Perfect Anime? [Archive] - Nuklear Power Forums

Major Blood

07-31-2006, 12:37 AM

What in your opinion makes a perfect anime? I can' think of lots to say on this subject.

- An enjoyable theme song. Catchy enough to make you want to listen to it again, but not to annoying to make you turn away from the show alltogether. I think the english Hellsing theme does this well.

- An original, yet not stupid premise. I think we can all agree that there are too many train, train, humor, train, humor, train, train, train, fight ultimate evil styled anime shows out there. But at the same time, the original concept shouldn't be completely retarded. I can't think of what a good premise would be but it can easily be said nobody would watch a show where the league of gay superheroes does battle with the squad of flanneled overvillians.

- Non carbon-copied characters. I'm not saying that character styles that have allready been used shouldn't be used. Lord knows that the probability of coming up with a completely original character, let alone 6 or 7, is slim to none. That dosen't however mean that every male lead should be god with his weapon, have supernatural powers, and be the strong silent type.

- If it's an OVA then you shouldn't have to sell your soul to afford it. Not saying you should charge 2 dollars for a box set, but i think 39.99 for a DVD with 3 episodes on it is more than a bit much.

So, what do you think makes a perfect anime?

Mesden

07-31-2006, 12:38 AM

Everything about FMA, to me. I know, sound of fangirlism, but I loved every tad of character development, every plot turn, the not so open ended ending of the series that gave you a solace in its closure, but still left room for the equally great movie.

And there's some awesome underlying tones put in there.

Also, best voice acting since Cowboy Bebop.

Need I mention the awesome openings?

What about the funny, or awesome OVAs?

It was great, for me.

Eltargrim

07-31-2006, 12:48 AM

Ghost in the Shell.

It is love.

Plus, I don't mind russian lyrics!

Fifthfiend

07-31-2006, 12:50 AM

- An original, yet not stupid premise. I think we can all agree that there are too many train, train, humor, train, humor, train, train, train, fight ultimate evil styled anime shows out there. But at the same time, the original concept shouldn't be completely retarded. I can't think of what a good premise would be but it can easily be said nobody would watch a show where the league of gay superheroes does battle with the squad of flanneled overvillians.

No wait, isn't that Naruto?

Non carbon-copied characters. I'm not saying that character styles that have allready been used shouldn't be used. Lord knows that the probability of coming up with a completely original character, let alone 6 or 7, is slim to none. That dosen't however mean that every male lead should be god with his weapon, have supernatural powers, and be the strong silent type.

Honestly, I'm happy to take a well-executed stereotype.

I mean basically all of Cowboy Bebop was ripped off from somewhere else, and just look how good that show was.

... Okay except maybe the dude with tits. He had his own shit going on.

But aside from him.

gurusloth

07-31-2006, 02:24 AM

Ghost in the Shell.

It is love.If we're referring to Stand Alone Complex, then yes. True dat.

Seriously, the characters seem like real people, and they get defeated, they have issues and pasts, the episodes start off with a few minor hints towards the final plotline, then throw some side stories in, then works back towards the main story...it's genius. The voice acting is spot on, the animation is a joy to behold, the music is Yoko Kanno (RAWK)...you just can't go wrong with it.

[ray.z]

07-31-2006, 02:54 AM

Well a good theme song is a must.

As for generic characters, it's nice to have some generalised ones, especially in an OVA, so that people may relate to them quicker, and so that the characters have already been developed a bit.

But no one would enjoy an anime were the characters are completely unoriginal, cause that means that the show would be unoriginal as well.

Elbodo

07-31-2006, 03:26 AM

I'd like to suggest another criterion: The perfect anime should take advantage of anime's capacity for incredible images that are more beautiful/fantastical/horrifying/surreal than any that can arise in reality.

For instance, some of the scenes in Paranoia Agent are twisted beyond all reason. And even though I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around all of that show, it's still cool because of those truly twisted images.

