The story begins in 1629 Shizuoka during Tokugawa Tadanaga's rule. The daimyo staged a tournament where the participants fought with real steel Japanese swords rather than bokken ("wooden sword"), against his vassals' strong objection. The story revolves around the first match between the one-armed swordsman Fujiki Gennosuke and the blind samurai Irako Seigen and deals with the circumstances that led the two to participate in Tokugawa's tournament.
I feel like maybe I've read about this before, or... no. I'm thinking of Violence Jack, which has impressively gone unfinished. Perhaps this summer.
I am unfamiliar with this and am glad to find it easily available online, though I'm thinking I'll read it through first. Danke ferret. Sub, dub, or shrug, say you?
Apparently the manga of Violence Jack is really good but the anime adaptation is just astonishingly awful and repulsive.
Both the manga and the anime of Shigurui are apparently solid, however, although the anime holds more interest for me because Hiroshi Hamasaki is a fascinating director—he also did Texhnolyze, which I have mentioned many times before and is similarly unrelenting, albeit in a very different setting.
I think Shigurui has a pretty solid English dub—Funimation are generally pretty consistent, particularly with artier fare, although their casting choices have earned them a fair share of detractors—but given the story and cultural context, Japanese might be preferable. Then again, not having to follow subtitles might allow you to soak in the icy existential dread and horrific gore better.
Shigurui is one of those manga/anime that sounds like something that would totally appeal to me, but I never have the courage to take the first step and actually read/watch it because the memetic levels of goriness are off-putting to me. It's the reason I keep putting off the 7th Kara no Kyoukai film.
It's apparently not so much outrageously gory as it simply pulls no punches with its violence and, being a kind of de-glamorised response to the typical romantic samurai story, said violence is often either quick and brutal or uncomfortably personal. It's just a really unforgiving series.
Or so I am led to believe by trustworthy sources. Given the way violence is handled in Texhnolyze, this would not surprise me in the slightest.
It's apparently not so much outrageously gory as it simply pulls no punches with its violence and, being a kind of de-glamorised response to the typical romantic samurai story, said violence is often either quick and brutal or uncomfortably personal. It's just a really unforgiving series.
Or so I am led to believe by trustworthy sources. Given the way violence is handled in Texhnolyze, this would not surprise me in the slightest.
From what I've heard from people, it's both. Like not necessarily Franken Fran levels, but still gorey enough in some respects. Granted, those people could have been overstating it, but that's the impression I got. The De-glamorization aspects really do appeal to me, so I'll probably end up watching it at some point.
Shigurui is one of those manga/anime that sounds like something that would totally appeal to me, but I never have the courage to take the first step and actually read/watch it because the memetic levels of goriness are off-putting to me. It's the reason I keep putting off the 7th Kara no Kyoukai film.
Honestly, I'd say that Paradox Spiral had more gore than the 7th movie. It's certainly a creepy film, but it's more psychological than gore based.
What exactly is a "psychological" series anyway? I hear that descriptor pretty often, used by itself (rather than the way TNS used it above), but I'm not actually sure what it means, unless it simply means "our story works in ways that will confuse the hell out of the audience and make them feel weird".
^^ In that case, it refers to a story where the emphasis is on interior struggle externalised, with logic that is less real-world and more inner-world. Which, naturally, has a strong overlap with psychological horror and even surrealist fiction, where mundane logic is entirely supplanted with the logic of the preconscious mind.
They may be crass, but I get the feeling that their love of Crass is more significant. (If you're not familiar: Anarchist punk band, pacifists, good logo design, attract fans with a fondness for jacket patches.)
it's weird to see this show actually resolving things.
also, i don't remember the last monster-of-the-week format thing i saw where the reason for the magic attacks in whatever fixed location was not explained and then explained later. evangelion? who knows.
The story centers around Hida Kizuna, who visits the strategic defense academy Ataraxia at his big sister's request. "There, he encounters Chidorigafuchi Aine, a girl piloting the magical armor Zerosu. Aine suddenly pulls off her clothes before Kizuna's eyes. 'Don't look, you pervert—' 'No, you're the one!?' However, a communique about a serious mission arrives from Kizuna's sister. The mission — to rub Aina's chest!? Actually, Kizuna has the power to level up a girl through indecent acts. With a battle against another world, the future depends on this power."
Am I going to watch this? It sounds trashy. I think I'm going to watch it? I'm probably going to watch it (even if keeping current is another matter).
Really this sounds like such hot trash. I'm not sure how I can't not check it out.
Thinking of watching Madoka relatively soon, even though I've been spoiled on pretty much a lot of things though. Not sure what to think until I watch it.
I wrote this up elsewhere so I might as well refine it a bit and repost it.
Types of anime fans:
1. Enjoyers - fans of some anime series, but not necessarily of the medium as a whole. Favorably disposed toward anime as a whole, but unlikely to seek out things like conventions. 1.1 Casuals - may be slightly familiar with anime and not mind it but it's not something they'd notably seek out.
2. Fanatics - dedicated fans of a certain series (often but not necessarily a long runner), but not much interested in anything else. Don't tell them they have bad taste, because they're not here to have good taste, only to indulge in their pet series. 1x2. Loners - dedicated fans of a certain series who feel no connection otherwise to (and might not even like) the overall anime fandom, but they make exception for their pet series.
3a. Scholars - seek to gain a widespread familiarity with the medium, and feel a need to analyze works, follow industry news/trends, etc.. Being able to identify seminal works or discover the "best" series in a genre excite them. 3b. Critics - "guardians of good taste" who enjoy rating things and spreading what they feel is their judgement on the quality of works and their components (e.g. quality of animation, voice acting, etc.). 3c. Proselytizers - want to see more people interested in anime, and make it more accepted in the mainstream.
