Daily Anime Thoughts

[valondar]

Nausicaa is Miyazaki at full tilt inventiveness and if memory serves has a pretty eclectic animation staff, being a pre-Ghibli film (Evangelion's Hideaki Anno provided one sequence, as I recall). But yeah, Nausicaa is something I'd sort of speak of in the same breadth as Angel's Egg as an anime that takes place in a wholly engrossing visual landscape.

Which is why it's my favourite Miyazaki film.

Also, Ohms. That counts for something. Those things are great.

My Neighbours the Yamadas is a charming, funny film and I really liked it. The impotence of the father who regresses into the fantasies of his youth is my favourite bit in that movie.

chii: Wow. I've seen every Gundam title from the 1980s... does that count? Probably not. I'll get back to that rather unnecessary marathon eventually, but for the time being I, for basically no good reason, am trundling through the Gundam creator's sister series Ideon. Mostly 'cause I hear the ending was something of an inspiration for Evangelion.

There's a point where I suspect Evangelion either inspired or was inspired by every anime ever made, considering the way those terms are thrown around, but eh.

[VivisQueen]

My next stops are Ideon and Turn A Gundam, actually. Once the latter is released. Apart from that, the only other ones that took my interest were the Gundam trilogy movies and 08th. Currently still trying to get hold of some more super robot shows.

[chii]

Turn A Gundam is awesome cause it is the one that focuses on character development the most so I've found. that and Harry is in it

before this year i had only seen wing. i've watched everything but seed and wing this year and i will be completing seed when my partner comes back online. Ideon is going to be a project for next year for me :D same with Mazinger

mecha series are a great inspiration for a lot of other series so i see that as ok by me

[valondar]

The Gundam trilogy movies were alright, but honestly not markedly different from the show as I recall (some additional mechas in the background for the big battles is all that occurs off hand).

Ideon so far is pretty much Mobile Suit Gundam only set to the scope of a galaxy rather then a solar system, with a single, giant robot being the hero vehicle, and Amuro Ray with a red afro that somehow fits his space helmet. It lacks any characters as fun as Char Aznable, though, which is a strike against.

[VivisQueen]

Originally Posted by valondar

It lacks any characters as fun as Char Aznable, though, which is a strike against.

I'd say that is a big strike against as, retrospectively speaking, he's the only thing that makes MS Gundam worth watching. I mean, I adore the show, but it delivers no outstanding experiences outside of Char's surprising complexity and brilliant voice acting. But still... I might as well?

EDIT: Oh, and congratulations, chii. I looooove Gundam. I hate it too, actually, because it's so goddamn vaccuous considering the sheer size of the franchise and most of the shows deserve at absolute most a 7/10, but damn, it's a bit addictive. Once you pop, you can't stop.

[chii]

pretty sure he was talking about Ideon not having fun characters like char in it. char is for sure in those 3 movies

[valondar]

A strike against ZZ Gundam, if I was going to bring up a Gundam title, is that it doesn't have Char in it even though he's featured in the opening sequence. Apparently the plan was for him to appear on the show, but then the feature film Char's Counterattack was greenlit so the idea was scuppered.

And if anything Ideon really makes me appreciate just how much Char held my attention for the original Mobile Suit Gundam. That show was serially addictive... this, not at all. I'm hoping one of the villains will get a little meat on them, but even Gije's posturing about warrior honour seems kinda pathetic.

A plus is the galactic stage, which means the show can just say 'hey why not, planet of blue monkeys, planet of dinosaurs, planet of giant bugs that eat through metal'.

And on the rambling subject of 1980s mecha anime, one title I intend to check out eventually is Armoured Trooper Votoms, mostly because it's often mentioned as one of the better titles, but that youtube reveals it has a pretty entertaining opening sequence (full of jazzy blares, apocalyptic wastelands, and grim-as-hell masks for operators of bulky, thick robots) doesn't hurt.

[VivisQueen]

Lol. Stop being so quick! I realised and edited.

[VivisQueen]

Originally Posted by valondar

A strike against ZZ Gundam, if I was going to bring up a Gundam title, is that it doesn't have Char in it even though he's featured in the opening sequence. Apparently the plan was for him to appear on the show, but then the feature film Char's Counterattack was greenlit so the idea was scuppered.

And if anything Ideon really makes me appreciate just how much Char held my attention for the original Mobile Suit Gundam. That show was serially addictive... this, not at all. I'm hoping one of the villains will get a little meat on them, but even Gije's posturing about warrior honour seems kinda pathetic.

A plus is the galactic stage, which means the show can just say 'hey why not, planet of blue monkeys, planet of dinosaurs, planet of giant bugs that eat through metal'.

And on the rambling subject of 1980s mecha anime, one title I intend to check out eventually is Armoured Trooper Votoms, mostly because it's often mentioned as one of the better titles, but that youtube reveals it has a pretty entertaining opening sequence (full of jazzy blares, apocalyptic wastelands, and grim-as-hell masks for operators of bulky, thick robots) doesn't hurt.

Would you be up for a buddy group on Votoms when you get round to it? Not sure I can in the next month, but I'd like someone to watch it with. It's been one of my aims to get round to as well. And the random planets thing makes Ideon sound like awesome-cheese.

[chii]

Originally Posted by valondar

A strike against ZZ Gundam, if I was going to bring up a Gundam title, is that it doesn't have Char in it even though he's featured in the opening sequence. Apparently the plan was for him to appear on the show, but then the feature film Char's Counterattack was greenlit so the idea was scuppered.

And if anything Ideon really makes me appreciate just how much Char held my attention for the original Mobile Suit Gundam. That show was serially addictive... this, not at all. I'm hoping one of the villains will get a little meat on them, but even Gije's posturing about warrior honour seems kinda pathetic.

uhhhg ZZ is the one i don't like the most of ALL the gundams. urg. I don't even think an appearance from char could have saved it... lol

Char is by far one of the most wonderful characters in the whole gundam series if i dare say probably the most wonderful actually. char made the first gundam bearable to watch for me since i found Amuro just so... >.< actually most of the "good" side pilots I dislike in the UC universe heh