Forum - View topicREVIEW: Another streaming episodes 1-6
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vinamara
 Posts: 229 |
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Great review Theron.
Of course I never got bored or irritated though because I was already swept in by the atmosphere from the very beginning. The sense of mystery in the air is sufficient enough to just peel your eyes open and look for every detail the story has to show even in the most mundane shots and sequences.
I totally agree with this. Mei becomes more endearing once she starts talking after Kouichi finally discerns the truth about her. And I also agree with the review where it says that this is the strongest entries of the winter season. There's only the matter of ending now that makes me anxious. |
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walw6pK4Alo
 Posts: 9322 |
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The show was sort of irritating at first with all of the cuts to "creepy dolls for the sake of being creepy", and I still stand by that sentiment, even though I know it does play an important part in the story. As the story moved on through the Final Destination parts and the mystery is revealed to Sakakibara, the show immediately stops being irritating in that regard and now genuine intrigue can settle in. So it is best to muscle straight through to episode 5, and then you can look back on the previous episodes and much things start to come together. How the mystery itself functions is still difficult to wrap your brain around, it almost allows for any kind of outcome to occur.
As for the opening, Ali Project only has one song and it's starting to rot. Horrible choice for the tone and flow of this show. Ending theme is nice and soothing, as if it's giving you a breather. |
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unready
 Posts: 409 Location: Illinois, USA |
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They have more than one song (i.e., different songs are distinct from each other), but all their song's have the same characteristic "sound" to them. On a different topic, I'm willing to buy into the disbelief needed to go along with the story (dead people who don't know they're dead somehow killing people; Mei's prosthetic eye, it's implied, can see the dead people as dead), but I think I need more explanation as to why only some people in town seem to know about the curse. spoiler[Why do all the teachers go along with ignoring Mei (and eventually Koichi), especially when no one outside the school does? It seems rather unprofessional, to say the least, but mostly it just seems unsustainable. A more pointed example would be when Reiko ignores Koichi when they are in school in episode 5, but talks to him in episode 6 when they are at home, even apologizing and saying there was nothing she could do. (The more glaring example, of course, would be why high school students must shoulder the burden of finding a way to keep townspeople from dying while the adults are oblivious, but this is anime, after all.)] I realize these problems with the story are most likely problems derived from the novel, which I haven't read, not necessarily problems exclusive to how the anime portrays it. I suspect that by the time the story ends, we will have simply been supposed to forget the problems rather than expect explanations for them. But it's not boring. [EDIT: Spoiler tag added. Especially in these review response threads, use spoiler tags when talking about major plot points. Use what is or isn't mentioned specifically in the review as a guide for what needs to be tagged or not. - Key] |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24201 |
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Good review. I'm glad to Theron highlighted P.A. Works and their stellar visual finesse. They have become one of those animation production companies whose titles I will watch on the strength of their involvement alone (I wasn't crazy about Canaan and still haven't finished it, but damn, it looked beautiful).
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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Completely ignores the fact that the reasons themselves need explanation as they are fairly poor, rather incomplete (albeit we are only half-way through the show) and rely on too much suspension of disbelief. The concepts in Another may be somewhat interesting but the execution of those concepts is sorely lacking.
Theron said this is one of the strongest, not that it is the strongest. It doesn't matter, it isn't either of those. I would rate Natsume Yuujinchou Shi, Nisemonogatari, Black Rock Shooter and (possibly) Inu x Boku SS as being better, and I'd also rate the Fall 2011 holdovers of Bakuman S2, Chihayafuru and Persona 4: The Animation as being better too. Even Listen to Me Girls, I am Your Father! is pretty good, when it isn't being horribly generic and cliché. And Moretsu Pirates is currently whiling away building a foundation, which may turn it into a strong show. Depends on what the foundation looks like when finished, and what the show does with that foundation. There's potential, is what I'm saying. Back to the show at hand. Another is absolutely gorgeous in its art (character designs are pretty generic though), and the music isn't too hammy and overblown for a Horror. Well, I don't think so, although many people have said that the music was a turnoff. Anyway, after the various technical problems and mistakes in Angel Beats!, PA Works have done good artistic and animation work in Hanasaku Iroha and now Another. I can't fault them there. They do some of the best animation you will see in a televised Anime series, no doubt about that. That said, too bad they can't write or adapt a story that isn't riddled with holes. I'd rather have a weakly-animated/drawn show with a gripping or heartwarming story than a series that looks fantastic but has so many writing issues that it pisses me off. Good animation will eventually be surpassed and become outdated, however a good story is timeless.
Agreed. They might suit a bombastic series like Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, but they do not suit Another, no bloody way. Also, I get tired of all their songs sounding so similar. It's one thing to have a unique style, it's quite another to have so little range that you use that same style (hyper aristocratic tone) in virtually every song. I'm just tired of them, they're stale.
