Finished Shirobako just now. It's a series about animation production. It was recommended to me but from the opening minutes I was kind of suspect because it starts with five cute girls toasting over donuts and I thought that it was going to be another "cute girls doing cute things" series. However, while there is an abundance of cute girl characters (I think a couple too many to be realistic, but I guess that's how you draw the otaku in), the series actually follows a line and actually has a plot, some decent writing and is an interesting watch. The characters are shown as actually capable and there is a certain depth to them as they struggle with both personal and professional problems. The art does have a "generic cuteness" to it but at least not every character is some fashion model. Also, it explains a lot of animation production without being too heavy on the exposition. And I laughed my ass off a couple of times (particularly the racing scene in the fist episode and Kinoshita's march to meet Nogame).
In short, the series was a whole lot better than I expected and is worth a watch, particularly if you are interested in the subject matter.
Edit: This article about Shirobako was posted before in the TotD thread, but I think it needs to be reposted here because it's fantastic.
Just finished watching Rail Wars. If it had been more about the trains it would probably have been pretty great. It was still good, but the sheer quantity of fan service during and after episode 4 made it a little embarrassing to watch.
Now onto Glasslip, which seems as though it could be promising, but after 5 eps I haven't made up my mind yet.
Sarah and I started watching Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, and it's brilliant! We keep laughing out loud at this one.
I can't decide how I feel about Glasslip. I'm not done with it yet, but I either really love it, or really hate it. It's basically slice of life with a twist. Normally I can't really get into slice of life but I can't stop watching this one.
NVM. I've just put on the first episode, then switched it off without finishing. I can confirm it's nothing like Cowboy Bebop.
Samurai Champloo is so dry.
Yeah, it's different, it's no CB, but it's one of series I wouldn't mind watching again.
This anime has also one of the best soundtracks. The soundtrack alone is worth watching the anime. Nujabes, Tsutchie, and Fat John produce some high quality beats and mixes.
There are a lot of similarities between both series: 1) A group of unlikely characters get together on various journeys. 2) Each person has a past, full of conflict, that ends up coming back to them through the series. 3) Awesome soundtrack 4) Cute adorable pet 5) Interesting characters in each episode. 6) Good fight scenes. 7) Silliness. 8) Seriously awesome music.
It's also episodic for the most part just like CB. With a the overarching story line of finding the samurai that smells of sunflowers. Not sure what you mean by the first episode being dry. There are samurai sword fights. A establishment gets set on fire. Lots of guards of the town get killed even the mayor's son if I remember it right. And a almost public execution of the two main protagonist follow by a jail break.
I just watched the first episode of Macross and I only hope the rest of the show is as good.
YASSSSSS
PINEAPPLE SALAD
I need to re-watch all of it again. The day that we get a proper localization of Macross : Do You Remember Love? Will be the day that a little space in my shelf, and heart will be forever filled.
Just finished Waiting in the Summer (Ano Natsu de Matteru). It was unexpectedly amazing especially given the thin synopsis on Crunchyroll. The art is fantastic, the premise is cliche (but everything is), the twists are downright silly, and I really loved it.
Will probably hunt down the OVA tonight even though from the Wikipedia description it sounds like it's probably mostly fan service.
Comments
In short, the series was a whole lot better than I expected and is worth a watch, particularly if you are interested in the subject matter.
Edit: This article about Shirobako was posted before in the TotD thread, but I think it needs to be reposted here because it's fantastic.
Now onto Glasslip, which seems as though it could be promising, but after 5 eps I haven't made up my mind yet.
Sarah and I started watching Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, and it's brilliant! We keep laughing out loud at this one.
Samurai Champloo is so dry.
This anime has also one of the best soundtracks. The soundtrack alone is worth watching the anime. Nujabes, Tsutchie, and Fat John produce some high quality beats and mixes.
There are a lot of similarities between both series:
1) A group of unlikely characters get together on various journeys.
2) Each person has a past, full of conflict, that ends up coming back to them through the series.
3) Awesome soundtrack
4) Cute adorable pet
5) Interesting characters in each episode.
6) Good fight scenes.
7) Silliness.
8) Seriously awesome music.
PINEAPPLE SALAD
Will probably hunt down the OVA tonight even though from the Wikipedia description it sounds like it's probably mostly fan service.
I really like the running animation here.