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Naming Your Attacks


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shadow_guyver



Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 307
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:01 am Reply with quote
I agree with TranceLimit174. He pretty much covered everything I think. (Heh heh, I was thinking of Getter Beam when I first read this thread)

Anyway, what is it with you and our long cherished anime conventions, hentai4me? First oversized weapons, now attack names. Is nothing sacred?

Wink
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WesW



Joined: 07 Aug 2005
Posts: 144
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 5:39 am Reply with quote
Actually, yelling out your special attack is not limited to anime. A few years back, a DVD version of the old (late 70's) Jackie Chan classic Drunken Master was released. (Some of you may be familiar with the sequel Legend of Drunken Master.)
Anyway, the commentary talked about how the actors were yelling out their personalized names for their attacks, and how the subtitlers decided to change them into trash-talk, since the subbers believed that Americans would find them foolish in their translated versions.
It turns out that martial art moves have names, so fighters who develop their own combo moves and such give the moves their own names, which they yell out during battle. I guess it's a twist on always simply yelling out "hi-ya!" or whatever. Given the phonics of Asian languages, it's actually not that dumb, though I would bet that it's not something that was practiced in real combat.
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EVA fiend



Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 314
Location: Somewhere in the UK.
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 6:47 am Reply with quote
WesW wrote:
It turns out that martial art moves have names, so fighters who develop their own combo moves and such give the moves their own names, which they yell out during battle. I guess it's a twist on always simply yelling out "hi-ya!" or whatever. Given the phonics of Asian languages, it's actually not that dumb, though I would bet that it's not something that was practiced in real combat.


You're right, all RL martial arts moves have names, it's how you learn what moves are what. It's not practiced in real 'combat' per se, but it is used in training. As for yelling 'hi-ya', that's actually a technique called 'kiai', & it's used to focus energy (or ki/chi) when executing a technique in martial arts.
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zombie828



Joined: 14 Nov 2006
Posts: 62
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:35 am Reply with quote
Berserk kinda made fun of this, in episode 11 with the guy who's got a trident.

I think it's incredibly lame, especially when they announce their attacks every single time they use them...
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hentai4me



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 1313
Location: England. Robin is so Cute!
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:16 pm Reply with quote
EVA fiend wrote:
WesW wrote:
It turns out that martial art moves have names, so fighters who develop their own combo moves and such give the moves their own names, which they yell out during battle. I guess it's a twist on always simply yelling out "hi-ya!" or whatever. Given the phonics of Asian languages, it's actually not that dumb, though I would bet that it's not something that was practiced in real combat.


You're right, all RL martial arts moves have names, it's how you learn what moves are what. It's not practiced in real 'combat' per se, but it is used in training. As for yelling 'hi-ya', that's actually a technique called 'kiai', & it's used to focus energy (or ki/chi) when executing a technique in martial arts.


True they often have names...but they describe what they are 90% of the time.

for example:-
Ollyo Moorup Taerigi is upward knee strike
Sang Yop Palkup is twin side elbow
etc

these are names that explain what they are and would be called out during a training session to tell the practitioners what the instructor wants them to do.

Perhaps the use of this kind of shouting is to do with the Ki-hap practised during pattern/form/kata work...it certainly isn't used in sparring of either semi/full/pure varieties...you might hear grunting but most people are too busy breathing and keeping their teeth in their head to open their mouths.

Some of you say that while to the viewer these attacks take ages to the anime protagonists they are only a manner of seconds and so arent so massively telegraphed as they seem. But most of the time when super attacks like this are used the opponent is a powerful/dangerous/skillful enemy if they don't have similarly quick reactions then what makes them so dangerous?

Here's an example of how easy it is for a real person. The backfist strike (Dung Joomuk Taerigi) is done without a chamber in sparring. Chambering takes a fraction of a second (how long does it take for you to point your elbow at someone?) but if you do that your opponent will almost certainly read the incoming attack and do something about it. I'm not talking about skilled martial artists here, overweight, unfit 40somethings in their first sparring match can see when you are planning on attacking them and their instincts take over...they can and do get out of the way.

Clearly from the general response Westerners find the use of these kinds of names either strange or annoying, maybe not enough to stop watching but none the less. Perhaps it's a nuance of Asian culture or language that means that these kinds of things have a different rhythm to them and dont sound absurd (different definitions of cool?).

Show of hands, who would like to see an anime where the fighting is done by the characters in a realistic manner, in regards to physics at least, and with common sense. Watch any half decent action film or martial arts flick and fight choreography has come to the point where fights look cool and don't look too absurd, certainly someone who doesn't regularly practice MA's or somehting wouldn't know the absurdities.