Silly Kitty

07-31-2006, 01:00 PM

A well-rounded anime for sure. I love animes that give me every emotion at some point.

I think an anime should have some point to it too. I hate pointless animes like Shuffle.

CelesJessa

07-31-2006, 01:54 PM

Yes, like Kitty said, an anime that lets me feel every emotion. I like an anime that will make me laugh, cry, scream, and be scared. (yes, there's a difference between screaming and being scared)
Fullmetal Alchemist
I like a series that doesn't have THIS IS EVIL and THIS IS GOOD, I like something where even the evil characters have redeemable qualities, or maybe even you end up liking them by the end)
Fullmetal Alchemist
Not too much cheese please. I love friendship and all of that stuff. But episodes where they are just BEATING IT INTO YOU FOR THE 5th TIME that they are best buddies just get under my skin. (I love Magic Knight Rayearth, but they do this a lot it seems)
Fullmetal Alchemist
If a character dies, they can't pointlessly come back just because the creators of the anime are too scared to kill off a character for good. And once someone dies and comes back it doesn't really matter when someone dies the next time. *coughsailormooncough*
Fullmetal Alchemist
And for the love of all that is good, it CAN'T drag on forever. Nothing earns my distaste more than a series that milks the story for all it's worth. They need to tell a story, and finish it. If they want to make some OVAs to keep the series going and bring in more revenue, then go for it, but don't drag on the main story. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't stand mindless filler.
Fullmetal Alchemist
And lastly, I guess something that gets me inspired. Something that makes me want to draw, write, and create either fanart/fictions or something completely original.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Also Fullmetal Alchemist.

Fifthfiend

07-31-2006, 02:40 PM

In case anyone missed the central thesis there:

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, motherfuckers!

Chipper173

07-31-2006, 03:57 PM

In my mind, the perfect anime would be obscure. Very obscure. So obscure that no one would cosplay it or write fanfiction about it.

See, because that stuff is weird.

Also, voice acting that doesn't make me want to stab myself in the ear with a pencil.

B_real_shadows

07-31-2006, 05:10 PM

I think Excel Saga got pretty much everything right too. Hell, they killed Pedro early on in the story, but they had his whole storyline turn out pretty good, not to mention his storyline was the one that lasted through the entire show and really gave it the most meaning (in my interpretation). They got the themesong right too. And it got some pretty good emotion in there too.
When Illapalazo (sp?) shoots Excel
I'd need to see Bobobo before I say anything about it. And until then Excel is the best Anime I've seen. Sorry CJ. Full Metal didn't win me over as much as Excel did.

Bells

08-01-2006, 01:00 AM

A Great anime for me is made with a great story... i mean... aside from the fantastical fights and themes that no movie could do AS Fun to watch... pretty much every anime has more time than most movies... just use that time right! a Good plot, good character storylines... the right amoutn of sentiment and comedy... thats ALWAYS gold...

Most movies give you a Beginning, middle and end around 3 hours... a anime normaly has 5x that... just use it right!

Jagos

08-01-2006, 02:15 AM

Mesden

08-01-2006, 02:17 AM

One Piece. Pirates on the open seas. Steampunk theme. Devil Fruits. Government conspiracies. Developing characters. Balance of Power - Good Guys aren't at the mercy of the top villain and hold their own. Bad Guys have a hierarchy and fight to their strengths. Developing storyline which is imaginative.

What more can you ask for?

Better American voice acting. =P

But that aside, all points agreed. Honestly, I think everyone agrees that good storyline, good openings, good characters, good art, good fight scenes and good whatever the hell else makes a good anime.

I mean, once you've taken those base things and add X anime in someone's opinion, it's not that much to talk about.

Death by Stabbing

08-01-2006, 03:20 AM

I know some people are going to take issue with me on this but...Bleach is one of the best animes I've ever seen...and I've seen quite a few...

