i meant more that most of the worldbuilding, the introduction of the protagonist and his being put into the action were done in a pleasing and expedient manner
A reviewer with whom I am acquainted who avowedly loves silly fluff called it, and I quote, "a failure in every single aspect of what makes a show good."
Given what I've seen of it, I'm going to trust his judgement here.
Which is to say that it's fine to enjoy not-so-good things, but every dreck warning siren in my head goes off like crazy when reading about it, so I would probably not glean similar entertainment from it.
i think your friend might also have been annoyed that levia-tan's brother thingy is never resolved
it's a hole if you expect it to get resolved, i guess
i felt it didn't go anywhere and so i see the validity of the criticism, though i think i just stopped caring at some point
honestly though, if you're ever going to deal with a fantasy setting, you have to do one of three things: * carefully construct the broad-scale setting and story so that it's clear what goes and what doesn't in your setting mechanically * show only a narrow slice of the setting and make sure that everything fantastical makes sense in it * stuff just happens sometimes, without adequate explanation, the justification in the audience's mind being that something is working in a mysterious way that we don't yet understand
To summarise Mr. Høgset's complaints in a simple, straightforward fashion: The character writing and setting are poorly-executed and lifeless clichés; the plotting is listless and chases its own tail over details that progress nothing; the worldbuilding and plot contradict themselves at various points; and, to add insult to injury, the animation and art even that good, meaning that even the pervasive fanservice can't hold its own weight.
And I know Stig. Not exceptionally well, but well enough to know that he is willing to give stuff that I wouldn't look twice at a second chance if it's endearing enough. This did not cut it.
(Nick Browne and I are the most like-minded, in terms of THEM's review staff, but he wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole. He did, however, suffer through Photo Kano for his art, and I respect that.)
i don't remember contradictions, though i think i can see the "chases its own tail" criticism
and yeah, cliches
though i guess the impact of cliches is lessened if i go into a show with...not much in the way of expectations, period
didn't notice anything particularly bad about the animation and art, though i haven't gathered enough data on that to say how my tastes in it stand relative to the average
anyway i think i just thought it was sort of a fun romp
something about kill la kill just rubs me the wrong way
it's like, there's questionable content and bizarre worldbuilding, and then there's questionable content and bizarre worldbuilding turned up to 11 and used as the chief attraction
The chief attraction is that it's very funny and fast-paced and the art and animation are really well-executed. That a sizeable chunk of the cast consists of women with agency and distinct personalities is a pleasant secondary concern. The nudity is just kind of there after a certain point, and it's clearly meant mostly as a send-up of the post-Go Nagai school of "battle vixen" anime—which is part of the humour.
(OK, given the intense '80s-ness, it's probably more a send-up of Go Nagai's own stuff like Cutie Honey more than shows like Ikki Tousen, although both are parodied... but you get the point.)
I heard that show was mad atrocious. Like one of those situations where you could actually waste less of your time watching Bleach or something.
Wow, that's the first time I've heard so much vitriol against it. It's just another generic fantasy anime that isn't taking itself too seriously. Definitely not as horrible as Bleach is.
list of things i plan on using as random watch material or snarking material for my anime club seminar series gathering a few friends who are bored with the main club activities and going aside to watch some stuff on our own:
Symphogear* Leviathan: the Last Defense* The Tower of Druaga: the Sword of Uruk** Sands of Destruction Moyashimon Haruhi
* will wait until a certain person gets back from his being away for a semester, since these were previously promised to him
** need to get only those people who've seen The Aegis of Uruk already
things i've already used as such Ys 1 & 2 Madoka Magica The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk
Moyashimon is a thing I am going to watch at some point because it looks cute and weird and reasonably intelligent, which is unfortunately a rare combination.
Gankutsuou is a truly excellent show. You should all watch it.
I need to start that one again. I really, really liked what I saw, but I'm somewhat on the fence as to whether I should go with the dub or the sub given how much is going on visually and story-wise.
^ I tend to add things to my list not so much because people say they are good, but because people whose opinions I respect give me good reasons to watch them or seem to really appreciate them.
Comments
it was kinda cutedorable and amusing
though i was surprised at the DVD selling for $35+
and apparently it's based on some card game or something
which wouldn't be the first time something outlandish got a story somehow made out of it -- i mean, there's sea story
also there's the sexual dimorphism weirdness where the girls get dragon body parts while the guys look like orcs
it's a hole if you expect it to get resolved, i guess
i felt it didn't go anywhere and so i see the validity of the criticism, though i think i just stopped caring at some point
honestly though, if you're ever going to deal with a fantasy setting, you have to do one of three things:
* carefully construct the broad-scale setting and story so that it's clear what goes and what doesn't in your setting mechanically
* show only a narrow slice of the setting and make sure that everything fantastical makes sense in it
* stuff just happens sometimes, without adequate explanation, the justification in the audience's mind being that something is working in a mysterious way that we don't yet understand
i don't remember contradictions, though i think i can see the "chases its own tail" criticism
and yeah, cliches
though i guess the impact of cliches is lessened if i go into a show with...not much in the way of expectations, period
didn't notice anything particularly bad about the animation and art, though i haven't gathered enough data on that to say how my tastes in it stand relative to the average
anyway i think i just thought it was sort of a fun romp
i did rec it for my snarking group, fwiw
and i sure as hell am not forking over $35 for it
far as i could tell it seemed to come with a sense of humorous self-mockery attached, which i think was what led to my enjoyment of it
if i tried to take it seriously i would have dropped it
it's like, there's questionable content and bizarre worldbuilding, and then there's questionable content and bizarre worldbuilding turned up to 11 and used as the chief attraction
If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise!
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain,
Because today's the day the
Teddy Bears have their picnic!
well now i have a name (the weird-sounding "Yuri Bear Storm") to put on this nonsense.
Disregard everything I just said then. I was thinking "wow, if you hate Bahamut, you'll loathe Lodoss War"
Symphogear*
Leviathan: the Last Defense*
The Tower of Druaga: the Sword of Uruk**
Sands of Destruction
Moyashimon
Haruhi
* will wait until a certain person gets back from his being away for a semester, since these were previously promised to him
** need to get only those people who've seen The Aegis of Uruk already
things i've already used as such
Ys 1 & 2
Madoka Magica
The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk
(I know I could have not said this, but I wanted to put this on the table as a discussion topic. Again, I mean no offense.)
^^ i usually add stuff to my list based on whether it strikes my fancy. i have not figured out what makes something strike my fancy.