Ani Me!

[scapeartist]

I finally have gotten around to watching the Full Metal Alchemist disks that veritykindle had sent me a while ago (haven't really had time to sit before then!). I'm up to episode 16 at the moment and I am just loving it. I'm not quite sure where to begin with the all out love thing, to be honest. I think the thing that really has pulled me in so far is the

Comments

[elishavah]

::happy dance of FMA love::

I've been struggling to get past "Oh, wow" for a while, now. I keep getting a little out, and then getting overwhelmed again.

[scapeartist]

Have you finished the series yet? I'm frustrated that I can't just sit down long enough to get through them in one shot. There's just so much going on that I want to know the answers to. The episodes with Nina about tore my heart out. I think that's when I really wanted to hurry up and watch more. Stupid life getting in the way of my entertainment!!

[elishavah]

Yeah, I finished in July. Ripped right through 'em in a scary short time. I feel like I need to go back and re-watch, because it's all this mass of "Oh, Ed! Oh, Al!" (interspersed with snickering and snarling) in my head. They are such brothers, and I love them, and the series just kills me. You really need to hurry up and watch the next...ten? Yeah, ten episodes, at least.

Actually, the one post where I started trying to get some thoughts out is here, and is only spoilery through Ep 8. Part of the problem of talking about the series once you've seen it all is that the continuity, and the way little things in, say, Ep C play into Eps L, R, T, W... It's insane. It's sort of like trying to avoid spoiling a Farscape newbie, because how do you explain why you're That Excited about when they get to PK Tech Girl? Or why they need to not be doing the dishes while watching A Bug's Life? Except FMA is like ten times worse. *g*

[scapeartist]

uh...no? Not watching because I can't sit down to watch anything until all the good shows are over. That and I'm backlogged for the after hours tv watching already.

It's not that I don't think there isn't anything good coming from this hemisphere at all, it just doesn't get my imagination going the same way so much anime does. Like I said--Avatar is American (it belongs to Nicktoons) and I love that almost as much as I love Bugs Bunny and that's saying something. :)

Be very very wary

[pkammotroop]

Anime is extremely addictive. Not all but enough of it is so well written that you can forgive sins in the mythos used or 'cheating' on the animation of the overuse of 'fan service'

Full Metal Alchemist is probably the very best but be warned: Like all of the very best Anime it starts out light hearted and gets very very dark at the end.

Of course you're wondering how a show that starts out with two little orphan boys one is horribly maimed and one actually loses their body can get any darker... take my word for it, it does. Oh does it get dark. But each episode is more engrossing than the last.

One word: Homonculous. You'll learn to hate that word. Worse than the word Chimera.

When done there move on to Neon Genesis: Evangelon or Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Neon Genesis is darker than FMA, Ghost is lighter but just as engrossing. And don't overlook Trigun, it just looks goofy at first, you'll find that the goofyness has a reason.

For real fun look up Full Metal Panic too.

Re: Be very very wary

[scapeartist]

Oh yeah, I've been a general cartoon junky for years, but I've loved anime since StarBlazers was on UHF when I was but a wee lass. I've always had a soft spot for it. I think the darkness of it is what appeals to me. Such a dichotomy with the whole animation/illustration thing.

I had tried Ghost in the Shell once, but I think my head wasn't in it at the time. I'll probably try again. It's hard to find the time to watch stuff that might be geared more toward me when I've got the little tykes running around. We do watch Inuyasha together, and Avatar, of course, and I got my daughter started with Anime same way I got started--with StarBlazers. I'm sure I'll be watching more as the kids get older, so I'll make note of your reccs.

[kernezelda]

Oh, yes! FMA is terrific. Katya, shamefully, has not watched all of the series she's so studiously pimped out. I love Ed and Al so much, and the storytelling is absolutely engrossing first ep to last. I never thought an animated series could get to me, but as you say, anime just isn't comparable to most American cartoons.

I've watched the whole series three times over, and found new things to love each time, and each time, my affection and love for the brothers deepens, as well.

Oh, Ed. Oh, Al.

They will make you cry.

[scapeartist]

I'm halfway through (or there abouts) as of this evening and I don't think I can get my kids to bed fast enough so I can watch at least 5 more eps tonight before I crash. My heart breaks for them at least once an ep. I'm definitely going to have to watch the series a few more times to get everything.

[leozz]

No picking on Katya!

We just finally started watching FMA in our weekly TV night (watched ep1 last week) but she says that she might have to give in and finish watching it by herself because of all you evil LJ friends and your pressure :) (the evil part is my words, not hers).

Be nice to my sister!

[kernezelda]

*immensely amused*

Your sister and I are just now discussing your defense of her.

She pitched this series to me ages ago, said we'd watch it together, and then totally defaulted. Several of us, in fact, have succumbed to the mad pitcher what pitches ad infinitum, and she's since resisted all efforts to enter into the squee-worthy crack that is FMA. She's even hosted/is hosting episodes and the movie on her own website, but hasn't watched.

Therefore, she is subject to the most dire blackmail of having ficlets for her remaining unwritten, and fannish glee cascading around her lonely rock of holdout-itis.

Also, you're her hero, Ferris Bueller. :D

[thassalia]

I've been watching FMA thanks to the fake TiVO and am so at the point where I don't want to wait everyday, I want more of it now!!!

We watch quite a bit of anime, but because M. never seemed interested in FMA (it's so serialized) we never watched before, but I'm loving it. I'd also recommend Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, but they are totally not kid friendly in a lot of ways. I knew I was turning into a teenage boy though when I was watching Dragonball Z when M. wasn't home. I fortunately got over that:)

[scapeartist]

I'd be happy to pay forward Katya's kindness if you'd like. Just let me know. Because I'm there with you. I keep saying, "Ok. I'll just stop here and get some work done." But then I find myself clicking on the next file anyway. It's soooooo goood.

I know Stars also has a thing for Samurai Champloo and that will be added to the list as well.

I've been known to accidentally sit through an episode of Digimon...but you didn't hear that from me! ;)

[veritykindle]

Thea! *hugs

[scapeartist]

Yes, Please!!!!!!!! Of course I'm afraid I'll probably watch the movie before I've even finished watching the show (I skip ahead in books too...and I find my Christmas presents before Christmas too...). But yes! I'd love to have it if you don't mind the sharing. :) Yay!!