You only need 3 words to prove that it is one of the best: Soul Society arc...It's what more things should be like...just when you think a big thing is solved a new one pops up...sure the filler during the arc was crap but I'd still rather watch that than One Piece or that Bo Bo Bo show...

One of the worst offenders as far as fight and train is Yu Yu Hakisho...it starts out with a pretty cool promise and one that could fill a show on it's own but then it falls prey to DBZ syndrom...over powered...and crappy

"King of the Pirates"? just that phrase alone makes me hate One Piece

Love,
DBS

Nique

08-01-2006, 05:34 AM

I'm so not an 'Anime' person...

I mean, I try to be, kind of, but when you've got mess like two animated chicks reloading their guns with their goddamn tits? Or a hopeless pervert who SOMEHOW owns an all girl apartment complex complete with spa and like, 1 door lock in the whole building...

Can we try to be MORE weird please?

I do understand some of the basic anime steriotypes, though, and I have to say that I think Trigun was probably the best show I was ever introduced to, even above Cowboy Bebop, for the reason that it's steriotypes were either well done or non-existant.

Vash was an awsome charecter concept, and Mr. Wolfwood was a compliment to the show as well. The insurance agents were kinda so-so, but at least they weren't Faye clones.

Dwarfburg citizen

08-01-2006, 09:07 AM

I_Like_Swordchucks

08-01-2006, 10:21 AM

I do understand some of the basic anime steriotypes, though, and I have to say that I think Trigun was probably the best show I was ever introduced to, even above Cowboy Bebop, for the reason that it's steriotypes were either well done or non-existant.

Vash was an awsome charecter concept, and Mr. Wolfwood was a compliment to the show as well. The insurance agents were kinda so-so, but at least they weren't Faye clones.

I second the motion. I think an anime like Trigun does basically have it all together. The characters are deep and multi-faceted, the villians aren't simply "I want to destroy the world because I'm evil", it captures both humorous moments and serious moments extremely well, and it has a good re-watch value.

The only problem was that it was only one season long...

Mesden

08-01-2006, 01:58 PM

The only problem was that it was only one season long...

Honestly, I quite do love Trigun, and I'm glad it was only one season, but my only real beef with it is, at the end game, they seemed to be rushing all the gung-ho gun fights. Didn't give them much time to progress into each other because it was just "Fight-fight-fight-Emotional Episode-fight-fight".

But, I digress to say that most animes that go past 2 seasons are not good anymore if they ever were, because at that time, they're normally just milking the show.

See: Inuyasha.

Like, let me put it this way. The best animes I've seen to date are:

FMA, Trigun, Bebop. None of those span more than 2 seasons and the storylines and characters move along all but perfectly.

But what's good for a 2 season or less anime is the nice following movie, yo. (Note:FMA)

Fifthfiend

08-01-2006, 07:59 PM

Better American voice acting. =P

But that aside, all points agreed. Honestly, I think everyone agrees that good storyline, good openings, good characters, good art, good fight scenes and good whatever the hell else makes a good anime.

I mean, once you've taken those base things and add X anime in someone's opinion, it's not that much to talk about.

I suppose there's a case to be made that the discussion here lies in getting at exactly what we mean by good x and good y.

I suppose as concerns action, I generally tend to prefer things to be maybe just past the line of realism, with generous helpings of style and grace, liberally applied. Something like say Samurai Champloo, where it is not necessarily afraid to let its characters cross the line of the possible, but at least maintains reality as a sort of anchoring point, keeping the action from slipping away into the outright superhuman.

Mesden

08-01-2006, 08:11 PM

I suppose there's a case to be made that the discussion here lies in getting at exactly what we mean by good x and good y.

I suppose as concerns action, I generally tend to prefer things to be maybe just past the line of realism, with generous helpings of style and grace, liberally applied. Something like say Samurai Champloo, where it is not necessarily afraid to let its characters cross the line of the possible, but at least maintains reality as a sort of anchoring point, keeping the action from slipping away into the outright superhuman.

