Forum - View topicQuestion About Supporting Anime & A Question On Reviews
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10円
Posts: 605 |
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I have two questions lined up for the ANN crowd.
1. First, which series are so fringe and/or so low-volume that we should consider buying them not only for their content but also on principle to show our support? I'm referring to titles that almost never made it into initial R2 production and/or almost never made it over to R1. Everything from one-off titles like Cat Soup to multiple-season productions like Super Gals to English-subbed R2 titles like Mind Game to unexpected R1 surprises like Kodocha. If it was a smaller-than-normal release and/or almost never saw the light of day I would like to know about it. I've seen random comments to this effect from time to time before but I would like to know what's currently on the edge and what it's all about. I hope this thread isn't killed just because it's technically a request thread. If there is an easy way to search for such titles please kindly point me where I need to go and I'll be on my merry way. 2. Second, which qualities do you look for most in an anime review? I'm mainly talking about the review focus, format, layout, style, and prose. Which qualities matter the most to you and why? Which choices in review style can help turn a mediocre review into a good review or a good review into a great review? Likewise, which mistakes are most likely to distract you and detract from your interest and enjoyment? If you can put it into words I want to hear about it. |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 11509 Location: Frisco, TX |
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I don't mind. But just as a notice to anyone that does recommend or support these under-the-radar titles, you better make it good or at least around the standard of what we're used to on ANN (which is good  ). Otherwise, we'll delete/edit your posts. Anyway:
1. Master Keaton. If you've seen any of the trailers on Geneon's old DVDs, forget about them! The trailers do this series absolutely no justice. I found the series to be very well directed and presented in all aspects. Art has that definite Urasawa realism (well, aside from the occassional big schnozes). Animation, though no Black Lagoon, is by Madhouse; it's very consistent and fitting for the type of atmosphere of the series. Music has a great dynamicism of European flavor (lots of woodwind/strings) and a great Celtic-themed instrumental piece. Plotwise, it's completely episodic, but with some excellent storytelling. All of the episodes provide various forms of entertainment whether it be a murder mystery, slice of life, history lesson, or whatever. But the best part about it is that it all feels very down to earth (no supernatural or magical elements of any kind here). There are a lot of supporting characters (being episodic, of course), and it's a real treat to see so many different personalities and interactions between them and Keaton. I made a thread to endorse the series a while back, but I think the length of the opener was too long and scared people away  . Oh well, I'm going to highly recommend it you now! 
2. As for anime reviews, you might want to take a look at this older thread about how people organize their ratings in "My Anime." |
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undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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Hmm.. I don't really know if I can help but I'll try. And Sorry I don't really know what your tastes in anime are so I'm just going with what I know.
I don't really know of any names of anime that were released in limited numbers or rarities, but I do know a couple of titles that I am buying or will buy to help the respective Genres. Like I am currently purchasing Rumbling Hearts, actually I made sure I pre-ordered these as they were available for purchase. Anime that has any type of similar drama, romance, even just similar slow pacing will be graded on how well this does before it is even looked at for potential US release. That means any number of series, even if not remotely similar or not related in any way like Honey and Clover and Maria-sama ga Miteru (which I might as well give up on now and look for R2) will never even be given a second look if a series like Rumbling Hearts can't make it. Another series I want to start buying and will start in about two months is Princess Tutu. I honestly do not know anything about the series itself. However I do know that it has gotten a lot of praise from people whose taste I trust and that it sold really poorly. And I know that it is shoujo and possibly magical girl, both of which are starting to die slowly. I know I need to start supporting more shoujo titles otherwise I will never have the opportunity to buy other shoujo titles that I really love and are yet to be licensed. For your second question, honestly I only read reviews to pick up on premise and story of titles I may be interested in. Reviewers, just like all of us, have their own bias and tastes, so just because they grade something outstanding, or 10 stars, or twenty thumbs up or whatever doesn't necessarily mean I will think the same way. So for me format doesn't matter, as long as the reviewer is good at writing a nice plot summary without bias, I am good to go. After that I go to my regular sources, people who either have similar tastes or whose tastes I trust, and see what they have to say on the matter. If I get lets say 2 good vs 1 bad ratio on ratings or comments depending on how many have actually seen the show in question, then I say it would be totally worth having a look. And I am also weird in that I never buy something until I read at least one bad comment on it. I want to know what was bad about it because I'm fairly lenient when it comes to buying/watching and I know what I can and can't overlook while watching a series. I hope I somewhat answered your questions, and I apologize if I was of no help. |
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Amasa
 Posts: 340 Location: Japan |
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Mujin Wakusei Survive is my current favorite. Sure, it's not exactly old but it definitely hasn't received the attention I'd like it to. I love this style of animation, it doesn't look flashy and modern but when you look at the landscape in the background and architecture and the environment it just blows you away. Plus the most lovable characters and the most hateable appear in this series. It should be a classic but I can understand that for some people the "Lord of the Flies" plot line has had it's day..over and over again, even though Uninhabited Planet Survive predates Lost! This adventurous series must surely capture the hearts of all audiences, it has such universal themes and is very easy to watch. I would pay more money for this than I would a mobile phone. Patapata Hikousen no Bouken is another series I'm about to get into, it's not so old either. I've watched the first episode and it looks very interesting. Very fast paced but captivating nonetheless. Another childish but timeless adventurous story that I would buy the instant I saw it in a shop. I really enjoy these classic childish adventures as they're so nostalgic and so much better than all the mainstream trash out there, .Hack//Sign, Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh! etc.etc.
As to your second question I am a big skim reader of reviews. I pretty much always skip over the synopsis if it has one because usually they give away too much. I skip straight to the paragraph where it says "The themes of film__________, are portrayed___________". I want to know what the subject series/film is trying to say before I watch it, so I know what to look for, how to identify it so that I'm not wrong when I try to analyze it (if possible). I'm not sure if that made much sense but I suppose I always look for the metaphorical representations, symbolism and meanings before anything else such as the acting performances and directing quality. EDIT: When I say "childish" I don't mean immature, as they're quite mature. I mean childish as in very imaginative and playful anime that is unique and has a certain innocence which is missed in so many series which I think try to achieve that feeling. <--What a circle sentence 
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