Shiny New Anime
Today I've been working on AD stuff, as always, but also doing some research for the Shiny New Anime panel at the same time. In case you weren't at AD last year, takuansoho, belindabird, and myself hosted a panel to tell the noobs who rarely catch anything outside of Cartoon Network about some of the brand spanking new titles were out there, awesome, and prepped for becoming some of the next big fandom things. It was more popular than I would have expected, so we're doing a repeat this year. And unlike last year, I'm not putting off my research until a couple weeks before the con.
Here's what I have been watching and some brief first impressions. Most of these I've only seen 1-3 episodes of thus far. Some of them I will probably watch through to the end. Some, not so much, but I can see the appeal for other people.
Nodame Cantabile
I HAVE UTTERLY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS SHOW. WHY ONLY TWO EPISODES SUBBED? WHY?! o_O
Here's the ANN description:
At a top music academy in Japan,Shinichi Chiaki's arrogance is matched only by his top-notch piano playing. But when Chiaki and the teacher get into a fight, he's demoted to the reject class. Chiaki is left to pursue his dream of being a composer while surrounded by a bunch of loser musicians and one annoying girl, Noda, who has proclaimed herself Chiaki's girlfriend. It doesn't help that Noda, who insists on being called Nodame, lives right next door to him.
Why do descriptions like this always make the show sound boring? Here's my first hook into adoring this show: When people play instruments, their fingers and movements ACTUALLY MIRROR THE MUSIC. No freeze frame and panning while the violin music plays. No framing from the chest up and panning left to right while piano music plays. When Nodame plays a chord in C major, you see a chord play in C major. That's always been one of my anime pet peeves. My second hook is that Nodame herself is awesome. She's a bit of an airhead and a slob, but she has a natural ability to play the piano and is easy to fall in love with. She's not the typical shy, cute anime girl. Then there's the fact that there are numerous classical songs in any given episode and some music theory tossed around here and there. I am in love.
The show may not appeal to everyone in the same way it does for me since I played the piano for many, many years and it makes me nostalgic. But the characters are easy to fall in love with after only one episode and if it can keep that up throughout its TV run, I think it will gain popularity fast.
Red Garden
This could potentially be very good, but I've only watched a couple episodes thus far and can't properly judge. I like the art style, which is still very anime, but with its own spin. I think is why a lot of people have given this one a pass. Personally, I think it's gorgeous, especially the opening. Some people may find the fact that the characters have actual noses and lips a bit distracting though. The occasionally sing along in the middle of the episode kind of throws me out of the show, but so far that's the only thing that I disagree with. I'll have to get my hands on a few more episodes and make a better judgment.
Bartender
I actually picked this one up a few months back but haven't watched past the second episode yet. This is a good show for people who like the feel of sports anime, but don't like sports or competition. It's a little bit slice of life and has a dreamy quality to it. It's very non-standard anime and I'm sure is not for everyone, but I find to be a relaxing little close to my evenings on occasion. There's no overaarching plot that I've run into thus far, just little half hour stories about the people who walk into the bar. It reminds me a bit of Petshop of Horrors in that way. I like hearing about various drinks and liquors described in detail. Also the bartender himself is pretty hot.
Welcome to the NHK
I've only watched one episode of this, but I like it and can't quite pin my finger on why yet. It requires a bit of knowledge of Japanese culture because it deals with a shut in (hikkikomori) who is afraid to leave his apartment, has dropped out of school, is terrified of getting a job, has been listening to anime pop music about a character named Pururrin bleeding through his neighbor's wall for a month straight and has devised that the NHK (Japanese PBS) has created an elaborate conspiracy plot to make him a shut in... I think I just answered my own question.
D.Gray-man
This show is animated very well and has very pretty people in it, meaning it was well funded. It reminds me quite a bit of Fullmetal Alchemist and I think will appeal to fans of that show quite a bit. My prediction is that as soon as it's licensed it will become highly popular in the US. It's only been airing since October 2006 and already seems to have a good sized following. I've downloaded five total episodes to check out since it seems to have a slow start, but I don't think I'll follow it much further than that unless something comes along to hook me in properly. It seems unlikely though since the show has the feel of one I've seen a couple times before. Still, it's not really bad, so I'll probably recommend it.
FLAG
I grabbed what few available episodes of this I could since John of "Ask John" fame over at AnimeNation had raved about it in a couple articles. I think it may have only been a web released anime? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've only seen the second episode, but from what I can gather, it goes for wartime realism through the eyes of a journalist. It doesn't seem to have a story per se, but I think it's an interesting experiment in the genre and an attempt to ground anime in reality. It could be very interesting. I'll have to watch a few more episodes.
Anyone else have anything they'd like to recommend I check out? I'm looking for shows released since March of 2006 mostly, but anything in the past couple years that hasn't already been licensed works just as well. I will also accept shows that are licensed but have yet to be released in the US, like Haruhi. I'll probably also include Nana and Death Note a bit.
