7/12/2000- Those commercial guys have picked on everything lately. Berserk? Neo Ranga? Devilman Lady? Angel's Egg? Arc the lad? These are hardly big name titles... they're going fast. Who's next, Revious, Gatekeepers, Weiss Kreuz, who knows? Don't count anything out.
5/17/2000- That ending of Berserk really sucked. There are just so many things wrong with it I could write a term paper. Like, why was the correlation between episode 25 and episode 1 (the "real" last Berserk episode) so poor and not thought out? Why did we spend time on useless, unrelated speeches by extraneous old women instead of establishing what happened to Gatts after "The Festival?" Why toward the end did the anime ditch a bunch of the best, most intriguing things about the manga, just to waste time on more irrelevant points and shock-value bloodletting? And of course, the question that begs to be asked, why didn't we get to see The Skull Night, the guy who saved Gatts in the end? Too bad such an interesting series had such a shabby ending, I say. This is even worse than the Evangelion ending, one of the worst I've ever seen. I could go on and on, but who cares, I won't.
4/11/2000- I was watching the first four eps of Jubei-chan, but I only got through three. I heard so many positive reviews of this series I was disappointed from what I saw. It was an ugly series, from a 12 year old girl stacked like most 22 year olds aren't (rather insulting), the principal and vice-principal of her school leering at her, and just a lot of dumb, Beavis-and-Butthead type humour. As I watched this, I thought, the hysterics aren't funny. You see, in Kodomo no Omocha, the hysterics come from good characters, are spastic, out of control, and hilarious. In Jubei-chan (from the same creator, I am told) the show's attempts to get laughs are sad and desperate. I'd avoid this series, and I sure as heck would not buy it from Animevillage... does anyone want to e-mail me and tell me how liking a series like this is possible? Why not watch American television, if you want no-brain, unfunny entertainment. The word I use to describe this show is ugly, and I don't mean character design.
2/11/2000-- You know, I was just musing to myself, how did Berserk get so popular? Most shows set in this type of quasi-medieval setting have a lot of magic in them, or great animation and character design. Not Berserk. Despite this, the show is utterly fascinating. Sometimes I wish I could sit in my literature class and discuss meanings of Berserk. I could come up with all sorts of stuff. Berserk is Paradise Lost with everyone playing Satan and the rebel angels. Gatts is a Byronic hero. The show is a postmodern allegory for the suffering of real life. The "triangle" between Gatts, Griffis, and Kasha illustrates the impossibility for the existence of true love or a pure expression of love without a warping into a sad, pathetic, unfulfilled dimension. Gatts must self-actualize! Compare and contrast the many feminine roles of Kasha. I want to write my thesis about Berserk, I think. Berserk as Pilgrim's Progress. Sartre, Heidegger, and Neitzche's existentialist thought and its manifestations in Berserk. Albert Camus and Gatts: Soulmates? Well, anyone who says anime fans settle for the lowest common denominator, repetitive, horrible magic girl parodies (not Sailor Moon or anything on my list, the BAD stuff like Battle Skippers) may wish to reanalyze the situation. Berserk will never reach the masses via licensing, leaving the commercial crowd to content themselves with less fulfilling (but entertaing) fare like Lost Universe, Generator Gawl, or Bakuretsu Hunters, and even the less entertaining ones, like Orphen, Battle Athletes, but for those who seek the path of the fansub, shows like Berserk will be a welcome salve. Someone once told me that when they watched Berserk with a bunch of their friends they all felt uncomfortable together. Of course! Fool! Berserk must be viewed alone, you don't go into a confessional with your friends; Berserk is an intense, painful, private catharsis. Even that horrible opening theme is painful and strained, hinting at the mental anguish to come. You may think after all of this rambling that Berserk is my favorite show, but I would probably list it as somewhere around my #19th favorite show of all time, which is high, but not super-high, if I made such a list.
12/22/99 Just a reminder, me, 'Eternal Blue," S. P., is not the author of opinions not in purple... I don't agree with all of them (leave Kare-Kano alone,) so keep that
in mind before writing to argue. This is what happens when you let friends use your page as a message/opinions board! (Though I like the Card Captor Sakura dig). And yes,
Fist of the North Star and all of its exploding head, mohawk machismo are no good in my book. They're only TV shows anyway... but that's kind of an excuse against passionate
opinions, which there's nothing wrong with right, as long we don't start cursing those who disagree with us out. Geez, this page tends to have more negative than positive opinions, huh?