Well screw you for stating your opinion, you asstard!

*Ahem* Anyhow, this is about a glorified 'What's your favorite anime?' thread. But people are giving reasons why instead of, "DBZ ROXLOLRQ!" or something similarly idiotic.

So, like, good storyline, enjoyable characters, well done action scenes, fun openings, good music, great development through all of them and then that own little personal touch, and that 'little personal touch' is what we're stating, right?

Well screw your personal touch, because I've got my personal touch and it's the greatest personal touch ever.

Yeah, sit there and make it dirty you people of the god forsaken internet.

Nique

08-01-2006, 08:49 PM

I suppose there's a case to be made that the discussion here lies in getting at exactly what we mean by good x and good y.

There's some paticulars on style that makes an anime more enjoyable for me - The art, for instance, should fall somewhere in the quality of Cowboy Bebop, but the style itself... Well, Love Hina (still hate the show, keep in mind) has good art, or (again) Trigun. I tend to dislike anime styles such as that in FMA or Pokemon, where the charecters seem less streamlined.

FLCL seemed to have good quality art, although I wasn't sure I paticularly liked the style the charecters were drawn.

Fifthfiend

08-01-2006, 09:31 PM

You know what I really like to see, plot-wise? Is a properly executed arc of development for the hero. Like say his tragic flaw is that he's a hothead, I like to see a nice progression of development, where you see him struggling with his shortcomings, and realizing the ways his temperamentalness undo him, and gradually overcoming his weakness to become better than he was.

Like just for example, with Peacemaker. I thought that one kind of fell flat, because the character's this weak, undisciplined kid, but he's got some talent, and he wants to become a samurai, so he can be strong enough to protect the people he cares about. So then the next like 20 episodes are mostly him goofing around and fucking up and whining like a prick. And then it gets to the last episode and it's like oh hey look everybody, now I'm a total badass.

In general, as far as characters I like, I tend to prefer the ones who have to work their asses off to get to be any kind of good. As opposed to the ones who are just magically gifted at being a badass. Like, it doesn't even necessarily even need to be covered in the course of the show - Cowboy Bebop, for example, managed to at least give a really strong impression that Spike went through some hard, brutal shit to get to be as tough as he was. Whereas say, Vash from Trigun it's like why's he good at everything, well, cause he's good at everything. It's, you know, magic or some shit. I like when they show you a hero who had to practice his shit.

pictish

08-01-2006, 09:43 PM

In general, as far as characters I like, I tend to prefer the ones who have to work their asses off to get to be any kind of good. As opposed to the ones who are just magically gifted at being a badass. Like, it doesn't even necessarily even need to be covered in the course of the show - Cowboy Bebop, for example, managed to at least give a really strong impression that Spike went through some hard, brutal shit to get to be as tough as he was. Whereas say, Vash from Trigun it's like why's he good at everything, well, cause he's good at everything. It's, you know, magic or some shit. I like when they show you a hero who had to practice his shit.

OBJECTION!

Spike was, indeed well explained - but so was Vash. They covered the whole stuff about plants being above human. So that covers his innate generally being above par in normal abilities. The gunmanship and stuff? Well, remember, he is over 100 years old and all that. I think he had enough time to get his aim down to a fine art. So yeah, it kinda is 'magic', but it's explained magic - the whole plant issue. Anything else can be attributed to age.

Fifthfiend

08-01-2006, 09:51 PM

OBJECTION!

Spike was, indeed well explained - but so was Vash. They covered the whole stuff about plants being above human. So that covers his innate generally being above par in normal abilities. The gunmanship and stuff? Well, remember, he is over 100 years old and all that. I think he had enough time to get his aim down to a fine art. So yeah, it kinda is 'magic', but it's explained magic - the whole plant issue. Anything else can be attributed to age.

I'm not saying it's not explained that he's magically better than everybody, but he's still magically better than everybody, and that's just not the way I roll.