Friends locked because the NHK is seekritly reading my journal and snatching up all the unlicensed shows I like. heh heheh heheheheh...
Here's what I have been watching and some brief first impressions. Most of these I've only seen 1-3 episodes of thus far. Some of them I will probably watch through to the end. Some, not so much, but I can see the appeal for other people.
Nodame Cantabile
I HAVE UTTERLY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS SHOW. WHY ONLY TWO EPISODES SUBBED? WHY?! o_O
Here's the ANN description:
At a top music academy in Japan,Shinichi Chiaki's arrogance is matched only by his top-notch piano playing. But when Chiaki and the teacher get into a fight, he's demoted to the reject class. Chiaki is left to pursue his dream of being a composer while surrounded by a bunch of loser musicians and one annoying girl, Noda, who has proclaimed herself Chiaki's girlfriend. It doesn't help that Noda, who insists on being called Nodame, lives right next door to him.
Why do descriptions like this always make the show sound boring? Here's my first hook into adoring this show: When people play instruments, their fingers and movements ACTUALLY MIRROR THE MUSIC. No freeze frame and panning while the violin music plays. No framing from the chest up and panning left to right while piano music plays. When Nodame plays a chord in C major, you see a chord play in C major. That's always been one of my anime pet peeves. My second hook is that Nodame herself is awesome. She's a bit of an airhead and a slob, but she has a natural ability to play the piano and is easy to fall in love with. She's not the typical shy, cute anime girl. Then there's the fact that there are numerous classical songs in any given episode and some music theory tossed around here and there. I am in love.
The show may not appeal to everyone in the same way it does for me since I played the piano for many, many years and it makes me nostalgic. But the characters are easy to fall in love with after only one episode and if it can keep that up throughout its TV run, I think it will gain popularity fast.
Red Garden
This could potentially be very good, but I've only watched a couple episodes thus far and can't properly judge. I like the art style, which is still very anime, but with its own spin. I think is why a lot of people have given this one a pass. Personally, I think it's gorgeous, especially the opening. Some people may find the fact that the characters have actual noses and lips a bit distracting though. The occasionally sing along in the middle of the episode kind of throws me out of the show, but so far that's the only thing that I disagree with. I'll have to get my hands on a few more episodes and make a better judgment.
Bartender
I actually picked this one up a few months back but haven't watched past the second episode yet. This is a good show for people who like the feel of sports anime, but don't like sports or competition. It's a little bit slice of life and has a dreamy quality to it. It's very non-standard anime and I'm sure is not for everyone, but I find to be a relaxing little close to my evenings on occasion. There's no overaarching plot that I've run into thus far, just little half hour stories about the people who walk into the bar. It reminds me a bit of Petshop of Horrors in that way. I like hearing about various drinks and liquors described in detail. Also the bartender himself is pretty hot.
Welcome to the NHK
I've only watched one episode of this, but I like it and can't quite pin my finger on why yet. It requires a bit of knowledge of Japanese culture because it deals with a shut in (hikkikomori) who is afraid to leave his apartment, has dropped out of school, is terrified of getting a job, has been listening to anime pop music about a character named Pururrin bleeding through his neighbor's wall for a month straight and has devised that the NHK (Japanese PBS) has created an elaborate conspiracy plot to make him a shut in... I think I just answered my own question.
D.Gray-man
This show is animated very well and has very pretty people in it, meaning it was well funded. It reminds me quite a bit of Fullmetal Alchemist and I think will appeal to fans of that show quite a bit. My prediction is that as soon as it's licensed it will become highly popular in the US. It's only been airing since October 2006 and already seems to have a good sized following. I've downloaded five total episodes to check out since it seems to have a slow start, but I don't think I'll follow it much further than that unless something comes along to hook me in properly. It seems unlikely though since the show has the feel of one I've seen a couple times before. Still, it's not really bad, so I'll probably recommend it.
FLAG
I grabbed what few available episodes of this I could since John of "Ask John" fame over at AnimeNation had raved about it in a couple articles. I think it may have only been a web released anime? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've only seen the second episode, but from what I can gather, it goes for wartime realism through the eyes of a journalist. It doesn't seem to have a story per se, but I think it's an interesting experiment in the genre and an attempt to ground anime in reality. It could be very interesting. I'll have to watch a few more episodes.
Anyone else have anything they'd like to recommend I check out? I'm looking for shows released since March of 2006 mostly, but anything in the past couple years that hasn't already been licensed works just as well. I will also accept shows that are licensed but have yet to be released in the US, like Haruhi. I'll probably also include Nana and Death Note a bit.
Friends locked because the NHK is seekritly reading my journal and snatching up all the unlicensed shows I like. heh heheh heheheheh...