Maybe we need write-in opinions for all of us grumpy people over here, I don't know.
12/22/99 Konbonwa! R-chan here, reeling from finals and some bad shows that trash the name "shoujo." Well, let's not start off
negative here. I like shoujo shows. Fushigi Yuugi, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Miracle Girls, Magic Knight Rayearth, Sailor Moon, Vampire Princess Miyu, and Marmalade
Boy are all great shows that it would be near impossible to find better of right? But lately these shoujo shows have sunk to a new low. I mean, some people say about
fluffy shows, they are cute. "Cute," and "intelligent" are not mutually exclusive. I heard someone compare "Tenshi nu Narumon," for example, to
"Urusei Yatsura." I find that ridiculous. Tenshi nu Narumon is just screaming nonsense. And that main character guy? Yuck. Even worse is the Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. Where
did the fanbase for this show come from? The web pages? Why does she have to be a reincarnation of Joan of Arc to steal useless stuff and rip off Saint Tail? Why chess pieces?
Does anyone care?! Between this, the non-stop boredom of Card Captor Sakura (would you care for another delicious fudge brownie Sakura-chan?" "Thank you very kindly Tomoyo-chan") that hideous and obnoxious
Orphen guy, UGH, the new season of "shoujo" shows is nowhere near its predecessors. You may argue its too soon to tell. Okay, I can accept that. You may argue most of the best titles are acquired. Well I disagree.
(Page-owner Eternal Blue may disagree with me) but I think Kare-Kano is a terrible rendition, compared to the manga. Simply horrible. Introspection is one thing. Bickering, unrealistic antics are another. (Ohmygod! My shoe is untied! Arima will dump me for sure? What will I do! And on and on...)
But I do like To Heart! So maybe there's hope! I think less "comedy," and screaming is in order though, unless you can make it work. But perhaps when shows of genres begin to insult people's intelligent, people expand their horizons, which is a good things. You get girls like myself who check out more action-related
and "shonen" titles, and guys who tire "Fist of the North Star," nonsense watching Marmalade Boy. So it's not all bad after all, in a way.
11/10/99-- I just watched the last episode of Cowboy Bebop. What a kick ass show. I recommend this to anyone,
and is one of the few shows I would actually pay 25 dollars a tape for, though 30 dollars for 2 subtitled episodes a tape
for me is in the Donal Trump range... More buzz about new shows is beginning to accumulate for the new season. Most interesting looking
to me are X-Hunter-X, X TV, Infinite Revious, and Blue Gender. Will they be great or a wash? Well, I can wait. It seems like those
late night shows have been doing the best recently, we get too many big name prime time titles like Brain Powerd or SS Orphen, we have to love that great
late night stuff like Berserk, White Cross, Devilman Lady, and all the rest.
9/19-- I just watched Devilman Lady Vol. #1 and I'm psyched. After having to sit through stuff like SM J-x and
Orphen, I am glad to see a good show once in a while. I thought before watching it, "okay, this show will be cheap and flashy,
with lots of women monsters with huge breasts and other lame stuff." Well, it may be flashy, but this show has some serious
substance beneath its slick veneer. Devilman Lady is amazingly stylish, with a haunting soundscape, one of the *coolest* beginning
themes I've heard in a long time, and some characters that are surprisingly sympathetic. The high school friend is realistic, not this overly-bubbly twit,
though she's got her share of "genki," the lead character, Fudo Jun, is convincingly torn apart between being an anemic, tragically
beauitful model and an ugly, bloodlusting beast of biblical proportions. In this fray, along with many bad beasties and whatnot, is
Asuka, the conniving girl who controls and dominates Fudo Jun. But is she really as cold-hearted as she seems? Who will be the next to
turn into a monster? Devilman Lady is a better show than the titles suggests.
9/19-- My good friend 'Eternal Blue,' lent me the show "Dual," to watch the first two episodes. I wish he had not.