I mean, magical was probably the wrong word - just more the guys who for whatever reason are just naturally gifted. I like the characters who you know they had to work to get what they've got.

Mesden

08-01-2006, 09:54 PM

pictish

08-01-2006, 09:59 PM

I'm not saying it's not explained that he's magically better than everybody, but he's still magically better than everybody, and that's just not the way I roll.

I mean, magical was probably the wrong word - just more the guys who for whatever reason are just naturally gifted. I like the characters who you know they had to work to get what they've got.

Ah yeah, ok. I see that. He's just wow because... plants are wow. His 100 years help, but it's mostly the plant thing, from what's suggested.

In that case, yeah, realistic skill development is probably better for a character - since it will mean they'll be within some sort of realm of limitations that the viewer kind of knows.

In cowboy bebop - you knew when Spike was in real trouble, or what was a bad situation, because he's only human with a certain amount of skill he's displayed. When Vash got into big trouble, well, he might just up his game beyond what you know, because he can. Vash's crippling moral limitations counteracted his superhuman-ness quite nicely, at least.

So, to finally contribute something:

In a perfect anime, I'd rather like meaningful suspence. In something like Trigun, you know what's happening. In Slayers, I found things just happened and while there would be twists, it was all very sudden. In bebop, perhaps I'm not a sophisticated enough viewer but since I had some short breaks between episodes, the whole main plot involving the red dragon syndicate mostly went over my head until the second watch through. There was suspence - but I didn't appreciate it, it was over my head.

Some sort of desperation to see what's coming is always nice. Even if it's not as nice on the second run through, that's ok as long as it's not all the series relies on.

Krylo

08-01-2006, 10:08 PM

Actually, it shows Vash practicing multiple times in the show (quickdraw to catch the egg, put gun away, draw again, etc) and he says quite a few times that he practices with his gun every day and has had to do so for a long while to get as good as he is... and he has the scars to prove it.

So yes, he did have to practice.

I think the real distinction between say... Spike (because that's who we're using) and Vash is that Spike was limited to human abilities, so while Vash whipped out crazy "What the fuck?" shit, Spike's skills seemed less like magic and more like something someone would actually learn--even though both are that. Just Vash's is also augmented (most humans couldn't calculate the trajectory of a bullet by looking at the barrel that quickly, just because our brains don't work that fast, for instance. This doesn't mean Vash could just DO that, however, he obviously practiced that technique, it's just also a technique that humans can't really do).

Nique

08-02-2006, 04:21 AM

Mondt

08-02-2006, 04:24 AM

Look, when a character can pull off wearing a trash can lid on his head and still look like a badass, that's a good character for me. :D

Edit: Yay, 1000th post, again!

King_black_mage

08-02-2006, 05:55 AM

The perfect anima whould be a anima just like out law star now that was a kick ass anima, and it had a great ending and opening song

KBM (Byron)

Mesden

08-02-2006, 11:42 AM

I got the same feel for those charecters as fifthfiend though - There were instances, as krylo mentioned, of Vash's having to practice and work at what he did, but at the same time his backstory made us see that 'oh, well, ok. He's a mutant badass, so thats what all that gunslinging and longevity is about.

Well, I mean, Vash is the best and all. But take a look at his bestest buddy in the show. The guy's no more than, what, 40 max? And he's dodging bullets? Carrying hundreds of pounds worth of massive weaponry in one hand?

I mean, That's a tad worse.

Whereas Spike? Didn't he [SPOILED] or some mess?

Yes, yes he did. It may have taken an entire damn syndicate, but he definitely did.

Vash was pretty lethal for a guy who doesn't kill.

Well, I mean, 'pretty lethal' really bases around what? He kills one person on purpose? I mean, sure, he'd cripple you several times over with his gun shots, but atleast he wouldn't kill you!

Seriously, he's not that lethal.

