[Official] Anime/Manga Thread

[shakey]

I was disappointed that a chunk of the latest episode was taken up by Renji/Sado, though there was some nice animation with Ichigo/Ulquiorra's fight (Y)

Same, but that wont last too long. Rukia will defeat that one dude with the skulls, then yammi will show up, interrupt ichigo's fight for a good episode, then everyone will take on yammi while ichigo goes back after ulq. 3 more episodes, and we should be free and clear from any of that crap :p

[kjordan2001]

Pick up Gintama immediately. It's the closest thing to One Piece and has probably more funny moments than OP. Gintama + One Piece >> Bleach, Naruto and any epic 30+ volume/100+ episode shounen series that was released in the 2000's.

Yeah, Gintama is awesome. I'm just disappointed the anime has stopped for now, but they assure us it's coming back, so that's good news at least :D

[deletedxyz]

Warning: The text below discusses the Elfen Lied manga and IS NOT for the faint hearted or for the younger readers of Neowin. 18+ WARNING. Mature audiences only.

Why did I post this? I simply wanted to make a post that describes the dark side of the manga world. It is not all moe moe with big eyed characters prancing around with big swords or magic.

Ever wondered what would happen if Clannad was set in a disturbing atmosphere filled with horror and gore? Did you enjoy the yandere moments and the male protagonist trying to protect all the girls in his harem for no reason? Did you like the dramatic story telling but wanted an extreme twist? Do you want to experience something called EXTREME yandere? Did you enjoy the game, F.E.A.R.?

If so, then Elfen Lied is for you. If you thought that the anime series was bloody and horrifying, wait till you get your hands on the manga. Rape, incest, torture, mental abuse, sexual abuse, child rape, child abuse, forced sex initiated by a child on a parent. Did your eyes widen with sheer horror from those keywords? Those are just few of the terms to describe the mind numbing amount of horror, gore and plot twists in this twisted piece of work. Elfen Lied is probably one of most disturbing manga series ever to be return in the 21st century that has the mainstream channel. There were times I wanted to drop the manga just because I did not think I wanted to flip through any more pages filled with violence of every kind that made my jaw drop.

Elfen Lied was the name of a series that was mentioned often across several forums and anime sites. It supposedly was a good mainstream anime from the horror genre. However, after watching the anime series, I was disappointed by the weird harem that was incorporated and the typical weak male protagonist always featured in harem. There were only two things that stood out for me: the music and the showcase of buckets of blood being thrown everywhere. The soundtrack captured the eerie atmosphere of the ever present feeling that something disturbing and shocking was hiding in the shadows in each episode.

I cannot believe how different the anime and manga series are. They're almost polar opposites. The anime series might as well be unicorns and rabbits happily dancing in a field of open grass if it was compared to the manga. They take completely different paths and have completely different endings.

Horror: 8.5/10

Plot: 6.5/10 (Harem mixed with some sort of Sci-Fi plot that manages to support the violence and gore)

Artwork: 8/10 (Inconsistent at times but well drawn especially when it comes to the violence.

Recommendations: If you enjoyed this manga, check out Battle Royale, Old Boy and Ichi the Killer.

[Cha0sDragon14]

So...this month's Katanagatari was different from what I expected...but I still liked it...I think.

That scene where they just talked about the fight that wasn't shown made go "WUT?"

Also, Nanami is pretty scary. For some reason, I keep thinking of a tiny parallel between her and Sylar from Heroes lol.

[SidVicious]

Elfen Lied is awesome. :yes:

[RadishTM Veteran]

So...this month's Katanagatari was different from what I expected...but I still liked it...I think.

That scene where they just talked about the fight that wasn't shown made go "WUT?"

Also, Nanami is pretty scary. For some reason, I keep thinking of a tiny parallel between her and Sylar from Heroes lol.

It was funny how the narrator at the end said that the episode probably raised some eyebrows :laugh:

Nanami FTW, now to wait another month :(

[rustix]

Just watched the new episode of Naruto Shippuuden. Pain's attack on Konohamagure has has finally begun!! :woot:

[deletedxyz]

Word comes from 2channel about what appears to be a brand new Code Geass project: Code Geass Gaiden: Boukoku no Akito (Akito of the Ruined Nation). It's set in atb 2017, seven years after the start of the original Code Geass series, so probably 5-6 years after the end of Lelouch's story, and unfortunately the world peace that was supposed to ensue didn't. Europe is in the midst of a big war-- and a small squadron of folks from Area 11 are on a mission that has only a 5% likelihood of success.