Dual proves once again that Pioneer has no clue what it is doing (see Battles Athletes, Tenchi Muyo, and El Hazard (TV, not the OVAs). Dual suffers from
the usual horrid Pioneer animation, has that usual crappy Pioneer humor, (God, not more loser Tenchi humor) and more than a few elements
swiped from Evangelion and cheapened. The characters are nearly as bad, from a "Relena Peacecraft," wannabee, to yet another kooky professor, to yet
another reluctant pilot. The bottom line: Stay away!
9/5-- Has anyone noticed that the newest and hottest shows in anime, featured on glistening Animage and
Newtype covers, are incredibly disappointing? Examine the big name shows of last season: Sorceror Stabber Orphen, Card
Captor Sakura, Eden's Bowy, Jubei-chan, Mammotte ShugoGetten, and Saber Marionettes J-X... all horrors. Card
Captor Sakura is easily Clamp's weakest work ever; the entire show consists of people politely passing around cake and a glaring
overuse of the honorific "-chan." I thought nothing could be worse than Sorceror Stabber Orphen, but then, I learned my lesson;
there's another season of it. It is shocking I do not like this series, because I love fantasy/ sword and sorcery series. The last time I saw
a sword/sorcery show as weak as SS Orphen, it was called "Bastard." But SS Orphen is way worse. At least Darsche Schneidre had cool spells that sounded neat,
like "Harrowing," "Venom," and "Exodus." What does Orphen have? Uhh, "I am the wind. I am the sword." Yeah. Eden's Bowy. Ugh. And then,
SM J-x, surprising because I liked SM J, Sm J OVAs, and SM R OVAs, but Saber Marionettes J-X is utterly unwatchable. Put it to death.
So the good shows are those grimy late night gems, like "Devilman Lady," "Trigun," "Weiss Kreuz," and "Himikoden." Fine with me, but if I lived
in Japan I'd be one tired guy.
6/8-- I watched the first two episodes of Generator Gawl. It is very good, but beware, it is a lot less serious than many people expect at times. Gawl is one of those
goofy characters who begin to get on your nerves at times, but his friends are serious. He is very much like Carrot Glaces except he isn't a pervert, probably because there are
no girls in the future from which they have come. Flowers either. Grim, eh? Like Carrot, our goofball Gawl can turn into a huge monster called (surprise surprise) a generator, much like
Zoantropy. And there's a bratty girl he squabbles with. "To Heart" is a good shoujo story, but not up to the hype presented in mags. Opinions in different colors than these are by various friends with each color representing someone else.
6/1-- I have pertinent opinions here today. For all of you who have wondered what the "Gestalt" OVAs on my page are about, they are
a mildly humorous sword/sorcery journey with "light" religious overtones (nothing like Evangelion's). Legend of Basara may not appeal to
all sword-and-sorcery fans... in fact I think it would appeal to surprisingly few. It is unworthy of its great hype, but not a bad show by
any means, and if you feel inclined to check out a "Heroic Legend of Arslan" type of story with a shoujo twist, then Legend of Basara is for
you. If you are looking for Bastard II or Berserk, you will be disappointed.
I just finished watching episode 15 of Cowboy Bebop. Let me say I am not a wealthy fellow, I am poorer than most people my age in fact. This said, there
are very few series I would $30 a tape for (commercial prices). Cowboy Bebop is definitely one of those shows. Out of all of the shows of '99 to come to American
anime fans' attentions, Cowboy Bebop is one of my top five. I would advise even the most destitute and frugal of souls to purchase Cowboy Bebop tapes when they are released
subtitled by Animevillage, even though Animevillage are fiends. On a similar note I would also like to declare Serial Experiments Lain as one of the best shows to come to anime
fans in '99. Lain is artistically stylish without being pretentious... it does not cop out as often as other "subtle" shows, such as Nadesico, Gasaraki, or Neon Genesis Evanagelion. Lain is wonderful.
5/29-- Saber Marionettes J-x is disgustingly disappointing. Someone needs to put the Saber Marionettes series to sleep permanently. It would be the humanitarian thing
to do, instead of lettting things drag like this. Ha ha, they are beating up the gay guy again. Chortle chortle, Lime has misunderstood humanity again and run away for the 8th time. Ho ho, Bloodberry and Cherry
are fighting over Otaru again. Oohhh, spooky evil guy. It only be two series and two OVA series, but Saber Marionettes FEELS like it has been going on as long as Dragonball.
