Forum - View topicBest First Episode Tournament: Post-Mortem
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Errinundra
Moderator
 Posts: 6584 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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I'm almost tempted to change my vote from Bunny Drop to ensure there is a result. That would be dishonest, though. 
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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That's not the only tie we have right now, either, so if you're holding off for some reason then get those votes in! |
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
 Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
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Everyone's favorite procrastinating crazy fangirl with a Meroko avatar still needs to vote!
Group A-13 Eden of the East vs. His and Her Circumstances (aka Kare Kano) Vote for: Kare Kano: because it needs more love in this tournament. Was a funny, witty and clever first episode that held some unexpected twists all in the span of 25 minutes along with spending a lot of time introducing us to a complex and interesting character such as Yukino. Group A-14 Time of Eve vs. Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal OVA Vote for Time of Eve: I never watched this before the tournament started and I'm glad I did, it really seemed like a fresh and interesting premise that was presented with sharp animation that is pleasing to the eye. Part of me still tells me to go with Rurouni Kenshin being the classic that it is, and probably the best installment of the franchise but I'm going to go with the more modern show. Group B-13 Bunny Drop vs. Paranoia Agent vs. Fullmetal Alchemist vs. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo I've actually changed my mind about Fullmetal Alchemist, when I watched it I wasn't impressed as I originally thought I was. Maybe it had a different impact on me back then, but I think I was confusing some elements and scenes from later episodes. With that said Gankutsou is the only one of these that holds water to FA in terms of a spectacle of both animation and storytelling that grabs your interest. The unique design is not really groudbreaking enough to me, and friends that have watched it found it distracting. The storytelling aspect is what needs to make it or break it, and FA has that, so I'm sticking with Fullmetal Alchemist, regardless. Group B-14 Hanasaku Iroha vs. Samurai Champloo Key what you said about this being an easy choice, or no contest, you're absolutely right. If not for the fact that I find that choice to be the other show. I vote for Samurai Champloo. Last edited by P€|\||§_|\/|ast@ on Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:24 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Spastic Minnow
 Bargain HunterExempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4630 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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Gewürtztraminer
 Posts: 1028 Location: Texas - Its like whole other country. |
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First post did not take.
Group A-13 Eden of the East vs. His and Her Circumstances (aka Kare Kano) Vote for: His and Her Circumstances I have voted against Eden of the East in a prior round. I feel that His and Her Circumstances does a better job of setting up an egaging plot and character study. Group A-14 Time of Eve vs. Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal OVA Vote for: Time of Eve I really wanted to review these both, but ran out of time. Both really floored me at the quality. I am going for Time of Eve because it somehow beat FLCL, my favorite to win. Group B-13 Bunny Drop vs. Paranoia Agent vs. Fullmetal Alchemist vs. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo Of these 4 SERIES, both PA and FMA top the list. But I feel FMA does not hit its stride until around #19, the assault on the secret Lab. The definitive episode for PA for me is #6, Fear of a Direct Hit. Both of these episodes are not numbered 1. So between Bunny Drop and Gankutsuou, I have to lean to the show that floored me with its ability to convey complex emotions just through sedate visuals, with no narration. Vote: Bunny Drop. Group B-14 Hanasaku Iroha vs. Samurai Champloo Vote for: Samurai Champloo I am still floored at how good this episode is, cool factor is way high. The competition is tought, but at this stage it is to be expected. |
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Errinundra
Moderator
Posts: 6584 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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Vote change.
My original choice in B13 is no longer in the running, so in order to improve the chances of a result and, seeing at least my second preference get up (blame that on being brought up with the Australian preferential voting system), I'm now voting for Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. I'll update the earlier post in a moment. Call me crooked, if you like.  I've been involved in Labor Party politics for years: it all comes down to who has the numbers.
