Forum - View topicREVIEW: Library War Sub.DVD
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wandering-dreamer
 Posts: 1733 |
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I remember seeing an interpretation of the show that said it's also about the fight between local governments vs federal governments (it's it's the national government that set up the censorship group and the libraries mobilized on a more prefecture level IIRC) which I thought was cool. I've never read the light novels either but I did see someone translating snippets of them years ago and they appeared to be rather technical at parts which is part of the reason why I think this local vs federal conflict theory has merits.
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encrypted12345
Posts: 723 |
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As one of my favorite books is Fahrenheit 451, I liked this anime a lot. I feel like it could have been a lot better than it was, but I still find it charming.
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Megiddo
 Posts: 8360 Location: IL |
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One of my favorites from the Noitamina block. Very thrilled to be able to own it. Really hoping that Discotek can eventually bring the movie, Wings of Revolution, as well as I thought that was a solid conclusion to the series.
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Touma
 Posts: 2651 Location: Colorado, USA |
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I actually thought that the manga was not "fluffy" enough, so I will probably not bother with the anime.
I have read all of the manga volumes that Viz has released at least twice, and I will definitely continue it when Viz does. I really like this review. It gave me the kind of information that I need so that I can make an informed decision about the anime. |
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yuna49
 Posts: 3804 |
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I had a hard time mustering the suspension of disbelief required to watch this show. The notion that the government sanctioned battles between these two armies, sometimes in public spaces with civilians present, just seemed ludicrous to me. I see this show as one of a number concerned with censorship and political repression that have been released over the past decade or so. Personally I'd rather watch Oh! Edo Rocket, AKB0048, Gatchaman Crowds, or Kill la Kill than Library Wars. These shows are all so over-the-top that you accept them at face value. Library Wars feels like it wants to be seen as realistic, which makes the unreality of its central premise harder to take, at least for me.
My favorite character by far was Shibasaki. It might have been the first performance I heard by Sawashiro Miyuki, and I remember thinking she was very convincing in the role. |
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Megiddo
Posts: 8360 Location: IL |
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Huh. Well, I never really thought of Library War requiring a suspension of disbelief, especially compared to something like the AKB48 anime. I recommend you do a bit of research of the history of Japanese censorship, and particularly read this statement put out by the Japan Library Association.
There is very strong language in this statement. It's not at all hard to see that with enough fervor and private funding, the libraries could easily raise a task force to attempt to preserve the art, history, and culture contained in the library in the face of a cultural cleansing. Just read the phrase, "Libraries shall not be impeded by power of governing authorities or social pressure", and think about what that really means if push came to shove. "Unreality" is not at all a word I'd use to describe what is honestly a very contentious issue even still now with many in Japan wishing to erase and justify actions from the past (not unlike several groups who wish to do the same in the US). |
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Dessa
 Posts: 4438 |
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Even in the US, high-ranking politicians have already labelled librarians "radical militants".
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CorneredAngel
 Posts: 854 Location: New York, NY |
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What I really liked about this who when it first aired, and what I always hope viewers get out of it is that it really makes an effort to make you, the viewer, understand that "working in a library" is by itself not in any way glamorous. It's a job. Sometimes, it's actually a pretty difficult job. You like it, or you don't. Or you just put up with it.
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poonk
 Posts: 1490 Location: In the Library with Philip |
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I've really enjoyed this story in multiple versions (anime, live action, and manga) and I've been hoping for years the anime would see a DVD release, so this is a must-buy for me.
Re: the manga being "fluffy" compared to the novels: It seems like they did simultaneous shoujo (Toshokan Sensou: Love & War) and shounen (Toshokan Sensou: Spitfire!) manga adaptations, the latter of which did not get released in English. I always wondered if the novels (which I've not read) are maybe somewhere in the middle, tone-wise. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11586 |
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While I had no trouble buying into the conflict in Library Wars, I did find it ludicrous that the government would allow it to devolve into armed conflict. Both the librarians and the government would seek a more political solution, and once the revolt escalated into armed violence, they'd either repeal the law, which would be most likely, modify it to restrict possession to libraries without the need for armed forces to protect the materials, or bring the full weight of the government forces down to arrest the librarians and destroy the contraband materials, which would probably only increase the popular support for the anti-censorship faction, who would then vote out the politicians next election (I don't recall LW's Japan having become a dictatorship). It makes no sense to have a censorship law if anyone can still just openly go to a library and see the censored material. As long as it's still available, that makes armed conflict pointless, from the government suppression side of things. It also makes the censorship itself kind of pointless.
Nevertheless, I did really like the series, once I just mentally hand-waved that part. 
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yuna49
Posts: 3804 |
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That was my complaint as well. The notion that the fighting was sanctioned by the government made no sense. |
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whiskeyii
 Posts: 2267 |
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I remember hearing good things about Library War, but the fluffiness of the manga pretty much turned me away. Glad to hear that this is a different take on the concept, since I really liked the idea behind it.
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14886 |
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Kinda reminds us of the series The Librarians
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Ali07
 Posts: 3333 Location: Victoria, Australia |
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I like the show, and plan on buying it soon. And, now knowing that the manga is "fluffier", I think I'll pick that one up. Think that it is close to its conclusion too.
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Top Gun
 Posts: 4788 |
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I remember having some vague interest in this show when I read about it in a season preview way back when, but I never looked into it. It certainly sounds up my alley enough to check out.
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