The 25th Hour Wishlist
There are some stuff out there that I just wish I had the time for, but because there’s all this stuff that I wish I had the time for, I gotta meta my way so that I prioritize those that I do have the time for and those that I don’t have the time for. The end result is that I have less items in the “I do have time for” column and more in the “I don’t have the time for” stack. The latter is ever-growing.
My rubric to determine what is what is as arbitrary as a Nor’easter. Over time, however, I realize it’s worth remembering what ended up in the “do not” stack. Or rather, that they are worth to be recalled whenever I glance back at my blog posts. Sadly (or perhaps thankfully), most of them don’t actually demand consistent recalling…
A short and incomplete list of relatively recent stuff:
Casshern Sins - This title, from episode one, struck me as a ‘keeper’ or however you define what’s worth your time. However I just cannot get into the visual style and the simple concept between different Megaman bosses going at each other. I never was a big Megaman guy anyways. Love, hate, betrayal and forging of frendship are all good stuff but I just wasn’t hooked. I hope you all had a blast in my stead.
I hope the same applies to the Tales of the Abyss anime. But I think that case is much more hook-and-sinker for people who have played the game. Casshern is a genre rebirth of sorts too, but that’s more accessible I imagine.
Macademi WAsshoi - I have a soft spot for crappy, harem-setup shows. Actually, I don’t even think you can consider the likes of Wandaba Style or Akahori Gedo Rabuge Hour as harem. But yes, I remember them (perhaps too fondly). Not because of some kind of maniacal cognitive dissonance but because…I’m just maniacal about crappy anime. Actually calling it crappy betrays why I like them, since crap-covered ice cream is still ice cream on the inside, to use an example. Sadly I will never taste the nutty interior on this title >_> [Did I mention how reading Kelts’s book reminded me, heh, Nerima Daicon Brothers, to speak of another “bad” show that I’m “fond” of?] The real reason why I stopped on Macademi WAsshoi, though, is probably because Kemeko DX gave me enough of a fix so I don’t think about it.
Zettai Karen Children, Kamen no Maid Guy, Fist of the North Star, Golgo 13 and Kimiaru all fit under the same category. What category is that? I think it’s easy to guess.
Gintama, Shugo Chara, Pretty Cure (whatever one they’re on now…), and Soul Eater - TL;DR. It’s the sad reality of things. In a way, I think shows like the various reincarnation of Precure provide a wide variety of points-of-re-entry. Or first-entry even. Fans, why don’t you get organized and post guides or something? Like, if I were to talk about Nanoha or Rurouni Kenshin, I can tell you at least watch A’s or the Kyoto arc. At any rate, long shows are the first one to go if time is a problem, logically; still I’d rather get a chance to watch the handful of episodes that are good than none at all.
I should make an exception for Soul Eater just because it is unusually pretty, so I might revisit it once it becomes yet another member of Funimation’s online initiative. Inevitably, right?
Lastly, there are the shows like Sekirei, Hatenko Yuugi, Wagaya no Oinari-sama, Kimiaru, H2O, Yozakura Quartet, and Akikan. They all have some kind of redeeming value, but the overall packages just didn’t grab me enough. They are those unfortunate African gazelles that fell behind in the pack and became lion fodder. In some ways these are some of the shows I will probably watch first if I had 25-hour days, because that meant I was hooked at some point, by something.
That is, if watching anime is what I should be doing on the 25th hour. Playing Persona 3/4 seems like a better choice, right?
[By the way, the meta-time conundrum is also why I only have a few links in this post. Also, if you like Soul Eater’s Excalibur and his Andy Kaufman-style humor, please pitch a vote here.]
Year in Review: She’s Going the Distance, a Great Feat of Strength
Going to mention a list of 12 lists of 12 items each. So a nested list. All 144 items. Annotated for the most part. Don’t ask me why I use these pronouns the way I do…
The Basics of Basics - Mid-Season Update
I’ve been busy lately; and during this time I appreciate my anime viewing habits all the more.
In some ways, as adults, anime is a luxury that few can afford in excess–and it’s not so much a cost issue but a time and effort issue. Thanks to things like fansubbing and lawless digital distribution a person like me can afford both the technical complexity (like, not have to deal with DRM) and easy access to a large library of works. With the help of my anime-watching brethren, bloggers, and like-minded internet peeps, I can even fine-tune my selection with helps of all kinds of review websites, blogs, and old fashion word-of-mouth.
And because my anime watching is limited I treasure the few shows I get to watch even more. It’s lovely how scarcity makes you look at something in a different light.
I wish I also had the time to share all my insights, but why blog when I don’t even have the time to watch the show I like? It’s a puzzling dilemma.
Still, it’s important to sing praise where it’s due, so to get on with it:
Macross Frontier - Amusingly, despite its imperfections, it delivers. Maybe the magic behind Macross is that it is a fairly silly and flawed, but entertaining adventure with drool-worthy toys to sell and the generic aspiration of an (American) idol. And it just happens that idol entertainment is really in these days. Anyways, not complaining about how I love it when a plan comes together. Few franchises that span generations are so unashamed and so blatant. From the get-go we are asked which one to kiss!
Kurenai - Those who have traversed through the magical land of New York City of Red Garden can attest to how you take your weaknesses and forge them into new strengths in Kurenai. Granted we’re no longer talking about walking dead people but some kind of strange and mystical feudal Japan lineage problem, but its unique production style and sharing of artistic designs invariably link the two shows together. It’s even MORE like Gilmore Girls than ever before, which isn’t a bad thing per se. It just makes it no easier to stomach than Red Garden.
Kaiba - There’s just as much intrigue with this show as with Kurenai. The difference is that there’s only one-tenth of the dialog and one-half the laughs. It also reminds me I really should buy those Tweeny Witches DVDs. I have to say that I like this more though.
Tower of Druaga - How many people have actually played the original game? I have faint memories of it, but why would anyone evoke random 80s video game names with their shows? Leaving the novel release format aside, the show is a very hearty, non-serious adventure that should charm most viewers. And it is all about charm. For what it is worth I did buy the season pass for the show from Bost TV, even if somehow my home internet connection have problems with that site.
Code Geass R2 - Mai Hime of 2008. Now with more slutbiri.
Soul Eater - I can care less about shounen adventures but I really like stylish visuals and killer animation. Soul Eater delivers this in spades. In fact, it even knows that people don’t really care about shounen adventures.
Toshokan Sensou - If Tokyotosho goes to war, will you pick up your rifle? I jest, but between the great voice acting and the heart warming, but crappy excuse for character drama, I have unconsciously pushed this title on the top of the to-watch pile.
And I have a large to-watch pile. But a smaller pile of praises. So I’ll stop here.