Fifthfiend

08-02-2006, 04:18 PM

Anyway, it was just one example, so I'm not gonna really debate the point too hard.

Okay, so... shows with one main male character surrounded by hot bitches. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

I tend to find them more or less enjoyable at the outset, but increasingly less so as they come up with increasingly convoluted reasons why the guy isn't getting together with anybody.

Really this goes for any anime with a prominent boy-meets-girl plotline I suppose, whatever the male:female ratio works out at.

Hey so there's a part of my 'perfect anime'. The awkward-yet-charming-in-an-oddball-way guy and the overbearing-yet-secretly-tenderhearted lady meet up, and then they actually work their shit out and get together, in I dunno, three or four episodes. And then they find some other way to keep busy.

Or even, okay, anybody ever seen Gantz? Cause I mean they actually work out pretty quick there that oh hey, the girl character? Fuckin' can't stand the main guy character. So then he goes and finds some other chick to hook up with.

I mean and sure, then they pretty much all get slaughtered by aliens. But they were moving shit along, somehow or another.

The Thrower of ICBMs

08-03-2006, 02:55 AM

I personally like Giant Robot Anime, if you hadn't already figured it out from my past posts and avatar. And in my mind, Yuusha-Oh GaoGaiGar is at the top of the list, but that's my bias.

Seriously, though, I've always thought that a good anime (or any show in particular, regardless of country) needs to have some good music backing it up. And I don't just mean the OP and ED themes, but in general. Character themes, emotion themes, just plain themes! Good BGMs make for a good show, or at least make a bad show worth listening to until the soundtrack is in some way acquireable. GaoGaiGar fits this very well - listen to "Yuusha-Oh Tanjou!", "Gai", "Aka to Ao * ChoRyuJin", "Dividing Driver", "Hell & Heaven", "Itsuka Hoshi no Umi de", "Disc X", "Utsukushiki Hikari no Tsubasa", "J Ark~King J-Dar", "Yuuki Aru Tatakai" especially, and "Goldion Hammer" if you ever get the chance. A good show has a theme somewhere that you can hum when you're bummed, when you're in traffic, when you're pumping yourself up, etc.

Plot-wise, there always needs to be a mystery. Always. The viewer has to be kept guessing - or at least wondering and thinking - up until the last episode, with an ending that resolves it all. But this is just a basic rule. Story-wise, there's just no fun in a show that settles a dispute in the first few episodes, epecially when it's one you've come to love - a show with a love triangle formed in the first episode, and then sends one of the characters away to replace him/her with another, less liked character, for example...

I think someone mentioned that it's hard to come up with an original character, and I think this is true. Every stereotype, flat, and most rounds have been done to death by this point, so all you have left is a distinctive character design. After the first 10 episodes or so, this stops mattering (and in some cases after the first couple - who cares about Spike's outfit after watching him act out the fight from Game of Death?), and we can all focus on the acting rather than the costume we're going to make and wear to the Con.

I also believe that there needs to be humor in a good series, not just comic relief, but a genuine sense of humor. The show can be serious and all, but there's always fun to be found in life, and any show that is so far removed from reality as to lack a sense of humor or even the occasional joke needs to be rethought.

And of course, a good fight scene is always appreciated. Not an insanely long one (*cough*DBZ*cough*), just a really good one. The perfect combination of character, music, action, and dialogue. It doesn't have to change your world view or anything; in essence, one that gives you goosebumps every time you think about it.

Actually, this post made more sense when I was feeling more awake. So I'll just end with the customary...

GaoGaiGar Rocks

CelesJessa

08-03-2006, 04:08 PM

Seriously, though, I've always thought that a good anime (or any show in particular, regardless of country) needs to have some good music backing it up.
[/SIZE]

I would like to add onto this one by saying that it should also have a fairly LARGE music score. No matter how excellent the music is, if it's overused, it loses all of it's importantness (I make up words!). For example: Tsubasa has this really great dramatic music, and I especially love the one from the first episode where Sakura and Saioran (sp?) are split apart dramatically, I mean, this music sounds like it should be reserved for the high-intensity moments of all high-intensity moments (opera singing and all of that (like the last battle music for the FF series), but it loses all of that coolness and intensity because it's practically the "Exciting" music for EVERY EPISODE.