EDIT: post ninja'd by Gewürtztraminer. You watch, now there'll be a late flurry for Bunny Drop. That'll learn me. |
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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Intriguing. As you probably guessed, I was only counting the votes in B-13, since it really has been as interesting a match-up as expected, with all of the four series getting some support. |
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Gewürtztraminer
Posts: 1028 Location: Texas - Its like whole other country. |
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Heh, I really want to see how this turns out. I could flip my vote to Gankutsuou (even though I thought Bunny drop was better, either is preferable to me than PA or FMA). |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I'm pretty sure we can at least count FMA out of the running now though you never know ...
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The Naked Beast
 Posts: 1028 Location: A Blue Planet |
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Group A-13
Eden of the East vs. His and Her Circumstances (aka Kare Kano) Having an anime begin in a location OUTSIDE of Japan is quite rare. No less it happens to be in Washington D.C. makes it even more interesting. Akira's uncanny ability to persuade makes for quite the laughs. The shock value from the missile attack draws you into the series fast. My vote goes to: Eden of the East. Group A-14 Time of Eve vs. Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal OVA I really like the depth posed by the human and machine role in society. As machines become more human-like, where do we draw the line? Do we treat them like we do other humans? It is also interesting to see if we can tell the difference between human and machine. My vote goes to: Time of Eve. Group B-13 Bunny Drop vs. Paranoia Agent vs. Fullmetal Alchemist vs. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo The not-very-commonly-seen characters make this a very unique series. Having a look into how Japanese families deal with illegitimate child issues is quite interesting. Adults are supposed to have the child's best interest in heart but are too worried about saving face. I find Daikichi's decision to take care of Rin a very adult decision though not much thought was put into it. My vote goes to: Bunny Drop. Group B-14 Hanasaku Iroha vs. Samurai Champloo The fight between Mugen and Jin and the first episode perfectly portrays the mix of old and new with their respective sword styles. One thing that does make it interesting is the journey to find a certain samurai. My vote goes to: Samurai Champloo. |
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Round 2 Groups A and B are now closed.
And good god, am I glad this happened before anything else freaky in the voting occurred! With 15 votes in, these are the final results: A-13: Eden of the East eliminates His/Her Circumstances, 11-4. A-14: Time of Eve storms back to knock off Ruroni Kenshin OVA, 9-6. B-13: Gankutsuou takes out Paranoia Agent, Bunny Drop, and Fullmetal Alchemist, 5-4-3-3. B-14: Hanasaku Iroha hangs on against Samurai Champloo, 8-7. Wow, did all of the ToE supporters wait until late to vote? The Kenshin OVA was actually up 6-1 at one point but then never got another vote. Samurai Champloo also made a late charge in B-14, garnering the last three votes after playing catch-up the whole week, but ran out of time. errinundra's late vote change ended up turning what would have been another three-way-tie into a singular win in B-13 (with certainly the lowest % of votes ever for a winner), but EotE, after a brief early deficit, was in control the rest of the way. And I find it amusing that, for all of the mess in B-13, only one person in the minigame could have possibly picked it right. Likewise only one person could have possibly picked B-14 right. That means that only two people have any potential to still get points in Group B, and neither is one of the top five. (Dorcas_Aurelia, can you comment on whether the two I'm referring to are still alive?) Anyway, the next two Groups will be up soon. |
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Round 3 Groups C&D are now open!
Unlike with Groups A&B, methinks that most (all?) of these matches won't be close and there will likely be little drama. Let's see what happens: Group C-13 Le Chevalier d’Eon vs. Cross Game Group C-14 Haibane Renmei vs. Kurau: Phantom Memory Group D-13 Angel Beats! vs. Death Note Group D-14 Mawaru Penguindrum vs. Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit |
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Errinundra
Moderator
Posts: 6584 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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If Spastic Minnow had have cracked instead of me, Bunny Drop would have got up. Fascinating stuff. Anyway, I suspect Gankutsuou won't get much further.
I must watch Chevalier and Cross Game again. I have no idea which way I'll vote yet. Last edited by Errinundra on Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ggultra2764
 Subscriber Posts: 3966 Location: New York state. |
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Seems like someone wants to brag. I'll be one to admit that my bracket in Group B is completely crushed. But you don't see me flipping cartwheels over it. 
