Anime Thread #3: You Can (Not) Repost

[CesarAugustus]

Okay new topic for thread:

What about the things that are heavily tied to anime culture? Would you all think they’re technically off-topic since they’re not exactly anime shows or manga series?

Since we just discussed fandoms, I think plenty of us can see strong connections between what is explicitly the anime medium and other areas like light novels, a sector of the video game industry, and even tokusatsu.

Yes, these are tied in various manners.

Maybe for keeping this more on topic, the discussion could be around the ones that have received anime adaptations, or if videogames, the ones that have (at least in production art), a manga style.

God bless you!

 

[CesarAugustus]

I’ve been watching some Celestial Method and I’ve got to say it’s good.

Now it is pretty kitschy and driven by emotional over expression or drama as is the bulk of Japanese TV and anime but the characters again are very endearing, the story is intriguing and there is no fanservice. (When a girl sits, the dress is raised to cover the panty area.) Now there may be a hot springs episode, which I haven’t watched yet - only watched until 5, but even there I doubt it should be bad considering what I’ve seen so far.

Celestial Method AKA Sora no Method.

Story reminds me a bit of Anohana (We Still Don’t Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day), which was also a fanservice deficient show, had a story focusing on past childhood events, promises and also loaded with tons of melodrama.

I want to watch that one too.

Regarding Anohana, I’ve seen some episodes. Save some brief fanservice (or tasteless) jokes (one or two in the first three episodes), looks like a fantastic show.

God bless you!

 

[Tenofovir]

I want to watch that one too.

Regarding Anohana, I’ve seen some episodes. Save some brief fanservice (or tasteless) jokes (one or two in the first three episodes), looks like a fantastic show.

God bless you!

Celestial Method also reminds me of Kanon, both versions of the anime.

There is also a hero who loses his memories.

BTW March 2015 sees the Japanese DVD release of “When Marnie was Here”. The disk has English subtitles.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Maybe for keeping this more on topic, the discussion could be around the ones that have received anime adaptations, or if videogames, the ones that have (at least in production art), a manga style.

I suppose the last category would be most fitting as a lot of fandoms are drawn to those particular elements (regardless if the producers in question are even Japanese).

Setting that aside though, anybody else here besides me who’s got Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire? It’s my most recent re-entry to the Pokemon franchise since Gen IV.

 

[CesarAugustus]

I suppose the last category would be most fitting as a lot of fandoms are drawn to those particular elements (regardless if the producers in question are even Japanese).

Setting that aside though, anybody else here besides me who’s got Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire? It’s my most recent re-entry to the Pokemon franchise since Gen IV.

Yes, also, I think that the appeal of these styles would be an interesting topic for discussion.

 

[Tenofovir]

Yes, also, I think that the appeal of these styles would be an interesting topic for discussion.

Episode 12 of Celestial Method was an emotional roller coaster. Kitschy but I liked it. It had an upbeat ending. Episode 13 - hopefully it will stay kitschy and end well and also upbeat. Ep 11 ending was quite emotional too.

Tears, wind in the grass and trees, and a heroine who stumbles to get somewhere, all with dramatic music for effect. I love it!

Excellent show overall. No stupid magical girl fights to the death or silly panty shots. No retarded giant robots either.

 

[Tenofovir]

The obligatory hot springs episode of Celestial Method was done well. Mist. No lewd commentary. Nothing shown but heads above water and the water obscuring everything. Well done for taste. Anime writers, you can make a good story without pron. Just look at Celestial Method.

But the best part was the secret that Yuzuki had to share with Nonoka. Ceasar will like this. I don’t want to spoil it here.

 

[Tenofovir]

Free 30 days Crunchyroll anime
stacksocial.com/sales/free-anime-for-30-days-from-crunchyroll

Merry Christmas you lot! . God Bless you all.