4a. Wacks (or Weirdos) - like anime because it's weird, it's unusual, it's different from whatever fare they usually get on mainstream TV/movies. The tropes and the subject matter are different. Seek out anime with novelty value. Things that are too "samey" or "overdone"/"cliché" are boring to them; they want variety. 4b. Japanophiles/Weebs - like anime because it's foreign, and specifically, Japanese. Very interested in Japanese culture, language, media, food, technology, history, possibly even sociology and politics. May use gratuitous Japanese. Likely to learn to use chopsticks just to eat ramen properly.
5. Otakus - dedicated fans of anime/manga as a whole. Figurines and other themed merchandise richly adorn their shelves. Have as much coverage as scholars, critics, or wacks, but their main trait is that they indulge in it, and may even proudly display it in public. 2x5. Collectors - dedicated completionists who feel an obligation/duty to indulge "properly" in a media production. Likely part of the inelastic demand enjoyed by some very niche products. Actually somewhat less likely to torrent things, out of a sense of responsibility. May berate other fans for not being good enough fans. 5'. Creeps - the otakus who don't know shame, basically. Unabashedly enjoys and indulges in fanservice. May talk too much about how sexy/cute they find a character. Likely owner of body pillows, boob mousepads, etc.. Does not mind sketchy ads or browsing non-safe boorus.
there are two kinds of people: those who classify people, and those who don't, hur hur
there are ten kinds of people: those who like this joke about binary, those who have gotten sick of it, and eight other kinds who just find it amusing but are doing their own things
Comments
He's surpassed Martin in pacing at this point.
Apparently it's really interesting but very violent in a distinctly unglamorous way.
Both the manga and the anime of Shigurui are apparently solid, however, although the anime holds more interest for me because Hiroshi Hamasaki is a fascinating director—he also did Texhnolyze, which I have mentioned many times before and is similarly unrelenting, albeit in a very different setting.
Or so I am led to believe by trustworthy sources. Given the way violence is handled in Texhnolyze, this would not surprise me in the slightest.
What exactly is a "psychological" series anyway? I hear that descriptor pretty often, used by itself (rather than the way TNS used it above), but I'm not actually sure what it means, unless it simply means "our story works in ways that will confuse the hell out of the audience and make them feel weird".
Shigeru Mizuki passed away on the 30th of November. Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
it's weird to see this show actually resolving things.
also, i don't remember the last monster-of-the-week format thing i saw where the reason for the magic attacks in whatever fixed location was not explained and then explained later. evangelion? who knows.
(h/t to fourteenwings at IJBM)
Types of anime fans:
1. Enjoyers - fans of some anime series, but not necessarily of the medium as a whole. Favorably disposed toward anime as a whole, but unlikely to seek out things like conventions.
1.1 Casuals - may be slightly familiar with anime and not mind it but it's not something they'd notably seek out.
2. Fanatics - dedicated fans of a certain series (often but not necessarily a long runner), but not much interested in anything else. Don't tell them they have bad taste, because they're not here to have good taste, only to indulge in their pet series.
1x2. Loners - dedicated fans of a certain series who feel no connection otherwise to (and might not even like) the overall anime fandom, but they make exception for their pet series.
3a. Scholars - seek to gain a widespread familiarity with the medium, and feel a need to analyze works, follow industry news/trends, etc.. Being able to identify seminal works or discover the "best" series in a genre excite them.
3b. Critics - "guardians of good taste" who enjoy rating things and spreading what they feel is their judgement on the quality of works and their components (e.g. quality of animation, voice acting, etc.).
3c. Proselytizers - want to see more people interested in anime, and make it more accepted in the mainstream.
4a. Wacks (or Weirdos) - like anime because it's weird, it's unusual, it's different from whatever fare they usually get on mainstream TV/movies. The tropes and the subject matter are different. Seek out anime with novelty value. Things that are too "samey" or "overdone"/"cliché" are boring to them; they want variety.
4b. Japanophiles/Weebs - like anime because it's foreign, and specifically, Japanese. Very interested in Japanese culture, language, media, food, technology, history, possibly even sociology and politics. May use gratuitous Japanese. Likely to learn to use chopsticks just to eat ramen properly.
5. Otakus - dedicated fans of anime/manga as a whole. Figurines and other themed merchandise richly adorn their shelves. Have as much coverage as scholars, critics, or wacks, but their main trait is that they indulge in it, and may even proudly display it in public.
2x5. Collectors - dedicated completionists who feel an obligation/duty to indulge "properly" in a media production. Likely part of the inelastic demand enjoyed by some very niche products. Actually somewhat less likely to torrent things, out of a sense of responsibility. May berate other fans for not being good enough fans.
5'. Creeps - the otakus who don't know shame, basically. Unabashedly enjoys and indulges in fanservice. May talk too much about how sexy/cute they find a character. Likely owner of body pillows, boob mousepads, etc.. Does not mind sketchy ads or browsing non-safe boorus.
1b. Anime Fanatic
2a. Otaku
2b. Anime Superior
2c. Experienced Anime Casual
3a. Anime Veterans
3b. Anime Elitists
3c. Weeaboo
http://forums.hummingbird.me/t/sociophyscological-analysis-of-the-anime-community/28461/
It didn't strike me as a particularly good classification system so I went and wrote up my own idea.
love it
like it
meh
dislike it
hate it
there's a balanced quinary rating scheme
much better than a ten-point scale or a five-point scale