Here are my quick votes... Match C-13: Cross Game Easy choice for me. Cross Game made a more stronger emotional impact for me thanks to the buildup that led to the shocking finale of its opening episode with the amount of focus given to Wakaba and how much she meant to Aoba and Ko. Match C-14: Haibane Renmei Another easy one. Kurau offers decent buildup in introducing the titular heroine's unique circumstances. But it lacks the emotional hook of Haibane Renmei's opener in showing off Rakka's uncertainty with her new life and the painful growth of her wings still makes for a disturbing scene for me to see now and then. Match C-15: Death Note In terms of the more engaging episode for me, definitely going with Death Note's introduction to the over-the-top moral corruption of Light Yagami. Angel Beats never hooked me immediately as Death Note did. Match C-16: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit The tricky match for me to vote on in this group. Both make great opening episodes and I wouldn't have any problem with either one advancing. But Moribito stuck out strongly for me in its opening episode with its stunning visuals and Balsa's very character as a strong, independent woman who doesn't fall prey to the common cliches that many anime girls fall under in many recent anime titles and is clearly defiant of her era's traditional gender roles. |
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Key
Moderator
Posts: 18458 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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And since I know all of these first episodes and have the time, I guess I'll vote right away.
EDIT: And no, Ggultra2764, I won't be the one bragging. My Group B was totally busted by Round 2.
Group C-13 Le Chevalier d’Eon vs. Cross Game A cruel choice, as I adore both series, but the decision actually isn't a hard one for me. Le Chevalier's first ep has the definite edge in technical merits and crafts an interesting setting in which to set a build-up to a powerhouse climax. It does not have the emotional resonance or charming and immensely satisfying character development that Cross Game's first ep offers, however, and CG's climax is arguably even stronger and certainly more gut-wrenching. Le Chevalier also simply cannot match the devastating effectiveness with which CG uses its closer. Both first eps are very effective at promoting their respective series but CG's is simply a bit better at it. Group C-14 Haibane Renmei vs. Kurau: Phantom Memory Who wins this one is, I think, a foregone conclusion given how numerous the HR supporters are, and indeed HR has a particularly strong opener. I'm going to be contrary here, though, and go with Kurau Phantom Memory, whose first episode still isn't getting the credit it deserves despite making it this far. While it doesn't have the gut-wrenching highlight scene that HR's first ep does, KPM's first episode has every bit as much feeling and soul to it and does a great job of establishing both a loving family relationship and the aching loneliness which hints at the depth of the bond within a Rynax pair. Its final scene, where Kurau's Pair finally appears, is a lovely and touching moment. Put another way, KPM's first ep drew me irrevocably into the series on its first viewing, whereas seeing HR's first ep for the first time didn't have the same impact. Group D-13 Angel Beats! vs. Death Note Definitely the toughest decision of the week for me. Both of these first eps display sport strong technical merits and fantastic concepts which set up their respective series beautifully. While AB! uses action, humor, and a beautifully-animated musical performance, DN uses atmosphere and immensely effective melodrama to build up to a powerhouse climax. Boy, this a close call. For the moment I'm going to go with Angel Beats! by a hair because its opener and closer are slightly better, but I could see this one going either way and won't be disappointed no matter who wins. Besides, whoever does win is just going to lose to. . . Group D-14 Mawaru Penguindrum vs. Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit MP is a neat first episode with some interesting concepts; I'll readily concede that. Here, though, it is simply qualitatively outclassed. Moribito's first ep has no real weakness: it is well-written and well-conceived, its artistry and technical merits are top-of-the-line for TV series animation, it has great action and an impressively-developed original setting, it effectively introduces one of the strongest and most respectable of all anime heroines, and it delivers a strong premise rife with possibilities. An outstanding opener doesn't hurt, either. MP may have a bit more emotional appeal, but Moribito isn't entirely lacking in that department and the comparison isn't otherwise close enough for that to make a difference. |
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