 

[Tenofovir]

scifiwright.com/2014/12/the-perversion-of-a-legend
vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2014/12/legend-of-korra-creators-confirm-korrasami-is-canon

Now this is what Western politicization of cartoons looks like. Compared with the “for my friends” of Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero (note the plural, where Yuuki Yuuna speaks of ALL her friends not just one who is especially more hung up on her- the last episode is a blast-btw). There is also no holding hands… Just pure friendship as one commenter noted here:

“The thing that most upsets me about stuff like this — and I’ve never gotten much into the Avatar universe so I’m not even a fan here — is that, as Esolen notes, the problem with establishing such interactions as a canon possibility is that you can no longer assume — are not allowed to assume — any relationship to be nonsexual, any friendship or fellow-love to be purely spiritual, because the potential for eroticism is presumed always present no matter who the characters or what their history. Such is the death of friendship as Western culture has always understood it, and a disservice to those who want to preserve the idea that sex does not have to inform all human relationships — must, indeed, be vigorously excluded and stigmatized from many of them — in our shared culture.”

touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=18-07-021-f

And so I don’t think many of these yuri-like anime are really that. I think they’re intense friendships along the lines of comrades in arms and such - and we know such friendships sometimes exceed the bonds of marital unions or even sexual attraction - soldiers or cops of firefighters or such who risk their lives together can achieve a bond stronger than one based on pure eros or even sometimes one which is based on love between married people. Let’s not assume all these animes are Legend of Korra stuff. (A wanna be anime like franchise which falls flat from what I’ve seen. Westerners just can’t do anime. And naming one yuri girl “Asami” is not enough.)

I’ve watched the last ep of YYIH and I haven’t seen any fanservice, outside of the one scene in the opening (sniper scene) which could by some be construed as fanservice but which need not be.

The overall story sacrifice for friends is cliche but worthwhile. Now while it’s set in a universe of polytheistic like gods, a more informed person still knows that for existence to exist there can only be the First Cause sustaining it all. And the show need not go into that, that’s for the understanding and religious faith of the viewer. Take the good, I say.

 

[CesarAugustus]

I agree, that ending in Korra looks very politiced (or a type of social engineering), a bad ending.

In Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero, from what I’ve read, the yuri content is shown more in supplementary material, like manga or games. For example, I’ve read that in the VN, there is a scene where Yuna and Togo are practising (mouth) kissing for a play, and Yuna points how much Togo is into the acting (closing her eyes). I think is implied that Togo likes Yuna (she wants to practice that scene ten more times). Itsuki is getting embarrassed looking at the scene, and mentions how close they are and how convincing it would look for the audience.

Does something like that is implied in the anime?

 

[CesarAugustus]

Regarding fanservice in Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero, I think some transformation scenes, specially Togo’s, would count as that.

 

[Tenofovir]

I agree, that ending in Korra looks very politiced (or a type of social engineering), a bad ending.

In Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero, from what I’ve read, the yuri content is shown more in supplementary material, like manga or games. For example, I’ve read that in the VN, there is a scene where Yuna and Togo are practising (mouth) kissing for a play, and Yuna points how much Togo is into the acting (closing her eyes). I think is implied that Togo likes Yuna (she wants to practice that scene ten more times). Itsuki is getting embarrassed looking at the scene, and mentions how close they are and how convincing it would look for the audience.

Does something like that is implied in the anime?

I haven’t seen all episodes - I skipped to the last two especially the last one, to see if I wanted to bother with the series or not.

There is no sexual innuendo in the last series although it looks like Togo does have some sort of crush on her friend - they don’t kiss or hold hands - and in particular Yuuna speaks of ALL her FRIENDS. They all stand more or less equidistant from each other, although Togo always stands next to Yuuna, the distances between the girls are the same.

It looks like they preferred the comrades-in-arms over any yuri stuff.
The little bit in the show is not yuri. Togo also does exhibit aspects of caring for her friend, and if we assume there is no romantic love just a girl-girl admiration/idolization - which is common to younger women - the expressions of “love” and love of the non-sexual sort which the West has perverted everywhere are in this show. (Love as an action, as performing actions for the benefit of someone else.)