As a near-universal rule I refuse to overlook things, especially when the tone of a work is serious*. Even in my beloved RahXephon there are things that grate on me, and I consider that the best Anime I've ever seen. If I'm not going to spare a series of that calibre, why should I spare all the lesser titles out there? Simple answer is I shouldn't, and I don't. Writers should not bring up plot points if they cannot satisfactorily explain them. Unintentional problems due to fridge logic are one thing, but when core planks of your story are dodgy then your house is in danger of falling down. Another can still provide a solid ending, but I seriously doubt it will. If it does though I'll be happy. If it does . . . * Outlandish Comedies are the exception; I don't question how Mechazawa from Cromartie High School can use the bathroom, I just accept it. Last edited by dtm42 on Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Vaisaga
 Posts: 13241 |
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Although I've already spoiled myself as to the solution to the mystery, the show is still quite engaging and I look forward to it every week. I especially like the relationship between Kouichi and Mei and I hope to see that go further
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BSzabo45
Posts: 13 |
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I'm very glad ANN decided to start streaming this one, when they started streaming Moretsu Pirates I was worried they were going to snub this series.
Putting aside Another's weak opening and less than tidy explainations, I hope that it will continue on to be the best show of the season. It's certianly got the Higurashi feel at times, changing from G rated to R rated in seconds, and most of the characters have been able to buck the traditional anime stereotypes. And even better is the way they hit you with curve balls. It seems like anyone can go at any time and I'm still not sure if there's a romance between Sakikabara and Mei. Truley a show that aims for substance over flash. Last edited by BSzabo45 on Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18493 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Although I don't agree with some of your other criticisms, I definitely agree with this one and have had the same thought. I'm sure I'm dating myself here, but the way their songs all sound the same kinda reminds me of how all of the #1 hits for the pop band Ace of Base sounded basically the same. |
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Cecilthedarkknight_234
 Posts: 3820 Location: Louisville, KY |
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Pretty decent review as always martin. I still need to work on my for this show and yes despite my overall love for this show I'm willing to admit it has it's faults. The major problem is that these type of shows even with plot holes here or there are just rare so I can look past these flaws. I actually dare some some to name me a horror/suspense/thriller that has come out in the past five years besides steins;gate and that was only thriller/mystery.
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Crisha
Moderator
 Posts: 4290 |
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*Insert Nickelback joke here, hurp durp* Or you can listen to this and draw your own conclusions: This is How You Remind Me of Someday I'm looking forward to watching Another and Chihayafuru. I've been holding off on both because I'd rather marathon, but I'm kinda wondering if I should start watching Another so that I can join in on the discussions and theorizing. I normally prefer waiting for a series to finish - PMMM is the only time I've watched the series as it was being released, and half of the fun was interacting with the fans, making guesses, trying to translate the runes, etc. Another might be more worthwhile watching weekly. Hm... |
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LaFreccia
 Posts: 324 |
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I really have not been impressed by this series. I'm not a big fan of the horror genre, and Another makes heavy use of the 'people not telling someone something, and bad things result' trope, which is a pet peeve of mine, so I didn't really expect it to be a fave. I will say the artwork is nice.
As to Ali Project, I like their work. I think the OP is pretty good. I'm sure they were given the job of making the OP based upon their style, so they don't really have the luxury of changing to a different style. People who claim Ali Project has only one song should compare these three songs by them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEDBF1ACAvQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE2_xyNF1Rs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf5I32kLwjI |
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Cecilthedarkknight_234
Posts: 3820 Location: Louisville, KY |
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It's just method Japanese use for there horror genre. I know alot of people don't like it but I do for some reason. It makes me think why is this happening, who is doing it and how. These type of shows just mess me with me mentally and test my psyche which is what I want. However i think that's the difference between Japanese style horror and american style. I prefer to be messed with then see a big monster going boo. Also nice ops btw but no love for rozen maiden..then again no one seems to remember that series despite being the most original series for 05/06. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyGRtbx6_uY |
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18493 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Um, the point was to show off Ali Project songs that didn't all sound the same. Rozen Maiden fits almost exactly the model of the "standard Ali Project song" that we've been talking about. |
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Cecilthedarkknight_234
Posts: 3820 Location: Louisville, KY |
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oops... welp i need to stop skimming then lol. Still.. eh i got nothing. |
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ShinnFlowen
 Posts: 141 |
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I personally hated this show until episode 5 came out and from there the show started to make sense. I still think as of now this is one of the stronger titles because a lot of titles like moretsu pirates have not gotten into full throttle so you do not know whether or not it will deliver on the premises being built.
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