i tried watching kemono friends because it had a shoebill in it. it looks like colin was hired by zoobooks along with a boys' anime character designer, ie shit. but the show was pretty alright nonetheless. watched the whole thing. did not see that coming. i got trapped
i just read through what's translated of the kemono friends manga (not a lot) and it's pretty weird by virtue of not being weird
the anime is about this kid that wakes up in a savannah with animal people and weird alien monsters and bismuth volcanoes around, and for twelve episodes she tries to figure out what her and the world's deal is.
the manga is a slice of life comic about a girl in modern japan who gets a job at the zoo, except instead of animals there are animal girls. they do shenanigans.
in other words they're completely different. they don't even have the same main characters (Bag and Serval versus Nana and Ezo Red Fox). the anime direction team presumably made up a plot out of whole cloth.
except they're not different:
Identical character designs for the animal girls, including personality
the animal girls don't really get human society at all, and only sort of understand tool use
both set in a place called "Japari Park"
"Guide-san"/Mirai sure look like the same person
In the anime it's explained that when you are eaten by a Cerulean you revert to (actual) animal form, losing your memories in the process. Serval appears in a recording of the past, and current Serval doesn't remember the recorded events at all but spontaneously starts crying.
the, honestly pretty obvious, conclusion is that you have the mangaverse that's just jokes and fun, and then bad shit starts happening. Guide-san/Mirai fails to stop it and runs while Serval (and presumably most everyone else) is eaten. Years later Bag is created from a human hair and proceeds to explore the abandoned and destroyed remnants of happy fun time to try to figure out what the fuck.
So Warau Salesman New is a pretty weird show. I was rather interested in it since I've never watched or read the original, despite meaning to, on account of Fujiko Fujio's work apparently being influential on Osamu Tezuka alongside being influential in the manga scene back then in their own right. But outside of the trippy visuals I, uh, didn't like it very much? It was sold as a sort of black comedy, but the first episode felt more akin to misery porn. Unfulfilled people get their heart's desires answered through him, but if they lie about using his help or cheat then he ruins their lives. Neat OP though.
What little reading I've done on it suggests that it was supposed to be the sort of black humour that tilts into the horrific; in fact, Abiko's one-shot precursor to the series was initially rejected by the manga magazine he submitted it to for being too disturbing.
What little reading I've done on it suggests that it was supposed to be the sort of black humour that tilts into the horrific; in fact, Abiko's one-shot precursor to the series was initially rejected by the manga magazine he submitted it to for being too disturbing.
Maybe it's the art style, maybe it's just something personal to me, maybe it's my unfamiliarity with the series as a whole, maybe it's the fact that I was watching the new adaptation instead the older manga, maybe it's something else or some combination, but even though I can believe that (and will definitely check out the older stuff), it doesn't raise my opinion of this particular iteration any.
It's like, in the first part of the episode - it's split into two 12 minute bites essentially - you see a lonely salaryman get fulfilled by basically hanging out at this super-bar, but then they go too far and have to pay off a exorbitant bill and get chewed out by their boss. In the latter part, a bullied OL who makes herself feel better through shopping uses Moguro's card to go shopping but eventually tries to cheat him by spending that on self-improvement things and basically becoming gorgeous. Next day her items are repossessed in the form of her getting fat, losing teeth, getting awful hair, and generally looking a mess.
As always but making it explicit anyway, maybe I'm just not getting it. But, for me, it certainly wasn't fun (and I understand as someone rather fond of black comedy and media in general that not everyone interested in that type of media will like all of it in that arena, much like any other type of media). I do want to watch Kemono Friends even more now, though.
I clicked a link to read about Teekyu being renewed and found out through an ad that Eureka Seven (original E7, not that Ao shit) is getting a trilogy of movies animated by BONES and with the original crew back on writing, directing and design duties
It's called Scub Wars: The Weeb Awakens Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution and I am r e a d y
Sooooo the protagonist of Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul got so horny she turned into a dragon and ended up destroying part of the capital (partially due to being hunted down even though she was hunting down an enemy of the capital). In between Nina being so gosh darn lovable (Morohoshi really sells the determined happy-go-lucky protagonist who is more than a little goofy), the high production values, it being a solid action romp through what I saw of S1, I hope RoB stays this good because it is quite fun.
I guess that World Conquest Zvezda Plot also exists, so it's not like action shows with really obvious hyper-niche fetish subtext aren't a thing, but that show had a lot of other things to recommend it, like being quite intentionally ridiculous.
Within the context of the show: An immortal wannabe world dictator in charge of a somewhat ineffectual conspiracy with the appearance and impulsiveness of an actual child.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Within the context of the show: An immortal wannabe world dictator in charge of a somewhat ineffectual conspiracy with the appearance and impulsiveness of an actual child.
That's impressively Central Avenesque but I imagine in practice it comes off as kinda tasteless
I've heard it's actually sweeter and cuter than the premise would make you expect? I know Mother's Basement liked it, and I trust him well enough there.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
My general impression has been that it's odd and silly and endearing enough to appeal to a broader audience than the outlandish costume design and perv appeal would suggest of it. And yes, it seems very, very Centie.
Comments
*checks Wikipedia*
Oh, it was delayed.
the anime is about this kid that wakes up in a savannah with animal people and weird alien monsters and bismuth volcanoes around, and for twelve episodes she tries to figure out what her and the world's deal is.
the manga is a slice of life comic about a girl in modern japan who gets a job at the zoo, except instead of animals there are animal girls. they do shenanigans.
in other words they're completely different. they don't even have the same main characters (Bag and Serval versus Nana and Ezo Red Fox). the anime direction team presumably made up a plot out of whole cloth.
except they're not different:
the, honestly pretty obvious, conclusion is that you have the mangaverse that's just jokes and fun, and then bad shit starts happening. Guide-san/Mirai fails to stop it and runs while Serval (and presumably most everyone else) is eaten. Years later Bag is created from a human hair and proceeds to explore the abandoned and destroyed remnants of happy fun time to try to figure out what the fuck.
Weird, I tell you.
So, in other words: Anime!Gahan Wilson.
That description does sound vaguely unappealing, though.
Also a suona, which is apparently quite inexpensive. (As are certain Chinese reed instruments in general, it seems?)
...really? I like kazoos.
It's called Scub Wars: The Weeb Awakens Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution and I am r e a d y
Not actually NSFW but ye gods, the subtext here.
which is ridiculous because you the character you should be horny for is Professor Um