What are you watching now?

[Deleted]

Code Geass, and any other product is basically purpose precisely because the only people who created it were the original creators. It would have been ruined if everybody on Earth had collaborated in some pointless attempt to turn it into the 'absolute narrative' and if, say, I were to take the show and change it in ways that I feel appeal to me, or even ways that I believe appeal to an even wider audience, then the original show would have lost a lot of it's charm. Of course, fanfiction is all non-cannon and doesn't affect the source material in the slightest.

I know that's a huge amount of text up there, but if you're going to respond to me you could at least do more than skim read it. I don't like the idea of having people make ignorant assumptions about me. No one should have to say 'but I still like this show' when I criticise it. I'd rather not dilute the weight of the actual words by using 'buts' 'in my opinions' and other qualifiers. I look forward to developing my written voice so that I come across more as passionate and much less bitter and argumentative.

You're going to have to start thinking in terms of symbols in order to start approaching my way of thinking, rather than in the literal sense. I was trying to rationalise my argument in terms of plot, but when you're right you're right... they're both shows that are absurd and have absurd characters. I should use a thematic lens to talk about thematics. So I'll be direct- Code Geass has little to no symbolism in the visuals, the music, the writing, the structure, or anything else. Everything is a device used to tell an entertaining story. Gurren Lagann has a simpler story that uses symbolism from every aspect of the show to push the 'heart' of the story forward. Lelouch can be sympathised with, Simon can be emphasised with. I was wrong in suggesting that a prince cannot be empathised with, but Lelouch isn't someone whose emotions I've felt before, unless we want to be reductive when we say emotions in which case, yes, I have felt 'sad' 'miserable' 'happy' and what not, but again, that's very reductive. I can say that someone of positive influence of my life has died outside of my control, but I can't say that a girl I've sort of loved was killed by someone who also loves me out of jealousy and spite. I suppose the only thing Simon has felt that I haven't is revenge, which gets resolved at the end of the spiral king arc.

You should remember Eva's popularity and age. It first aired in 1995. Anime that used mechas as metaphor probably took a lot of inspiration from Eva. It was new. Furthermore the Eva's themselves still serve as one of the strongest thematic elements I've seen in anime regardless of originality, which Eva had and still has. I believe only Penguindrum has come close to capturing Eva's magic. If there were any other shows that really tried to go for Eva's themes, I'd probably have heard about it. But I haven't. I don't really believe that Madoka Magica is a whole lot like Eva... a lot of people compare the shows, though.

Rationalising villains is called fleshing out characters. Gurren Lagann would still have it's energy, but again, removing any element from a show would just cause the show to deviate from what makes it unique. We both seem to agree with this. I think that GL would have lost a lot of weight were the anti-spirals generic, which is what happened in Kill La Kill. Which show do you like more again? See, thematics can add to entertainment, too. As I said above, I doubt that you're shallow enough to judge shows based on their surface elements such as visuals, premise, and genre.

Yes, there are more important things to me than repeating a hero/villain narrative completely divorced from reality with a real life person. I don't like using narrative as a way to justify my life choices anymore, I like using narrative to think about myself. I don't like it when, like an overprotective mother, a show takes me within my arms, strokes my head, and softly tells me that all of my stupid, lazy, conceited life choices are completely justified and that what I want is the only thing that matters when it comes to shaping the world around me. The world is painful, I want to honestly learn how to deal with it without being a pain and a burden to everyone I've ever come into contact with. I've done that for far, far too long. I simply don't have a fondness for shows that appear to have this naivety.

EDIT: Oh, and I saw the first episode of Vlavrave. It was good, but I think I'm going to have to take some careful steps towards portraying myself as less of a murderous psychopath with a Darwinian philosophy if L-Elf is truly supposed to be my representation in the show from your point of view.

[Indigo]

Just to be clear, you've made a share of ignorant assumptions. I never said you hated anything, nor that you being biased is bad, or that you're pessimistic, etc.. Again, I read the majority and got the gist of all of it. A lot of it was just redundant.

But... Those last few sentences exude pessimism. The world is painful and any other view is naivety? If you keep thinking like that then you'll never stop being this burden you call yourself. There's a lot more to it than that, and the first step to dealing with it is having naivety.

I think symbolism is a subjective thing, though. Honestly, a lot of it may not even be intended by the creators in connections we see. It's more of a personal analysis thing I think, unless (for the most part) it's just obvious. Like how you didn't see as much symbolism in Guilty Crown as I did. For Gurren Lagann, you compared drills to humanity. To me, I saw it more as 'never give up' as a physical object.

Well, you overestimate me. I don't judge a show by its exterior, but I'm shallow enough to judge that judge that it's just not my thing. I like modesty, and Kill la Kill's nature just goes against that. I'm not a critic... Sure, I think, make connections, and analyze, but it's also something I do for fun. If I don't like something enough (most of the times I even only give it a shot to begin with because of others), I drop it. You do it, too.

Saw your edit. True enough, L-Elf's a very one-track character to start out. As it goes on you may understand why I made the comparison, though. Second season especially where he's truly a main character, but the first half does lead up to it. I wasn't too interested at first but things change a lot. Of course, keep in mind I made the comparison of us loosely, but it should make more sense if you keep watching. And the second season does explain a lot that seemed very contrived in the first half.