To be honest Cesar, I did not pay too much attention to fanservice but remember I think seeing that there definitely were no underwear shots or such.

In a way this show is a bit of a reversal of the Korra show. Yuuna risked her life, not for one particular friend and any love interest, but for all her friends, and perhaps especially the antagonistic Togo because in the last episodes Togo becomes - their enemy in battle. Yuuna saves her antagonist. And as said, it’s all for friendship, not for any lesbian love.

 

[Tenofovir]

For example, I’ve read that in the VN, there is a scene where Yuna and Togo are practising (mouth) kissing for a play, and Yuna points how much Togo is into the acting (closing her eyes). I think is implied that Togo likes Yuna (she wants to practice that scene ten more times). Itsuki is getting embarrassed looking at the scene, and mentions how close they are and how convincing it would look for the audience.

Even that, I think does not mean lesbianism. Many ordinary young women would do such a thing when discovering romance, when there are no accessible males around. I don’t think it means lesbian, but it may imply a curiosity of emerging sexual interest among people who have no guidance. And the poor lot of Yuuki Yuuna have no guidance. They’re just young kids blundering and that’s perhaps also sad. Now some Japanese perverts who are no doubt the target of the anime for sure, may get excited by this, but this need not be this.

 

[Tenofovir]

Happy 2015 for those who celebrate (it depends on which calendar you use).
Whether you do, or don’t, God bless your next 365 days and beyond.

I just realised I destroyed my whole post.

 

[Tenofovir]

Cesar, did you see this write up?
animenewsnetwork.com/shelf-life/2014-12-29/.82734

Love Live! School Idol Project Season 1 BD
I would of course be short-changing myself if I didn’t mention Love Live!, which has been blowing up in Japan, and which has a fairly devoted following in North America, considering the set is perpetually out of stock. (It is currently scheduled to be released again in early January.) And while it is more of a standard idol anime (there are no robots or idol-banning planets in this one), it packs enough heart to make it memorable and instantly loveable.

The series follows a trajectory more commonly assigned to sports shows—it takes place at a school on the verge of shutting down. The news upsets many of the students, but it hits especially hard for a gal named Honoka. When she learns that other schools have their own idol groups, she decides to set up her own in the hopes of entering the Love Live! Tournament, with the end goal of boosting enrollment at the school. In this case, their Koshien is the Love Live!, and their members are the starting players.

What makes it so appealing to such a wide demographic is that the series is refreshingly wholesome. Despite having a main cast of nine cute high school-aged girls, there isn’t a drop of fanservice in the show. There are no panty flashes, no upskirt shots, no voyeuristic locker room shots—it’s a show that can appeal just as much to women as it does to men, who are still undoubtedly the main market. And with universal themes like friendship and hard work, it’s as uplifting as it is innocent. Bolstered by a long list of catchy tunes and an affable cast of characters, it’s definitely one of my personal favorite releases this year.

I did not pay much attention to this show, thinking it’s a generic idolm@ster clone. I’ll have to look at this in 2015. The lack of fanservice is a great thing.

 

[CesarAugustus]

I haven’t seen all episodes - I skipped to the last two especially the last one, to see if I wanted to bother with the series or not.

There is no sexual innuendo in the last series although it looks like Togo does have some sort of crush on her friend - they don’t kiss or hold hands - and in particular Yuuna speaks of ALL her FRIENDS. They all stand more or less equidistant from each other, although Togo always stands next to Yuuna, the distances between the girls are the same.

They hold hands in episode 5… but that could be understood as a product of the perilous situation they were.

It looks like they preferred the comrades-in-arms over any yuri stuff.

The little bit in the show is not yuri. Togo also does exhibit aspects of caring for her friend, and if we assume there is no romantic love just a girl-girl admiration/idolization - which is common to younger women - the expressions of “love” and love of the non-sexual sort which the West has perverted everywhere are in this show. (Love as an action, as performing actions for the benefit of someone else.)