5/29-- What is with this hype surrounding the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs? I think people buy into hype and enjoy buying tapes more than watching them, a disappointing trend indeed. First off, the animation is ugly. Where did
all of those abundant OVA dollars go to? It was quite bland. And this is the kicker. People seem to think it is really violent. Yeah. Fist of the North Star, Genocyber, Evangelion, Ninja Scroll, these
are violent titles. We see a little blood here and people freak. Rurouni Kenshin OVA #1 is a huge disappointment to me personally.
5/24-- I seem only to have negative things to report this time.
Bubblegum Crisis TV was terrible. I would not recommend to even watch it out of
curiousit, it is that bad. And Flame of Recca... Mikagami states that he has his own agenda... it is to
steal Hiei's identity. Be afraid.
5/7- In case I had not mentioned this earlier (I am quite sure I have) I very much like Trigun. It is an excellent show and I say with absolute confidence the best of that Japanese TV season that spawned such bad titles
as Nazca and Brain-powerd and such good ones as Lain, Weiss Kreuz, and Cowboy Bebop. Even better than Weiss Kreuz and Cowboy Bebop??!?!! Am I exaggerating? Not at all. Vash is one of the most likable heroes I have encountered
recently... I think I might have to go back to one Himura Kenshin for such a level. When some protagonists are humourous, they tend to come off as obnoxious juvenile panderers, but Vash is quite hysterical. The things that make me
laugh the most are the whole "LOVE AND PEACE! LOVE AND PEACE!" bit, and the tie he wears on his head when he gets drunk. And what of Vash's secret past?? I am all a-tingle.
5/5- Oh joys! Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou is nearing! Soon I will have it in my profusely sweating palms! Those us from Hakusensha days rejoice!! Ha, I am exaggerating of course. I watched the oblique Blue Submarine #6, which is
decent. And I finally have ALL of the Miracle Girls! The second season was not as good as the first, but Miracle Girls is still one of my all-time faves! Excellent.
4/22- Wow, a lot of stuff came in. I know I will leave something out, but here are my ops anyway. Cyber Team in Akihabara is very entertaining. It is about cute, energetic girls who run
around getting these even cuter stuffed animals or whatever you want to address them as called patapis, and these "patapis" turn into mecha-girls which fight off big-breasted villainesses. Well, I just made it sound
terrible, huh? It isn't. The main character is VERY endearing in my humble opinion. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, while relying a little too heavily on stock cliches, will appeal to mahou shoujo fans, esp. Saint Tail. It is good,
but not as great as you have been hearing, so settle down, friends. Card Captor Sakura, by the 23rd ep, has set my nerves on edge. This series is just the same damned thing over and over again, without any redeeming charm whatsoever. And the
"cuteness" gets old real quick. The art can't save this series. Good in the beginning, pretty much an utter failure now. Release! Die, Kero-chan! Ok, I am being stupid, but you have to realize I am a poor sap who gets no sleep, so sympathize with
my foolishness. Gundam Wing continues to captivate my interest, natch. Shugogetten is beginning to wind down. Trigun Vol. #2 is excellent! Great! Vash is the greatest hero since Kenshin, I joke not!
4/15- Waaahhha! I and the Eternal Blue gumi (I know, cheesy usage, acknowledged) finished watching the Shojo Kakumei Utena series! We finally killed off those last four eps! I will not reveal the
ending, but it is not only satisfying, it is very cool! And, it's not all shrouded in pseudo-intellectual mystery like some series *cough* Lain, Eva movie, but you actually get to find out about Akio, Rose Bride, and even
the Shadow Girls! So what is eternal? What *does* happen to Utena anyway? Does Touga really like Utena? Chuchu gives up his tie?!?!??! And that incest thing?!??! You will have to find out for yourselves, I would not dream of
revealing it. A great series. Though you never do get to find out the secret of those damn stopwatches or Nanami's Egg (episode 27; easily the weirdest!) Weathering Continent is also weird, but not in as good a way. Just kind of
there, not too good, but not bad. Goku icing Baby in DBGT is very satsifying.
