The State of Anime Today - Page 18

Solid Snake · 08-01-2016, 06:29 PM

Gregness: I actually really enjoy social-justice themed critiques of works I enjoy, so it's not so much about me feeling uncomfortable with liking Steins;Gate (I'll love the show even if Poch claims it's the most offensive thing she's ever watched, I assure you) and more about learning from where Steins;Gate and other shows I enjoyed like it have failed so that, when I write my own novel someday, I'll avoid similar mistakes and ensure broad accessibility to my work.

Poch: I can't really sell you on waddling through eleven episodes of mediocrity to get to the great stuff, but personally, I felt Steins;Gate got great a lot sooner than Episode Twelve. (What you've read, though, is a pretty broad consensus among approximately half of Steins;Gate's fandom. Half its fanbase pretty much loves everything, and the other half pinpoints Episode Twelve as when it gets really good. Personally, I started liking Steins;Gate around the equivalent of Episode Four or Five as I played through the VN.)

So, the first episode of Steins;Gate in the anime (and the prologue in the VN) isn't supposed to make any sense whatsoever until you rewatch it after finishing the series. I'll concede that is an awkward tactic to employ.

Before Episode 12 it's basically masquerading as a slice-of-life comedy. Upon reaching Episode 12 it transforms into something else entirely. The value you get from the experience depends largely upon enjoying how the show sets you up to expect X, then slams you with Y.

Also, while the Dubs version of Steins;Gate actually isn't half bad, I'd strongly recommend the Subs over it because Okabe, Suzuha's and Kurisu's Japanese VAs are all amazing. That being said, I prefer Mayuri and Daru's dubbed voices, so it's a mixed bag all around.

EDIT: Rereading the episode list, Poch, I'd recommend giving it to the end of Episode Five if you can. The revelation at the end of that episode (and into the beginning of Episode Six, I think?) regarding certain unethical experiments was around the point in time I got hooked on it. Before that revelation, things are a bit more boring. I wouldn't give up too quickly on the characters, though. I think Episode Two includes a lot of Moeka and she's the weak link. Suzuha, who I think you really get to know later, is phenomenal, and the Okabe-Kurisu dynamic is much more interesting than Okabe-Mayuri interactions.

pochercoaster · 08-01-2016, 08:08 PM

I always watch subs (oddly, I prefer even having closed captions for shows in english because I have shitty listening skills, idk). Okay, I'll give it a shot for a few more eps since that's not a big commitment. Suzuha did seem cool too, from what little I saw.

phil_ · 08-02-2016, 11:43 AM

I've gotten to the part where Re: Zero stops being teenage boy wish fulfillment and becomes teenage boy wish snatching out of his hands, throwing it to the ground, stomping on it, then yelling "Why are you such a useless piece of shit, teenage boy?" So that's fun.

And I think this episode of LL did a good job of just letting the character's personalities bounce off each other, with the plot (Yoshiko GET) being a background thing to facilitate them hanging out. It was a relaxed episode. A musical scene with the current six members would make me happy.

Sithdarth · 08-02-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil_

I've gotten to the part where Re: Zero stops being teenage boy wish fulfillment and becomes teenage boy wish snatching out of his hands, throwing it to the ground, stomping on it, then yelling "Why are you such a useless piece of shit, teenage boy?" So that's fun.

In a while the show is going to pick it up off the ground dust it off and pretend to hand it back only to snatch it back at the last second set it on fire and laugh maniacally as it burns.

phil_ · 08-03-2016, 12:22 PM

I kinda see some unlikely scenarios where that happens. I'm sure one of those will come true, because "Defeat the unknown enemy shaman" is just way too neat and tidy a solution.

Gregness · 08-07-2016, 06:47 PM

Holy shit, I forgot the last time Re:ZERO actually had a breather episode.

The show's definitely earned it since it seems like Subaru's done the impossible and actually learned something from his loops, but it makes me nervous for how much suffering that let them bank up for next week.

phil_ · 08-07-2016, 10:24 PM

I'm almost caught up, and Subaru can't take back the stupid, conceited things he did between loops. Unless he can, magic and all. He shouldn't, though. A protagonist struggling against his stupid pride is interesting.

***Fenris*** · 08-08-2016, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregness

Holy shit, I forgot the last time Re:ZERO actually had a breather episode.

Oh my god, is it safe for another binge?

---------- Post added at 09:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:43 AM ----------

Episode 18 of Re:ZERO was possibly the greatest episode of dialogue ever written. I have never been so thoroughly engaged in a wholly realistic conversation before.

