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What are your opinions on Nadia?


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final sage of fantas



Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 235
Location: New Jersey
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:53 am Reply with quote
I thinking about buying this anime and I would like to know what you guys/girls think about it. What would you give it out of a 10?
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Sir_Brass



Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Posts: 476
Location: Prescott, AZ
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:54 am Reply with quote
I saw it a few years ago, and I remember watching it fondly. It's a very fun series for both guys and girls and in fine tribute to Jules Verne, it is VERY imaginative yet still somehow believable to an extent (it's fiction, obviously, so you have to suspend your disbelief somewhat). Last Exile had a similar feel of "advanced technology that somehow fits into a steam-engine age", except not everything flies like it does in LE (also important to remember, Nadia came BEFORE Last Exile. So LE can resemble Nadia, but not the other way around).

The story and plot are decent, if somewhat comical. The trio of initial baddies are some of my favorite characters as they not only are genuinely funny, but they also develop along with the rest of the cast and do so quite well.

If you're looking for a good, fun series that actually gets somewhere but which aims only to entertain by telling a darn good story (not pointless, but it doesn't have some deep meaning behind it all), then this would be one of those series.
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Nagisa
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Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 6128
Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:56 am Reply with quote
I actually thought Nadia was a really nice series, for the most part. The story kept me fairly hooked, and most of the characters were really well-written; you know you've done your job right in developing characters when the two-bit flunky types are actually very well-rounded and fleshed out as individuals (not to mention fan favourites...or at least Samson was my favourite character, let's just put it that way Razz ). Animation was really nicely done as well for being a TV series around the time it was produced. It was also interesting to see a number of early design & story elements being implemented by Gainax that would later resurface in Evangelion (I won't go into those here, though, for fear of spoiling anything).

My only major problem with the series, however, lies with a certain batch of episodes about 2/3 of the way into the series, where the two main protagonists are marooned on a desert island. While the rest of the series progresses at a fine clip in terms of story & character develpment, and manages to keep things regularly intriguing, these episodes (I think they were about 22-34...?) did nothing to further anything, and just let the series stagnate in the worst kind of filler. They were a huge chore to sit thorugh, all for a decidedly minimal payoff (were it not for the reappearance of Grandis, Hanson, & Samson about halfway through, I'd have honestly just started skipping episodes until I stopped seeing beach settings). Basically, while the series clocks in at 39 episodes, it could have easily been done in 26 with Jean, Nadia, & Co.'s little desert island stint being reduced to some 10-15 minute montage. Would've saved us a lot of grief.

As for an "out of 10" rating...I'd probably give it a 7/10 overall. 8/10 (perhaps even a low 9/10?) for the actual worthwhile episodes, but the aforementioned desert island filler really hurt it in the long run.
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Sir_Brass



Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Posts: 476
Location: Prescott, AZ
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:01 am Reply with quote
I dunno. I enjoyed the Lincoln Island arc. True it was long, but it really helped transition the series from where it had started at to where it eventually ended up. I also liked the romance advancement between Jean and Nadia during the desert island arc (as well as Jean's inventions. they were absolutely wonderful).

True, it may be a chore for some, but I didn't feel weighted down by the desert island arc at all, it just helped make things feel more epic in the end. And that, IMO, is not a bad thing.

However, I can see how some would not like that arc at all, and for legitimate reasons. How you guage the quality of that arc is a subjective judgement at best, IMO.
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Nagisa
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Joined: 19 Aug 2003
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Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:06 am Reply with quote
Actually, it was the Jean/Nadia romance angle that was one of the big things making that arc so hard to watch for me. It just felt to me like they'd make some level of progress in two episodes, Jean or Nadia would find some way to screw it up by the third, and the fourth episode starts them both back at square one like nothing happened. Gave me freaky Love Hina vibes like that, just going back & forth with little to no real fulfillment until right about the time they were getting around to leaving the island.
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Mohawk52



Joined: 16 Oct 2003
Posts: 8202
Location: England, UK
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:27 pm Reply with quote
I watched this a few years ago and I remember the island arc was a bit too frustrating. spoiler[I thought that Nadia was just a bit too harsh to Jean because he couldn't remember their first kiss, but he was totally delirious at the time. What got me was when the plot changed into a Thunderbirds parady, Serious copyright infringment if there ever was one, but I don't think Gerry Anderson creator and producer of Thunderbirds knows about it to this day. Wink Jean and Nadia's relationship solidifies when she emerges from the control chamber of the Red Neo and finds him waiting for her with her clothes. ]
I gave it a 8/10 overall though.
Kudos to whoever can figure out what item of Nadia's ran thoughout EVA. Wink
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Furuba_Girl



Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 56
Location: Southern Ca
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:34 pm Reply with quote
Nadia isn't my most favorite series, but the few episodes i watched were really good and I really enjoyed it.
So from what I've seen I would give it an 8 out of 10! Very Happy
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HitokiriShadow



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 6251
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:04 pm Reply with quote
Overall, it's a great series. Especially since you can get the whole series in two collections (about $40 each). While I didn't hate the island episodes they were pretty bad compared to the rest of the series. Overall, the series would get a 8/10 from me.
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Cloe
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Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 2728
Location: Los Angeles, CA
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 10:54 pm Reply with quote
Nadia is on its way (if it's not there already) to becoming an anime classic. It's not really a masterpiece, but it's one of those stories that has a very loyal fan base and manages to touch almost everyone who watches it on an emotional level. spoiler[Anyone remember the part where Jean, Nadia, and the rest of the Nautilus crew could only stand by and listen helplessly while one of their crewmates died on the other side of a sealed door?] I'd give it about an 8 1/2 out of 10, personally. The infamous island episodes are indeed jarring, considering the heavy-handed drama they directly follow up, and the tone and mood of them just don't quite fit with the rest of the show. However, they made me laugh and--while the production values for that particular arc were pretty shoddy--managed to sneak in some wonderfully energetic and well-drawn animation.
Other than that, Nadia tells an epic story, filled with melancholy undertones, but ultimately revealing an uplifting and hopeful message. I highly recommend it. (Especially since you can nab it for such an affordable price now!)

Oh! I just remembered something, though. Nadia herself can be a somewhat difficult character to identify with sometimes. Think of Juna from Arjuna, then multiply her preaching times 100 and make her pessimistic and moody. Anime smallmouth + sweatdrop It's worth putting up with her to see how she grows and matures, though.
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final sage of fantas



Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 235
Location: New Jersey
PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:01 pm Reply with quote
I just checked the voice actors and I know alot of them, so I think i'll pick this up. Also was there a movie made?
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Sir_Brass



Joined: 11 Dec 2004
Posts: 476
Location: Prescott, AZ
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:27 am Reply with quote
Thing with the Juna<->Nadia comparison is that Juna was just an annoying tree-hugger where Nadia was a stubborn idealist, but who could still relent to reality instead of totally decieving herself. Yeah, she could be preachy, but her character developed. Juna's....well.....didn't.
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DKL



Joined: 08 May 2005
Posts: 1962
Location: California, USA
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:14 am Reply with quote
Actually, JUNA didn't really start out as a tree hugger, it just happened because of all the stuff...

ANYWAY, the thing sold out *the first set*

that was pretty lame
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mahoro



Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 310
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:19 am Reply with quote
I'd give the overall series a 9 out of 10 only because the beginning develops slow and for the most part the character Nadia was a pain. As newer characters were introduced the series plot and pacing improved. The music is quite nice and the cel animation/designs IMO were good. Gainax did a good job with this series, especially as during the climatic moments, this series shines! This is a series while long for some viewers that can be viewed IMO by general audiences. It raises many contemporary issues regarding war, death, coexistence w/nature, dictatorships, technology, heritage/culture, individualism and most importantly family. Check it out but be forewarned the follow up to the tv series was not made w/the same amount of care. Wink
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Mohawk52



Joined: 16 Oct 2003
Posts: 8202
Location: England, UK
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:08 pm Reply with quote
final sage of fantas wrote:
I just checked the voice actors and I know alot of them, so I think i'll pick this up. Also was there a movie made?
Yes, The plot is about a year, or two after the last TV episode. spoiler[Jean is back in his work shed in France, and Nadia is working as a apprentice journalist in London. ]
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areaseven
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Posts: 1486
Location: Makati, Philippines
PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:29 pm Reply with quote
Nadia is one of those anime TV titles you have to check out at least once. It's also one of GAINAX's best works.

On the other hand, avoid Nadia: The Motion Picture like the plague. Aside from recycled footage, GAINAX practically had nothing to do with the movie's production, and the overall quality (both story and animation) is beyond disappointing.
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