Now before you say that real physics in fights would be boring try a quick video search for any number of martial arts 'Trickz' videos and see the kinds of things real people can do in real life...integrating that kind of thing into anime can't be all that hard and it still would look very cool.
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Animefreak6969



Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 587
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:30 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Show of hands, who would like to see an anime where the fighting is done by the characters in a realistic manner, in regards to physics at least, and with common sense. Watch any half decent action film or martial arts flick and fight choreography has come to the point where fights look cool and don't look too absurd, certainly someone who doesn't regularly practice MA's or somehting wouldn't know the absurdities.


well, there was that one fight in To Heart that was pretty good, when the sisters fought to see whos style is better.

and then in Naruto when Lee got drunk for the first time and fought Kimimaru most of that seemed to be in a realistic manner because Kimimaru was just "sword" fighting at that time
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TranceLimit174



Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 962
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:48 pm Reply with quote
hentai4me wrote:
Some of you say that while to the viewer these attacks take ages to the anime protagonists they are only a manner of seconds and so arent so massively telegraphed as they seem. But most of the time when super attacks like this are used the opponent is a powerful/dangerous/skillful enemy if they don't have similarly quick reactions then what makes them so dangerous?

Show of hands, who would like to see an anime where the fighting is done by the characters in a realistic manner, in regards to physics at least, and with common sense. Watch any half decent action film or martial arts flick and fight choreography has come to the point where fights look cool and don't look too absurd, certainly someone who doesn't regularly practice MA's or somehting wouldn't know the absurdities.

Now before you say that real physics in fights would be boring try a quick video search for any number of martial arts 'Trickz' videos and see the kinds of things real people can do in real life...integrating that kind of thing into anime can't be all that hard and it still would look very cool.


To your first question, super attacks don't always connect. Heck Yuske in Yu Yu Hakusho missed with his Spirit Gun many more times than he actually hit with it. And if they don't dodge, maybe it's because the opponent is faster? What about the super attacks that cover a certain range from all angles, so there really isn't a way to escape? Also I think there's a neglect for the element of surprise. Just because these characters are so strong and skilled are they not allowed to be mesmerized by something they've never seen?

As far as wanting realistic fighting, if you want that watch those videos you were talking about or martial arts movies. The point of anime (in my opinion) is to get away from reality. I want to see things that can't be done. That's why I watch, because I can see things in anime that I can't anywhere else. Realism is what life is for.
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HitokiriShadow



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 6251
PostPosted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:28 pm Reply with quote
TranceLimit174 wrote:
It sounds to me like there's also a misconception of when an attack name is shouted. Most of the time it is said while the character is attacking, not before (but this of course depends on the attack, there are exceptions such as Kage Bunshin no Jutsu).


Even doing it while attacking is rather foolish, particularly if its a multipart attack. It may not be a big deal if the enemy hasn't seen/heard it before, but it means that doing it again will tell them. In the case of a multipart/multiple hit attack, if they've seen it before they will then now the remaining hits in the attack giving them a better opportunity to block, dodge, or counterattack. In fights, reaction time and predicting your oppenents' moves are extremely important, and announcing your attacks really helps your opponent in that.

Of course, someone COULD announce the wrong attack to throw off their opponent or they could alter the attack, but the former almost never happens and the latter usually results in a change in the name of the attack anyway.

Quote:
For example I can't ever recall a moment where Naruto said "Rasengan!" as he formed it. He would shout his attack as he lunged forward. Also just because someone says the name beforehand doesn't mean it will neccessarily give away how it will strike. Once again going back to Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Sure you may hear it, but do you know how many clones there will be? How about what they will do?


Rasengan is a poor example, since the enemy will know that Naruto is using it long before he actually does, since he can't do it properly and has to use clones to do it (though I'm sure he learns how to do it properly eventually). Pretty much any attack that requires preparation or charging (like Chidori, or a Kamehameha in DBZ) would be given away in advance anyway so the shouting of the attack, while still stupid, wouldn't make much of a difference in battle in most circumstances. Projectile attacks (again, Kamahameha) would be the same, unless it was being used in a sneak attack or a suprise.

Which brings up the stupidest part of shouting out attacks: when characters shout out their attacks when they are trying to get a preemptive strike on an opponent. Shouting out your attack during a suprise attack negates most of the advantage you would get and makes the suprise attack almost useless. When they don't say the name of their attack (or they aren't using a special attack) they tend to shout out something like "Got you!" or "Take this!" instead, which is just as bad, if not worse. Rolling Eyes

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu isn't an actual attack so announcing it probably wouldn't make any difference in most circumstances. In addition, it could probably fall under the incantation exception in which saying the name of the attack is necessary to use it (like a magic incantation). Any illusion techniques which are not simple Ki manipulation would fall under this exception.
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daxomni



Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 2650
Location: Somewhere else.
PostPosted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:12 pm Reply with quote
I don't get anything out of attack calls, in fact I think calling out names for any physical attack is pretty lame myself. It's just another cliché in an endless list of clichés that have managed to work their way into so many anime titles. Thankfully there are also titles where nobody is calling out names for what they're about to do and thus I can often avoid this kind of nonsense. The only time I want to hear attack calls is if I'm watching a parody title like Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman. Otherwise I'd much prefer that they not do this sort of thing. If they're casting a spell or something then I can let it pass, but if they're just doing a physical attack or any magical attack that doesn't involve an incantation then I'd strongly prefer they didn't call anything out. Let the battle do the talking and just shut up for once. At least that's the way I see it.
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LuisRowinn



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Tucson, Az
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:46 pm Reply with quote
Well, I started off on DBZ when i first started watching anime. So on that note
I like it when some shows yell out the name of the move. I can't imagine seeing that show without the name yelling. But there are some instances where's its really dumb (Shadowskill). So im on the fence on this one i love it in some instances and others is not needed at all, and a waist of diaglog.
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naruto fan 09812



Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 499
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:51 pm Reply with quote
What hentai4me this is another rant thread you has to decided to make. The reason they name the attacks in shounen anime is because its flat out cool case closed.
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zliplus



Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 27
Location: St. Jerome's, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:52 pm Reply with quote
I don't think there really needs a debate as to whether fighters would realistically shout attack names while fighting, especially considering the fact that some attack names take more time to say than to perform. Attack names have just become ingrained into the shounen genre despite their unrealisticness. At one point in the Hunter X Hunter manga, Killua specifically asked Gon why he shouted his attack name when it would tip off his opponents, and received the answer intimated below:

Ohoni wrote:
As even Gon from Hunter X Hunter knows, it's just not a special attack if you don't yell out its name. Wink

First comes ROCK!


EDIT: There are exceptional situations where fighters may give away attack names, but those are usually for special reasons and not particularly related to the standard shouting of names while performing attacks. An example would be Seta Soujiro giving Kenshin the name of his one named attack, "Shun Ten Satsu," before using it, which can be interpreted as a sign of respect.
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar


Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 16963
PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:13 am Reply with quote
hentai4me wrote:
Animefreak6969's largely innane (and now locked) thread has brought to the boil a new tirade from me.

What about you, do you like it or loathe it? Obviously being anime fights to expect 100% realism is absurd but movie fight choreography can do it quite well so why don't we see anime style fights in this vein?:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-70319278243524456&q=martial+arts+fights



If his thread was so innane why are you making a thread yourself because of your reaction to him? Which thread is more innane his, or yours based off of his? I think personally this whole topic is rather stupid and carries no real point to it. Naming your attacks and a debate on whether or not you are for or against it carries how much intelligence to it? Why does it even matter anyway? It's anime. If you want realism go watch a documentary.
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Iritscen
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Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:21 am Reply with quote
The way I think of it is this: when a character speaks during a fight, time stops. So when Kenshin leaps and shouts, "Ryu-tsui-sen!" before coming down with his blade (and shouting isn't a hard-and-fast rule in Kenshin), time is stopped while he does so, thus explaining why he can hang there and talk, and why it doesn't give the opponent time to move.

It may sound silly, but you just have to accept that opponents cannot move while someone is talking (but they can talk back).

Obviously the real-world reason is, as mentioned, that it labels the attack for our convenience. If Kenshin didn't shout his attack names while using them, I'd never have learned the names, and then hearing a certain attack discussed by a character would have been very confusing.

Incidentally, on the subject of translating/not translating, the rule is simple and common sense: don't translate artsy names, do translate informative names.

I don't know the original names for any Naruto attacks, but I do know that, generally, the literal translations they use in the Viz dub work well because they say what the attack does.

This is as opposed to Kenshin's attacks, which mean silly things like Dragon Hammer Blow and Arching Sky Strike From the Dragon With Big Scary Fangs (OK, I made that one up because I can't remember the translation of the Hirameki attack). Those names don't add anything, so they sound way cooler being spoken in Japanese, which is why it's awesome that they kept the names in the original language when they dubbed the show.

I just want to mention, because I don't think anyone did yet, that the reason characters started doing this in anime is simply because it was done in the manga. It is much less noticebly unrealistic in a manga to see attack names, because there's only a general sense of timing -- the characters move as fast as you imagine them moving, but in anime they actually have to be given the time in the midst of the fight to say the name. Also, you don't have to listen to any shouting when reading a manga (unless you're reading it out loud). So, it's much more ignorable.

Basically, it's as much a part of the manga tradition in anime as when an action shot is frozen in place, mirroring the original panel in the manga.
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Drac



Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 165
PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:28 pm Reply with quote
Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, once said that shouting out the names of your attacks during a life or death situation was rather silly. In the end his editor told him he had to give the attacks names and that was that.
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