all of the characters they were showing in the opening movie, it might go all the way through the manga; so this could be another long running series, probably a 52 episode series unless they extend the plot more from where it is in the manga.



Oh, has anyone else been having problems the last week or two with getting manga to work? I'm behind on several series because mangareader, or some of the other websites I use aren't pulling up the pictures for the pages. It seems to come and go, and only affect specific series, so I'm not sure what's causing it, but it's a problem with the website instead of my browser. I've tried 3 browsers on my computer and get the same problem, and I get the same issue on my phone and my tablet, so I'm pretty sure it's not just me.

 

[Strid]

I just watched through katanagatari, the wooden animation on the faces was a little weird, but I enjoyed it over all. It's a couple years old, but very enjoyable. Although hour-long episodes threw me off at first.

I thought it was enjoyable too. It was painful to wait every month, I think it was, for a new episode to hit.

Guilty Crown has some great animation and amazing music throughout. Some of the plot twists are a little predictable, but the characters are done pretty well. One thing I definitely enjoyed was the main character was not a whiny brat or a useless emo idiot like shinji; which is a nice change of pace from a bunch of anime out there. Bad shit happens, he's upset about it, but he deals with it and in a decent amount of time.

Guilty Crown is awesome, Raesvelg I highly recommend you check it out. It was a pain waiting for this to air every week especially after a few episodes when the story picked up some steam. The main character starts off a bit typical, but as time goes on he's like Baja describes, though he does have his moments of being a royal baby. I wasn't satisfied with how it ends, but that was mostly because it did end. The pacing is very quick, which I'm sure the "meat and potatoes" crowd will praise it for this, but I feel like they could have slowed it down and had one hell of a 60+ episode run. Damn shame, but damn good none-the-less.

I just started watching Medaka Box(because it just started last week), I've been a fan of the manga since it came out, so I'm glad they made it into an anime. Based on all of the characters they were showing in the opening movie, it might go all the way through the manga; so this could be another long running series, probably a 52 episode series unless they extend the plot more from where it is in the manga.

I'm watching this as well. It's kind of odd seeing the lead male being the tsundere but that's part of the charm.

As for what I'm watching, the list is huge as this season is quite good compared to what we've had in the last few years. Hell, even the Slice of Life offerings are fairly good which I never really care for. Anyway, Watching too many to list this season as even the romance/mysteries are comedy heavy so I'll hit the more mainstream notes. The new Lupin the Third is pretty damn cool, it's not what I expected from the series at all, but very fitting and fun to watch. Jourmungand is pretty much a new Black Lagoon, though the two are not related in the slightest, and well, the more BL style stuff the better for me, it also has one of the best openings I've seen in years. The new Eureka 7, if I had to go off the first episode (not the recap) I'd say is going to be pretty damn solid and contributing quite well to the original as any good sequel should. I'm a huge Eureka 7 fan so I was planning to be disappointed but the first episode has me roped in and ready to go another 50+ rounds.

Oh, has anyone else been having problems the last week or two with getting manga to work? I'm behind on several series because mangareader, or some of the other websites I use aren't pulling up the pictures for the pages. It seems to come and go, and only affect specific series, so I'm not sure what's causing it, but it's a problem with the website instead of my browser. I've tried 3 browsers on my computer and get the same problem, and I get the same issue on my phone and my tablet, so I'm pretty sure it's not just me.

I use Mangastream.com and I haven't had any issues at all. I only use it for the heavy hitters though. Everything else I read I get from torrents or straight from the sub's sites.

 

[Raesvelg]

Oh, has anyone else been having problems the last week or two with getting manga to work? I'm behind on several series because mangareader, or some of the other websites I use aren't pulling up the pictures for the pages. It seems to come and go, and only affect specific series, so I'm not sure what's causing it, but it's a problem with the website instead of my browser. I've tried 3 browsers on my computer and get the same problem, and I get the same issue on my phone and my tablet, so I'm pretty sure it's not just me.

It's not just you, I've been having the same problem with Mangareader on things like Bleach/Naruto and a handful of other ostensibly popular series.

And I suppose I'll check out Guilty Crown after all, lol. Though right now I'm mostly focused like a fucking laser beam on the fact that Space Battleship Yamato 2199 is finally starting up.

It's my childhood in HD. I MUST HAVE IT.

 

[Bajaratt]

I thought it was enjoyable too. It was painful to wait every month, I think it was, for a new episode to hit.

Yeah, I was fortunate that the entire thing was done before I started it, so I burned through the whole series in a week.

As for what I'm watching, the list is huge as this season is quite good compared to what we've had in the last few years. Hell, even the Slice of Life offerings are fairly good which I never really care for. Anyway, Watching too many to list this season as even the romance/mysteries are comedy heavy so I'll hit the more mainstream notes. The new Lupin the Third is pretty damn cool, it's not what I expected from the series at all, but very fitting and fun to watch. Jourmungand is pretty much a new Black Lagoon, though the two are not related in the slightest, and well, the more BL style stuff the better for me, it also has one of the best openings I've seen in years. The new Eureka 7, if I had to go off the first episode (not the recap) I'd say is going to be pretty damn solid and contributing quite well to the original as any good sequel should. I'm a huge Eureka 7 fan so I was planning to be disappointed but the first episode has me roped in and ready to go another 50+ rounds.

