Manga/Anime You Read/Watch

[quote=lifebaka]Man, I totally forgot about Nichijou. I don't like a lot of sketch-comedy anime, but I did really like Nichijou. Cudd is right that it doesn't have a plot in the traditional sense, insofar as there's no central conflict that ties the events of the episodes together, but I don't really think it suffers for it. It does have continuity, though, and it does some very amusing things when the various groups it uses for sketches start to interact with each other. It also doesn't rely heavily on references as its source of comedy, so it's really accessible. The Japanese seem to be really into the whole "tragic past" thing. It shows up in a lot of anime, in much the same way that detectives feature really heavily in Korean horror. I must admit that, having watched a lot of anime, it gets kind of old as a plot device. (But, hey, at least it's not suppressed memories; those are even worse.) I wouldn't hold up any anime as being great just because of tragic pasts, as they're far too common. Cowboy Bebop's often cited main draw is actually its soundtrack. The mix of space opera and smooth jazz makes for a very interesting setting and overall soundscape. Similarly, Samuri Champloo (by the same director) is an interesting mix of Edo Japan and hip-hop. Of the two, I seem to recall Samurai Champloo being a bit better, and I believe it has better animation as well (but that could just be me preferring its art style to Cowboy Bebeop's). Another one's that's worth looking at is Afro Samurai. The plot isn't good (thankfully, it's short), but it's got the best damn English dubs I've ever heard, because it was originally recorded in English with Samuel L. Jackson as the main character and main speaking part. It was also extremely amusing, for me, to hear Brother 1's voice; he is clearly supposed to sound like a Southern Baptist preacher.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=MrCuddowls] I never said the definition of story at all What are you talking about?[/quote] Exactly. Read my comment again.[/quote]

[quote=EXDKain212]i refuse to watch any more Sakurasou just because Sorata chose Mashiro over Nanami </3[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=lifebaka] Man, I totally forgot about Nichijou. I don't like a lot of sketch-comedy anime, but I did really like Nichijou. It does have continuity, though, and it does some very amusing things when the various groups it uses for sketches start to interact with each other. It also doesn't rely heavily on references as its source of comedy, so it's really accessible.[/quote] Yea, easily one of the best comedies I've ever seen. [quote]Cudd is right that it doesn't have a plot in the traditional sense, insofar as there's no central conflict that ties the events of the episodes together, but I don't really think it suffers for it.[/quote] Exactly. I have literally never said anything that conflicts this. Cuddles is just making faulty statements, confusing some words with others. [quote]I believe [[[Samurai Champloo]]] has better animation as well (but that could just be me preferring its art style to Cowboy Bebeop's).[/quote] No, from what I've seen that seems to be the case. [quote]Another one's that's worth looking at is Afro Samurai.[/quote] I might give it a shot.[/quote]

[quote=lifebaka][quote=EXDKain212] i refuse to watch any more Sakurasou just because Sorata chose Mashiro over Nanami </3 [/quote] Sorry, but you should've known that was going to happen since episode 1. It was pretty damn obvious.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=EXDKain212] i refuse to watch any more Sakurasou just because Sorata chose Mashiro over Nanami </3[/quote] So I googled Sakurasou and this was the first picture: [spoiler=NSFW][img=http://hadena-subs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/fff.jpg?cda6c1][/spoiler] Now, I'm just gonna take a wild guess that this is the person called Mashiro and that she ends up in a couple with whatever boy that is the main character. And obviously not before they've spent at least 1-3 seasons doing bugger all (alternatively 3-8 volumes of manga). How right am I?[/quote]

[quote=YayaFTW][quote=EXDKain212] i refuse to watch any more Sakurasou just because Sorata chose Mashiro over Nanami </3 [/quote] Oh my god dude for the last time, [b][color=#ff0000]HIDE[/color][/b] the [b][color=#ff0000]SPOILERS[/color][/b] ... You ruined it for me now I was hoping it won't be the case man, Im only at episode 9. @Searz I know it looks like a typical ecchi harem anime but I'm suprised that it's quite interesting to watch, I found myself enjoying every single episode because the story treats the case of differents characters with quite "mature" problems.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=YayaFTW] Oh my god dude for the last time, [b][color=#ff0000]HIDE[/color][/b] the [b][color=#ff0000]SPOILERS[/color][/b] ... You ruined it for me now I was hoping it won't be the case man, Im only at episode 9.[/quote] Lol, what? I hope you're kidding. I haven't even seen it and I saw that coming. I would really like to read a romance manga (or anime) that doesn't have clear-cut main characters, because that honestly kills the story a little.. I would also LOVE to read a manga that focused on somebody that later is revealed to be or turns into a villain, with or without switch of main character at that point. Any kind of lack of clear-cut main characters is a great thing really, imo. [quote]I know it looks like a typical ecchi harem anime but I'm suprised that it's quite interesting to watch, I found myself enjoying every single episode because the story treats the case of differents characters with quite "mature" problems.[/quote] I doubt it. It might be good for a dumb ecchi/romance/whatever, but I seriously doubt that it's any kind of intelligent :P[/quote]