This is a nitpicky of mine, but it gets under my skin if the animation is lazy. I want to be able to tell their every feeling through their pose and facial expressions, even ones like "I'm feelings mildly anxious and scared at the same time with a touch of smugness". It bugs me when it's like "Here is their happy face, sad face, angry face, and bored face." and they just stick it on as needed.
But on that note about lazy animation, it's mildly irritating when, say Hero X is standing in the wind and his hair follows a distinct pattern as it's being blown (a loop of the same animation), I don't really mind an animation loop, but make it so we can't easily TELL it's a loop.

Nique

08-03-2006, 07:32 PM

Okay, so... shows with one main male character surrounded by hot bitches. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

I tend to find them more or less enjoyable at the outset, but increasingly less so as they come up with increasingly convoluted reasons why the guy isn't getting together with anybody.

Definatly thumbs down. Tripping into somone's boobs is only funny a few times.

Admitedly, Love Hina and its ilk got a few laughs from me when my friend forced several of us to watch it, but it just got kind of creepy how every time we were togethor, he'd be like 'Seriously, guys, wanna watch Love Hina? Anyone?'

Hey, you guys know what was a good anime? That Sonic the hedgehog anime with Knuckles in a cowboy hat. That was deep.

Captain_Action

08-16-2006, 01:51 AM

Besides the twilight-zone ending, can Big O be considered for being perfect too?

Jagos

08-16-2006, 10:56 AM

I'd just ask for an explanation as to why...?

Note: I've never seen it but it's kinda hard to debate if people can't reference the info.

greed

08-16-2006, 01:15 PM

Thumbs down on the harem shows, they're just kinda creepy.

On the Vash stuff, if you remember he was shitting himself about having to fight Legato. Legato could control his body like a puppet and could probably have done that thing he did to that guy in the saloon to Vash. Not to mention his telepathy would make him even better at dodging shots than Vash.

So yeah personally I thought they explained Vash' abilities fairly well and handicapped him appropriately. Plus him not being quite the strongest, with Knives edging him out and Legato being able to kill him if he wanted to, as well. So yeah Trigun is up there, good heroes, awesome villains(BDN, Knives, the whole of the Gung-Ho Guns and Legato especially, I mean look at the episode SIN) incredible fights and good music. Though I think FMA is just as good. It's between those two really.

Oh and Wolfwood was in his early twenties, not fifties.

pictish

08-16-2006, 01:47 PM

Let's not forget, that while having all that it also had something else important that I loved rather a lot: The whole morals thing. Rem's influence was very Kantian/Deontological or whatever and Knives was very.. well, it's not utilitarian or any other kind of moral practice most people would find acceptable. It was kind of just the exact opposite of what Rem/Vash thought - you had every right to take a human life for various (almost utterly arbitrary) reasons. Vash's struggle with his morals was something beyond all the cool stuff like action scenes and whatnot that was pretty nice to have.

Enough rambling about Trigun for me, though.

I'll just mention that what sets one anime beyond another most of the time for me is when the music isn't just good, but when it fights the characters well. I don't just want the villain's music to sound evil/scary. I want it to drip with their character. Fighting music shouldn't just be cool/fast paced, it should back up the situation happening nicely. As I think someone mentioned earlier (CeleJessa, perhaps?) overusing the same music takes away it's awesomeness, and detracts from the individuality of the situation. Of course, my example of this goes straight into Trigun since I'm it's the first thing that came to my head. Legato's music is flat out perfect for him. Every character should have music that matches them like that.

Solid Snake

08-16-2006, 01:59 PM

That Yu-Gi-Oh redubbing hosted on YouTube?