Source: AnimeVice

[shakey]

Just watched the new episode of Naruto Shippuuden. Pain's attack on Konohamagure has has finally begun!! :woot:

Arg, so watching it after work!!!!

I just got done reading the new naruto and bleach mangas. Ok, first off, who is now just as confsued as I am after reading the new bleach? What is going on here? Are we about to learn something that will flip everything we thought we knew upside down? Ichigo only brought upon us because of the cube? Is there more at hand?

Naruto chapter was pretty good. They have slowed down due to the training, but I am eager to see how everything is going to play out, especially with so many enemies pulling out everything they have at the moment.

[rustix]

I wanna see Naruto in Sage Mode again :pinch: I wish he had continued to be in his Sage clothing like Jiraiya, imo that is way cooler!

[RadishTM Veteran]

I just got done reading the new naruto and bleach mangas. Ok, first off, who is now just as confsued as I am after reading the new bleach? What is going on here? Are we about to learn something that will flip everything we thought we knew upside down? Ichigo only brought upon us because of the cube? Is there more at hand?

You're not the only one that is confused after reading that chapter.

[killmaster84]

Just finished watching all of Hellsing, gotta say re-watching it now that I'm older; it is truly amazing.

[rustix]

Just watched the 3rd Naruto Shippuuden movie: Inheritors of the Will of Fire. I wouldn't say the plot was original but I enjoyed seeing everyone the in action (

loved seeing the Rasen-shuriken again

), it has a really good original score and the ending was rather funny. Anyhow I completely enjoyed the movie, may even be the best among the Shippuuden movies imo :bounce:

[Matrix XII]

Just watched the new Naruto movie last night. It was ok the plot wasn't that great, but

the huuuge rasen shuriken he throws down made it worth it!

Bleach is finally getting good again, I'm stoked.

[Neo003]

I just found it funny,

Also saw the naruto movie 3 yesterday, glad and also sad not to see naruto in jinchuuriki form.

[Matrix XII]

I hate how Naruto isn't supposed to go into jinchuuriki form, it just makes everything more fun to watch when he goes all out like that.

Couldn't he focus on training using it's power while not letting it take over his mind? Killer Bee seemed to be able to use it quite well.

[deletedxyz]

I just finished reading Nodame Cantabile. I absolutely loved this series when I watched the first season of the anime series, which then resulted in picking up the manga series and reading it all the way to the latest chapter (3 volumes before ending). However, after more than a year from being away from it, the Josei overtones I overlooked before because of the music were very obvious. If this series did not have strong male leads, I would have dropped this manga series immediately since it would have been the typical average girl having casual sex then realizing her true love, which is the typical Josei fanfare. (The same can be said about the Seinen genre. It's just bloodshed with buckets of blood thrown everywhere with a male protagonist who is half 007 Bond and half fatally flawed man pondering life's questions, which gets quite boring after reading several manga with the same archetype.) The romanticized illustrations of ALL the guys, the typical rich male lead with a famous lineage and the average girl rising to fame are ever-present in this manga series and the reader is constantly reminded. It's the typical fanfare for its intended demographic. It even mentions that the male lead is so attractive to both males and females wherever he goes, the mangaka mentions that he is bishounen (basically means that he looks like a Final Fantasy character that always makes you question where it's a he or she). Another problem I had with this series is that the audience in the anime and manga series are treated as if they all have sound-color synesthesia. Then again, I am being too harsh since I can't think of any other way of capturing classical music in the art form of Japanese comics.

That's where my criticism stops. This manga series was translated into an amazing anime series. The music captured the essence of what the mangaka was trying to depict. I loved how smooth and natural the character interactions seemed to be. I am biased because any anime that delivers a stellar product without its characters dramatizing or exaggerating their emotions captures my attention. The two leads, Nodame and Chiaki, are both VERY talented musicians and the story follow their trials and tribulations as they explore the world of music at the end of their senior year of college. The mangaka managed to write a story with a good supporting cast and made a story that managed to keep fresh for 23 volumes of manga, despite having some inconsistent quality in the middle. Classical music, a feel good romance that seems natural accented by a light hearted musical fantasy with both rich and struggling musicians? What's there not to like?