[quote=lifebaka][quote=YayaFTW] Oh my god dude for the last time, [b][color=#ff0000]HIDE[/color][/b] the [b][color=#ff0000]SPOILERS[/color][/b] ... You ruined it for me now I was hoping it won't be the case man, Im only at episode 9. [/quote] Seriously, guys, it was obvious from episode 1. Don't be surprised. Really. The way Mashiro is presented in the first episode made the direction the series was eventually going to take pretty damn obvious. Also, our male main character pretty much never falls for anyone he knew before episode 1 started. [quote=Searz] I would really like to read a romance manga (or anime) that doesn't have clear-cut main characters, because that honestly kills the story a little.. [/quote] Eh. It's really important that a story set up very quickly what it's about. If the story doesn't, it hasn't given you a reason to keep reading/listening/watching/whatever, and it hasn't told you what needs to happen before the story can end. That is to say, a story needs to tell its audience as immediately as possible what the main conflict to be resolved is, and then the story is over once that conflict gets resolved. This is why there tend to be clear-cut "main characters" in most romance anime from the first episode; the tension between these two characters is the conflict. And then it's a big clue to the viewer that when these two characters end up together, the anime is over, because the conflict is resolved. (Incidentally, this is also why status quo harem endings are stupid cop-outs and make for bad stories.) You can pretty much always call the ending of an anime, for these reasons, after seeing the first episode. This isn't a statement about the quality of an anime, or any story. The good parts of a story, after all, aren't the beginning or the end, but rather how you get from the one to the other. Not to say, of course, that most romance anime with clear-cut "main characters" are good, but they're bad for other reasons. I'd say that those reasons include, at the very least: 1) reliance on tropes and formula instead of unique plot elements, 2) bland and boring (and almost universally male) protagonist characters, 3) stock characters for supporting cast, and 4) characters not freakin' talking to each other about anything important ever. (That last one really pisses me off. There are so many anime where if the characters would just [i]talk to each other[/i], all of their problems would go away.) Also, Searz, Sakurasou isn't particularly intelligent. It's decent, at best, but a touch too long. It really only needed 12 or 13 episodes to get done what it needed to get done. At 22 out of 24 episodes, it's really starting to drag. That said, I'm still enjoying it anyway, and I think everyone here ought to remind themselves that it doesn't have to be good for you to enjoy it.[/quote]

[quote=Searz][quote=lifebaka] Eh. It's really important that a story set up very quickly what it's about. If the story doesn't, it hasn't given you a reason to keep reading/listening/watching/whatever, and it hasn't told you what needs to happen before the story can end. That is to say, a story needs to tell its audience as immediately as possible what the main conflict to be resolved is, and then the story is over once that conflict gets resolved. This is why there tend to be clear-cut "main characters" in most romance anime from the first episode; the tension between these two characters is the conflict. And then it's a big clue to the viewer that when these two characters end up together, the anime is over, because the conflict is resolved. (Incidentally, this is also why status quo harem endings are stupid cop-outs and make for bad stories.) You can pretty much always call the ending of an anime, for these reasons, after seeing the first episode. This isn't a statement about the quality of an anime, or any story. Not to say, of course, that most romance anime with clear-cut "main characters" are good, but they're bad for other reasons. I'd say that those reasons include, at the very least: 1) reliance on tropes and formula instead of unique plot elements, 2) bland and boring (and almost universally male) protagonist characters, 3) stock characters for supporting cast, and 4) characters not freakin' talking to each other about anything important ever. (That last one really pisses me off. There are so many anime where if the characters would just [i]talk to each other[/i], all of their problems would go away.)[/quote] Yea, maybe it's just me being tired of the lack of innovation in the stories. It almost feels like I've read them all after just reading 3 or 4 of them. Most of them are like the same story, where the details are the only differences. But I do sincerely believe that different kinds of stories can be done and done really well. We just need somebody to break the norm. Thinking about it more I realize that my favorite mangas are both ones that break from the norm. It may be hard to do and do well, but the fact is that those stories exist. [quote]The good parts of a story, after all, aren't the beginning or the end, but rather how you get from the one to the other.[/quote] I disagree. It's the entirety that matters, so the beginning and end of a story are very important too. This might be more of personal preference, but if for example a good anime has a shitty ending I definitely think that detracts from the entirety of the series. (Stein's;Gate for example) [quote]Also, Searz, Sakurasou isn't particularly intelligent. It's decent, at best, but a touch too long. It really only needed 12 or 13 episodes to get done what it needed to get done. At 22 out of 24 episodes, it's really starting to drag. That said, I'm still enjoying it anyway, and I think everyone here ought to remind themselves that it doesn't have to be good for you to enjoy it.[/quote] About what I thought then. But is it only 24 episodes? I thought it would be longer.[/quote]