I also have to comment that the implication.

Gregness · 08-08-2016, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenris

Episode 18 of Re:ZERO was possibly the greatest episode of dialogue ever written. I have never been so thoroughly engaged in a wholly realistic conversation before.

A fascinating sidenote for me about that whole conversation for me was a conversation I found in the episode comment thread on Reddit. Japanese cultural notes

Solid Snake · 08-08-2016, 05:46 PM

It sounds like Re:Zero is the next big thing this year for anime? Can someone give me the brief spoiler-free synopsis of what it's about?

08-01-2016, 06:29 PM	#171
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	Gregness: I actually really enjoy social-justice themed critiques of works I enjoy, so it's not so much about me feeling uncomfortable with liking Steins;Gate (I'll love the show even if Poch claims it's the most offensive thing she's ever watched, I assure you) and more about learning from where Steins;Gate and other shows I enjoyed like it have failed so that, when I write my own novel someday, I'll avoid similar mistakes and ensure broad accessibility to my work. Poch: I can't really sell you on waddling through eleven episodes of mediocrity to get to the great stuff, but personally, I felt Steins;Gate got great a lot sooner than Episode Twelve. (What you've read, though, is a pretty broad consensus among approximately half of Steins;Gate's fandom. Half its fanbase pretty much loves everything, and the other half pinpoints Episode Twelve as when it gets really good. Personally, I started liking Steins;Gate around the equivalent of Episode Four or Five as I played through the VN.) So, the first episode of Steins;Gate in the anime (and the prologue in the VN) isn't supposed to make any sense whatsoever until you rewatch it after finishing the series. I'll concede that is an awkward tactic to employ. Before Episode 12 it's basically masquerading as a slice-of-life comedy. Upon reaching Episode 12 it transforms into something else entirely. The value you get from the experience depends largely upon enjoying how the show sets you up to expect X, then slams you with Y. Also, while the Dubs version of Steins;Gate actually isn't half bad, I'd strongly recommend the Subs over it because Okabe, Suzuha's and Kurisu's Japanese VAs are all amazing. That being said, I prefer Mayuri and Daru's dubbed voices, so it's a mixed bag all around. EDIT: Rereading the episode list, Poch, I'd recommend giving it to the end of Episode Five if you can. The revelation at the end of that episode (and into the beginning of Episode Six, I think?) regarding certain unethical experiments was around the point in time I got hooked on it. Before that revelation, things are a bit more boring. I wouldn't give up too quickly on the characters, though. I think Episode Two includes a lot of Moeka and she's the weak link. Suzuha, who I think you really get to know later, is phenomenal, and the Okabe-Kurisu dynamic is much more interesting than Okabe-Mayuri interactions. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text. Last edited by Solid Snake; 08-01-2016 at 06:34 PM.

08-01-2016, 08:08 PM	#172
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	I love CRTs! I always watch subs (oddly, I prefer even having closed captions for shows in english because I have shitty listening skills, idk). Okay, I'll give it a shot for a few more eps since that's not a big commitment. Suzuha did seem cool too, from what little I saw.

08-02-2016, 11:43 AM	#173
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	I've gotten to the part where Re: Zero stops being teenage boy wish fulfillment and becomes teenage boy wish snatching out of his hands, throwing it to the ground, stomping on it, then yelling "Why are you such a useless piece of shit, teenage boy?" So that's fun. And I think this episode of LL did a good job of just letting the character's personalities bounce off each other, with the plot (Yoshiko GET) being a background thing to facilitate them hanging out. It was a relaxed episode. A musical scene with the current six members would make me happy. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

08-03-2016, 12:22 PM	#175
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	I kinda see some unlikely scenarios where that happens. I'm sure one of those will come true, because "Defeat the unknown enemy shaman" is just way too neat and tidy a solution. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

08-07-2016, 06:47 PM	#176
Gregness Never give up. Never give in. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,034	Holy shit, I forgot the last time Re:ZERO actually had a breather episode. The show's definitely earned it since it seems like Subaru's done the impossible and actually learned something from his loops, but it makes me nervous for how much suffering that let them bank up for next week. __________________ A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - Robert Heinlein

08-07-2016, 10:24 PM	#177
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	I'm almost caught up, and Subaru can't take back the stupid, conceited things he did between loops. Unless he can, magic and all. He shouldn't, though. A protagonist struggling against his stupid pride is interesting. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

08-08-2016, 05:46 PM	#180
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	It sounds like Re:Zero is the next big thing this year for anime? Can someone give me the brief spoiler-free synopsis of what it's about? __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text.