For all you fans of Honey and Clover, this is the next anime and manga series you definitely need to pick up.

Characters : 7/10

Plot: 8/10

Artwork: 8/10

Anime series (first season): 9/10

This is a rare gem in the Josei manga world. Even though the feminized, metrosexual depictions of men and the central theme of feminine emotions that do not follow logic, I enjoyed this manga series from cover to cover.

Recommendations: Honey and Clover, Beck (a teenager's ride through the indie rock scene), RahXephon (music and sci fi meet together).

OP of anime series (one of my most played anime tracks ever):

Fun fact: J.C. Staff, the producer of the anime series, was also the studio behind Honey and Clover.

[RadishTM Veteran]

^ The DVD special episode for Finale is out (Y)

[deletedxyz]

Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road

I enjoyed the manga series and since it was not an anime series, I could read and "experience" the intense boxing fights at my own pace without any problem. However, this movie is the complete opposite of that. Remember the horrible, horrible voice in Dragon Ball's fights? Instead of supermen and monkeys, it's the boxing ring. Absolutely horrific. If someone managed to do a blind fold someone and ask them to just listen to the dialogue, the person would be treated to a torturous experience of out of place, inappropriate grunts, sighs and panting that should NEVER be put into anime series.

4/10 (Apart from the cool visual effects of each punch landing on the opponent, there is nothing else positive to discuss about this faithful manga to anime translation.) :pinch:

[Matrix XII]

We're getting spoiled with all these reviews! Thanks guys :)

I gotta do one soon now lol

[deletedxyz]

We're getting spoiled with all these reviews! Thanks guys :)

I gotta do one soon now lol

I believe many of the frequent posters in this thread have frequent updates/reviews on their blogs. Check out Radish's and Capric0rn's. They update theirs much more often than I do. :p

[Matrix XII]

Will do (Y)

I'm about 12 eps in and still loving Eureka Seven. I can't wait till I have some of the questions I have in my mind answered about the series :p

It's quite a bit different than I thought it would be. I thought it would be a lot more mecha battling, but there's more dialog and story than expected. The animation so far is good quality too.

[rustix]

I hate how Naruto isn't supposed to go into jinchuuriki form, it just makes everything more fun to watch when he goes all out like that.

Couldn't he focus on training using it's power while not letting it take over his mind? Killer Bee seemed to be able to use it quite well.

I'd say it's more a case of him not wanting to go into the kyuubi form (btw Jinchuuriki is the name given to the host of the tailed beast, not the name of the form :)) after he hurt Sakura during the fight against Orochimaru. It was after that incident did he decide to device a new jutsu and hence coming up with the rasen-shuriken. Also in the more recent manga chapter Naruto is trying to get Killer Bee to teach him how to control the kyuubi :D

[RadishTM Veteran]

Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road

I enjoyed the manga series and since it was not an anime series, I could read and "experience" the intense boxing fights at my own pace without any problem. However, this movie is the complete opposite of that. Remember the horrible, horrible voice in Dragon Ball's fights? Instead of supermen and monkeys, it's the boxing ring. Absolutely horrific. If someone managed to do a blind fold someone and ask them to just listen to the dialogue, the person would be treated to a torturous experience of out of place, inappropriate grunts, sighs and panting that should NEVER be put into anime series.

4/10 (Apart from the cool visual effects of each punch landing on the opponent, there is nothing else positive to discuss about this faithful manga to anime translation.) :pinch:

There was a 76-episode anime before the sequel/film you watched, which is directly adapted from the manga :blink:

[deletedxyz]

I came across this interesting movie when Capric0rn featured it as his signature banner. Cencoroll, clocking in at 26 minutes, is a showcase movie. It's FLCL meets Neon Genesis Evangelion and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. This movie has no character development or plot to speak off. It simply is a showcase by the director, writer, producer and animator, Atsuya Yuki. Thiis movie shows off the effort and talent of a one man crew similar to Voices of a Distant Star, a 25 minute movie animated, created and directed by Makoto Shinkai (the genius behind 5 cm/s and The Place Promised in Our Early Days).

7/10 - Overall

Artwork - 7/10 (Very inconsistent. Some moments feature spectacular zoom focus effects with a lot of detail while others are as boring as staring at a piece of styrofoam)

Bonus -

Here's a cool catalog of Mr. Atsuya's sketches: http://www.ukix.org/nl/