Togo has a crush, or a girl-girl admiration? the first would be problematic, while the second points to more innocent love.

To be honest Cesar, I did not pay too much attention to fanservice but remember I think seeing that there definitely were no underwear shots or such.

Togo’s transformation sequence is quite noticeable, same for the few shortshots of other girl (shortshots, because they are wearing shorts in the magical costumes).

In a way this show is a bit of a reversal of the Korra show. Yuuna risked her life, not for one particular friend and any love interest, but for all her friends, and perhaps especially the antagonistic Togo because in the last episodes Togo becomes - their enemy in battle. Yuuna saves her antagonist. And as said, it’s all for friendship, not for any lesbian love.

Yes, it seems the focus is frendship.

God bless you!

 

[CesarAugustus]

Even that, I think does not mean lesbianism. Many ordinary young women would do such a thing when discovering romance, when there are no accessible males around. I don’t think it means lesbian, but it may imply a curiosity of emerging sexual interest among people who have no guidance. And the poor lot of Yuuki Yuuna have no guidance. They’re just young kids blundering and that’s perhaps also sad. Now some Japanese perverts who are no doubt the target of the anime for sure, may get excited by this, but this need not be this.

That doesn’t sound normal.

I think is obvious they are pandering to fans of yuri with the VN and the manga.

 

[CesarAugustus]

Cesar, did you see this write up?
animenewsnetwork.com/shelf-life/2014-12-29/.82734

I did not pay much attention to this show, thinking it’s a generic idolm@ster clone. I’ll have to look at this in 2015. The lack of fanservice is a great thing.

There have been like 3 of these style of shows in the recent two years.

Yes, I’ve read about it, as is becoming (sadly) typical with the recent yuri and shoujo-ai craze (the targets seem to be slice of life, magical girls, and music series like this one) there are some hints.

In the manga, there are some scenes, and in of the novel’s chapters one of the girls gets a love letter from another girl.

In the series, some of the girls have song duets, it seems that these are the suspicious songs:

love-live.wikia.com/wiki/Garasu_no_Hanazono (a possibly fanservicey pic on the cover, one of the girls on a bikini)

love-live.wikia.com/wiki/Zurui_yo_Magnetic_today

Look at the lyrics.

 

[CesarAugustus]

Happy 2015 for those who celebrate (it depends on which calendar you use).
Whether you do, or don’t, God bless your next 365 days and beyond.

I just realised I destroyed my whole post.

Happy new year!

God bless you!

 

[Tenofovir]

There have been like 3 of these style of shows in the recent two years.

Yes, I’ve read about it, as is becoming (sadly) typical with the recent yuri and shoujo-ai craze (the targets seem to be slice of life, magical girls, and music series like this one) there are some hints.

In the manga, there are some scenes, and in of the novel’s chapters one of the girls gets a love letter from another girl.

What follows from the love letter? Does she declare herself a lesbian and marry or sleep with the other woman? If not, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Children need parental guidance when watching these shows for sure. I recommend that. The mainstream of this show is not yuri or shoujo ai. It’s just a bunch of girls trying to sing to save their school or some such. And with no fanservice - I don’t think that bikini pic is fanservice - or else going to the beach is fanservice - I think it’s a good show - haven’t seen it yet, but if we follow what the reviewer said. Yes there may be a few strange moments and non-Catholic moments, it’s not a Catholic anime, and such do not exist, but that’s taken for granted.

In the series, some of the girls have song duets, it seems that these are the suspicious songs:

love-live.wikia.com/wiki/Garasu_no_Hanazono (a possibly fanservicey pic on the cover, one of the girls on a bikini)

love-live.wikia.com/wiki/Zurui_yo_Magnetic_today

Look at the lyrics.

The lyrics are in romanized Japanese.

I wouldn’t worry so much about this. Again, parental guidance for children.

In these shows there are no male characters. Songs involving some romantic themes will have only females sing them, it’s a given. Are they singing about each other, or just in general? Are they promoting lesbianism? One has to ask those questions.

God Bless.