...yeah. I think that's my favorite Japanese anime show. Ever.

(And the sad thing is, I don't think the guy who writes the script is Japanese.)

greed

08-16-2006, 02:44 PM

Legato's music is flat out perfect for him.

SPOILERS
In case you're wondering (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmIEVEVJ4IE), around the 4:20 mark. And he's right.

Oh and that scene I was talking about in SIN, here you go. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt5AnRGKPpo)

suprnova989

09-04-2006, 05:40 PM

Honestly to say I can't stand subtitles

INUYASHA FOR LIFE

Althane

09-04-2006, 06:01 PM

Elfen Lied is pretty good of an anime.

Really crapfreakin' depressing, and bloodier than CB and Trigun, AND Bleach put together (and considering people in Bleach have more blood in their bodies, and under higher pressure than a gyser has water... yeah).

Yet it's really appeaing, and the intro is perfect.

Trigun will always be first, mostly 'cause of my introduction with it, but Elfen Lied is awesome.

Eva? Thought it was cool, watched it a second time, and realized that the Judeao-Christian stuff was cool, if weird, the rest was pretty crappy compared to the magna.

Supreme Edgemaster

09-09-2006, 03:15 PM

I'd agree with major on the price issue. I went to a Conspiracy Comics in Ontario while on vacation. By the way, conspiracy comics is ontario based, so don't look for one on the west coast of canada major. I saw a full metal alchemist DVD with only the first 2, thats right, 2 episodes on it for 34.99. I mean, I can see paying 30 bucks for 4-5 episodes, but 35 bucks for 2? There is no way in heaven or hell that I would pay that. Give me that first 2 episode disc for 20 and I might just be tempted. Major is totally right. Anime episode DVDs are way too overpriced. The only exception might be the inu-Yasha seasons. I was at London Drugs one day and I saw the 1st season of Inu-Yasha for 39.95. That was perfect for 22 episodes, not almost that same amount for only 2.

Althane

09-09-2006, 11:26 PM

$10 for an episode?

That's overpriced even for me.

Seriously, just use Netflix to watch it when you want. The one business day is an easy wait.

(that, or find some cheaper versions. My local gamestop has some pretty good Amine for really cheap. Used, but in good condition)

Kikuichimonji

09-10-2006, 06:03 AM

Looking at it in the format of Freytag's pyramid, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Freytags_pyramid.png) more exposition and especially more rising action. Both Trigun and Cowboy Bebop spend a lot of time setting up and exploring the world the series is set in. Character relationships and reactions are often more interesting to me than the actual action.

I also enjoy it when the main character(s) are against insurmountable odds and foes that they barely understand (Wolf's Rain, R.O.D. the TV, Rurouni Kenshin). It doesn't matter to me if they succeed or fail; I just want the drama.

Also, no over-talkiness. Make the words matter, and don't cut anything out that seems natural, but it shouldn't be a soap opera.

Humor can be well-done, but don't throw it in so you can be funny. Unless it's a comedy, of course.

The badass cliche is overdone. No more badasses. And while I'm at it, no more whiny emos. I don't want to hear about how much you suck or how cool you are, I want to see how much you suck or how cool you are.

Stabbity_Man

09-13-2006, 07:48 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iwsND_dc1Y

GaoGaiGar, the mecha that runs on liquid courage.

What's not to like?

Fighter=Genius

09-19-2006, 12:13 PM

I like/love alot of anime but I can still laugh at the parodies, and I'd like to see a show with a serious plotline and all that but characters that can laugh at themselves and how ridiculous(sp?) the story is with some satire thrown in (see yugioh the abridged series on youtube). Also I hate how most of the villans are supergeniuses and no matter what the heros do it's allways part of his plan so, I'd like a main bad guy that makes mistakes once in awhile. If I've just described an anime that I haven't heard about please tell me or just tell me why this wouldn't work in a constructive manner. Thanks.