[Deleted]

I'll have to wait and see to find out weather I'll agree with you on that front, but I always considered our previous relationship to be a closer fit between the hero and last villain of Samurai Flamenco to me.

*Desperate attempt to get you to try the show because I think you might like it.*

Anyway, I find myself pretty much agreeing with everything else you just said. Although I'll nitpick the symbolism statement.

Just because the creator didn't intend it doesn't mean to say that it isn't there. or doesn't contribute to the quality of the show. Many of the more popular shows that I dislike usually have implications in the text that seem more unconscious than intentional, which is pretty insidious. Most of the time I believe that thematics are placed there on purpose. Off the top of my head only the religious symbolism in EVA wasn't intended to have meaning. It sets a style and tone more than anything else, but people try to study the religious stuff anyway... on that I would probably agree with you, it seems pointless to discuss but it does keep the interest alive, and can reflect some interesting, unintentional themes.

[Indigo]

Of course, just because it's not 'there' doesn't mean its worth is any less. Symbolism is something that can exist intentionally or not, and can vary a lot depending on perspectives. It's probably a big part of what people personally draw from an anime.

I probably will watch Samurai Flamenco sometime, now with Valvrave done there actually isn't that much else I have a strong desire to watch. Probably going to start watching Eureka Seven AO tonight and I think that's about it for my priority list, except possibly Buddy Complex... Samurai Flamenco's one of the few animes that's piqued my interest lately.

[Death Eye]

I would read what if anything is going on in this thread right now but I just tried and I'm pretty sure one of Al's posts spoiled Attack on Titan for me literally 10 minutes after I watched the first episode.

SPOILER: Click to show

We have spoiler tags, you know.

[Carigun]

World Cup: Argentina VS Bosnia

[Deleted]

Ping Pong. Best series. Best series. BEST SERIES. (of 2014 so far.)

Easily one of the most uplifting anime I've seen in a looooooong time. Grounded in reality, yet still optimistic.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the last episode plays out. I get the feeling the show might have one more trick up its sleeve.

[Stove]

*Reads Al's posts*
Oh, Soul Eater NOT has an anime now? Hm. Read it when it was a manga; I'll probably watch the anime too.

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2014 13:23:55 GMT Stove said:

*Reads Al's posts*
Oh, Soul Eater NOT has an anime now? Hm. Read it when it was a manga; I'll probably watch the anime too.

The anime is decent. I might as well go back and finish it off.

This season really has been dominated by utter tipe overall, though. Brynhildr disappointed me to no end, No Game No Life, Mahouka, and Black Bullet offend me, and everything else has been kind of ok unless their name is Ping-Pong The Animation, and SE NOT is above average as far as comedy slice of life goes. I hear Mushishi is also genuinely good, but I haven't been watching it because I didn't see season 1.

Fingers crossed for the coming seasons.

[Stove]

Megas XLR, AKA one of the best shows of all time.

[Indigo]

+1

Always my first pick for a TV show that isn't anime. It was amazing and hilarious and had great music, too.

[Stove]

Jun 17, 2014 4:58:31 GMT Indigo said:

+1

Always my first pick for a TV show that isn't anime. It was amazing and hilarious and had great music, too.

Indeed. It, along with Generator Rex, are my two favorite Cartoon Network shows. Too bad both were ended too early. Other ones I can think of are Samurai Jack, Foster's, Ed Edd and Eddy, and Ben 10. (The FIRST one. None of that alien force or ultimate alien stuff.)
CN still has some pretty cool shows (Adventure Time, Regular Show) but they all try too hard to be strange and are essentially incredibly similar. CN is not what it used to be.

[Deleted]

Black Lagoon, Un-Go, RahXephon, Fate Zero, all on DVD or Blu-Ray.

I'm also going to pick up the Tatami Galaxy on DVD.

I saw the first episode of a show named Kaiba (not related to a certain other character obsessed with dragons, money, and card games) online which was really good. I need to get that on DVD so that the animation and music pop out even more, just marvelous work.

All this, and I haven't even got the next anime season to add to the list yet.

[Carigun]

A German bombing

[thadudette]

Yay, I can add Clannad and Madoka to my list of watched animes. What a great way to get introduced to the stereotypes of the magical girl genre! Haha, NOT. I knew it probably wouldn't be shallow and sugar-coated but I wasn't expecting it to be dark and tragic... O.o

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 22:51:08 GMT thadudette said:

Yay, I can add Clannad and Madoka to my list of watched animes. What a great way to get introduced to the stereotypes of the magical girl genre! Haha, NOT. I knew it probably wouldn't be shallow and sugar-coated but I wasn't expecting it to be dark and tragic... O.o

Good choice of anime there.

I'm on the opinion that Madoka is overall a lot more positive that less serious shows, though.

I'm currently watching... a lot of things. I got the Tatami Galaxy on DVD today, I guess.

[thadudette]

Less serious or more serious shows?
And yeah I can see that, Madoka at least ends mostly happily and still supports generally happy values. Still, it's a lot darker than you would expect, to be Captain Obvious I wonder how many parents have surfed Netflix and let their kids watch it thinking it was Sailor Moon-esque...

[Deleted]

I've never heard of Madoka being on netflix, but that would be funny to see.

[thadudette]

Oh, it definitely is--that's how I watched it I guess they've gotta put SOMETHING in their anime section :3

[Deleted]

Lucky American. The anime selection on the UK Netflix pretty much had nothing on it last time I checked.