4/8- Well, I added some Gundam to my list, but come on, we all know Gundam is pretty much the best of the space-mecha shows. No secret there, light-years ahead of (puke) Macross 7. Also on the space front,
I viewed the Gekiganger OVA, which fans will connect with Nadesico. It is HILARIOUS! Check it out if you are a Nadesico or space-mecha fan. From the creator of Bastard I saw Bakuen Campess Guardress. Uhhh, it was okay
Bastard was much better, even though Bastard was cheesy, I liked it okay. Nothing great. Master Mosquiton TV shows us that not all OVAs should be made into TV series. Why not a Shamanic Princess TV series, or hell, a Bastard
TV series? No, we get Mo-chan. Mosquiton was a good OVA, but the TV sucks, it's on my page, but unless you enjoy throwing your money into bottomless vortexes, don't get it. There are a bunch of lame new characters (wolf lady, Frankenstein? ugh),
poor production values, and the annoyance of Inaho rambling on and on and on about the o-parts and money isn't funny, it is pathetic and insufferable.
In happier news, Lodoss Wars TV continues to hold my interest, though it is a bit disappointing considering I was a big fan of the OVAs. Finally, Saber Marionettes J-X episode 1 is the same old stuff except not done as well; episode two shows more
flashes of life. I will have to see more, but the animation looks to have suffered.
3/26- What is Sentimental Journey about, you may ask? It is based on a game about a boy who has transferred schools many times and had girlfriends at these schools. One day he receives a stirring love
letter. You must find out which of your past 12 girlfriends sent it. The series is based on the 12 girls but the boy does not seem to fit in. How is it? The 12 different unrelated stories is unique, not like
every other anime which follows you know, one plot. But is that uniqueness great enough? No. It is a pretty good anime, but it isn't THAT good.
3/13- Gasaraki is GOOD! It looks like it borrowed a few ideas from Evangelion, but hey, this is forgiveable, ne? It is intense, and the animation
was pretty sweet. I found the whole dance/play scene particularly captivating. I recommend this to anyone who likes interesting anime (everyone, ha ha) Fancy La La's 5-8 was interesting, although I like the model situations better than the rather stale childhood things. Still a very good series, though. Tonde Buurin
was about a girl who transforms into a magical pig, and it is offbeat. It is good, but not pretty good.
The Bakaretsu Hunter OVAs are ummm, well, they are prurient, ne?
2/25- Berserk's first episode was really great. The next 9 were disappointing, like a bad version of "The Heroic Legend of Arislan," which is only slightly
above average to begin with. Hana Yori Dango is very entertaining. My current fave, however, is the Miracle Girls. ANYONE who has episodes 29+, please e-mail me so
hopefully we can trade. Miracle Girls is not for everyone, but I think it is wonderful. Nearly everyone I know disagrees with me. Oh well.
2/12/- Hmmm. Saint Tail is very cute, and Miracle Girls looks promising, it is alright. I very much like Yu Yu Hakusho 81-82 and 91-105. Sweet! Berserk, Shamanic Princess, and
Fancy La La are among my faves in this group. Utena is the greatest thing on the earth, but I should not say that or her legions will tear me to pieces.
Many people have been requesting Flame of Recca. It is sad to think that Flame of Recca is the most entertaining title on my page. It is a thoroughly pedantic series, shamelessly rips off
Yu Yu Hakusho, which in itself is not too original. I believe the rising popularity of Flame of Recca to be a sign of Gotterdammerung.
2/3- Gaogaigar is really dumb, in my opinion. If you like things like Captain Harlock, Yamato, or Tekkaman, you might
like it, but I like Star Blazers and Robotech enough, and it reeks of nostalgia without bringing the imagination or wondrous aura
of the titles I mentioned.
Well what is up in my world of anime, hmmm? I am currently waiting on volume 2
of Vampire Princess Miyu TV, which should be here soon, and the awesome-looking Mamotte
Shugogetten. (Sorry for not being more eloquent than "awesome" I am tired.) These should be in
by next I am pretty certain.
Oh yeah, I urge EVERYONE to check out Trigun and to a lesser degree, Weiss Kreuz,
even if you don't order these two from me. Trigun is excellent, it is a sure-fire
hit. It is the kind of series that you know all the damn anime brats will sign onto as well.
Hmm, hopefully not. Check it out now! It's my favorite of my new stuff.
Lost Universe disappointed the hell out of me. It was bland and boring. I am a big
Slayers fan but that does not mean I have to put up with pedantic nonsense...
What, fanboy you say???? Well, err....
Ops by S (Eternal Blue)
Ops by R-chan
Ops by Keiko