I grabbed the Lupin III, it's great, but I was honestly not expecting the nudity. It does seem to be more serious than some of the other shows they've done, but it's about as serious as most of the movies were. It's good, but I was just surprised by things I didn't expect to see (Fujiko's boobs).

I use Mangastream.com and I haven't had any issues at all. I only use it for the heavy hitters though. Everything else I read I get from torrents or straight from the sub's sites.

I changed over to mangahere.com, and that seems to be fine. I'm mainly annoyed because I have an extension for Chrome that keeps track of all of the manga that I read(there's like 65, so it's a chore, especially since some are irregularly released), and there's a pop up when a new chapter is posted and it tracks the chapters I have left to read. I'll have to reconfigure everything from mangareader to mangahere when I have time.


Another show that started a little while back(15 episodes so far) that I'm greatly enjoying is Moretsu Pirates(it's called Bodacious Pirates in some places). Basically, a high school girl becomes the captain of a legal space pirate ship, because her dad, the previous captain, died. They're legal pirates though, which means they're allowed to pillage with permission from the government; but they have to commit piracy every month or so or their lose their legal status. I'm honestly not sure what about the show is so appealing to me, but I'm looking forward to it every Saturday. The main character is struggling to both pass high school and be a pirate, but she's not whining about it, she actually wants to be the pirate captain from the start, and she's competant; it's a very refreshing change of pace from how these type of anime typically start off.

I've also grabbed the History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi OVA, but I haven't had a chance to watch it. They've been saying in the manga for a while now that a new series was going to start up right where the original anime left off, so I'm hoping that this OVA is meant to tide people over until the new series starts, as there's only going to be 2 episodes, I think.

Also, kind of on a side note: Has anyone else picked up the Legend of Korra, the new avatar: the last airbender show? I liked the character the first two seconds they showed her when she was a kid. I'm glad that they've written to a little older audience, with class struggle being the dominant theme for at least the first book, but they've maintained the humor and the charm of the original series.

 

[Strid]

I grabbed the Lupin III, it's great, but I was honestly not expecting the nudity. It does seem to be more serious than some of the other shows they've done, but it's about as serious as most of the movies were. It's good, but I was just surprised by things I didn't expect to see (Fujiko's boobs).

I didn't see that coming myself and I'm not too sure I like it either. It's almost as the female director is insisting upon it to make a point, if that makes sense. Still, great show.

I changed over to mangahere.com, and that seems to be fine. I'm mainly annoyed because I have an extension for Chrome that keeps track of all of the manga that I read(there's like 65, so it's a chore, especially since some are irregularly released), and there's a pop up when a new chapter is posted and it tracks the chapters I have left to read. I'll have to reconfigure everything from mangareader to mangahere when I have time.

I should do that, but I have a hard time parting with a very old version of Firefox. I keep all my current and finished anime and manga listed in a wordpad that has grown damn near out of control. My system is pretty terrible. I bookmark everything I watch and read during the week then edit my doc every Monday morning before bed.

Another show that started a little while back(15 episodes so far) that I'm greatly enjoying is Moretsu Pirates(it's called Bodacious Pirates in some places). Basically, a high school girl becomes the captain of a legal space pirate ship, because her dad, the previous captain, died. They're legal pirates though, which means they're allowed to pillage with permission from the government; but they have to commit piracy every month or so or their lose their legal status. I'm honestly not sure what about the show is so appealing to me, but I'm looking forward to it every Saturday. The main character is struggling to both pass high school and be a pirate, but she's not whining about it, she actually wants to be the pirate captain from the start, and she's competant; it's a very refreshing change of pace from how these type of anime typically start off.

I have been wondering about this anime myself. When I thought about checking it out the new series of this season started popping up so I stuck the link to the show in a "watch later" folder. Maybe I'll start it up after I catch up this week.

Also, kind of on a side note: Has anyone else picked up the Legend of Korra, the new avatar: the last airbender show? I liked the character the first two seconds they showed her when she was a kid. I'm glad that they've written to a little older audience, with class struggle being the dominant theme for at least the first book, but they've maintained the humor and the charm of the original series.

I was just playing some Lost Planet 2 with friends and they were on about this show. I've never been a fan so I didn't give it much thought but the three of them seemed to be enjoying it, though they were fans of the first series. Thought I haven't cared to watch any of it I did mention to them, off what they were saying about the show, it seems like the writers have done a great job in realizing their original fanbase is probably older now and they're trying to cater more toward them than keeping it aimed at younger audiences. I think that's rather promising in itself.