FalseDawn

from KiraRin

Konnichiwa!

Thank you for the Kaiba review, I was struggling to pick what to watch next, so a rec between Kemonozume and Kaiba brought me to your review!

Well written, it makes the show sound brilliant, and I can't wait to start it ^^

H.

from VivisQueen

Konnichiwa!

Oi! Check your PM.

from VivisQueen

Konnichiwa!

You wanna know a really, really sad secret?

Then PM me.

Lol.

Yes, this is regarding one very boring evening...

from MasterKommander

Konnichiwa!

I've actually been around since 05 but stop comming here and forgot my old login but, 3 months of anime dosent seem right it should be more than that. Actually I've been going down the list of animes and and marking them, I just finished up with D last night. :P

from MasterKommander

Konnichiwa!

Haha lol look who I found :P, I guess we had the same idea about comming here huh. It seems like I run into you everywhere, then again I guess we run with the same circles, so it should not be too suprising. Well from now on I will be comparing my list to yours, and maybe I'll start writing some reviews.

from VivisQueen

Great Reviews!

By the way, I'm still looking forward to your Laputa review. Been years since i watched it and it was in a time when I hadn't seen much anime. I wonder what my judgement would be of it now... although I thought it was the bee's knees at the time. Like along with Princess Mononoke etc.

from VivisQueen

Konnichiwa!

* SPOILDERS*

Oh, yes, I agree, there are good points. And I'm sure I emphasise that in the review - in fact, I say exactly what I DO like about the series and why I kept watching although I knew it was average. And as you can see, they are pretty much similar to what you felt was worthwhile about the series - only put in more general terms. I guess we just don't agree on the extent to which these pluses are valuable - I see them as not good enough to outweigh the problems.

Aki-Aya is definitely the most interesting thing, although they are interesting because of Ceres-Ancient-Obsessed-Guy, not because of their own personalities. I do say I love the fable and its implications. As useless as Aya was in terms of being an active rather than passive protagonist, Aki was even more worthless until right at the end when he helps Aya in a dream or whatever. Chidori does not only have an unnecessary death, she is pointless throughout - once she is introduced she has NO ROLE to play except to hang around being boisterous and then die. I'm thinking she's a deadweight from the manga which couldn't be cut. Not to mention her brother??? 

As for Aya-Toya, we'll just have to disagree, I guess. I don't see him giving her the cold shoulder and their constant sexual tension as a unique bonus. It's a given when you consider their stereotype. Toya is destined to give her the cold shoulder simply because that's what silent, one-liner bishounen do.

I do think Ayashi no Ceres is enjoyable probably for a lot of people (hence above 6 rating) - but those people who don't mind watching something from which they will gain very little. As a mild distraction, it is well worth the watch. As something groundbreaking and which leaves a deep impression, I think not. Although that is a purely subjective matter, of course. It left a deep enough impression on you to be in your Top 5.

from VivisQueen

Konnichiwa!

2. If I asked you 'Why does Kanami do the things he does?' and you can give me a straight answer without having done your research, I will be shocked. I will eat my hat.

3. Tell me ONE THING that is original or interesting or remotely deep about Aya and Toya's personalities/reactions. Their behaviour is ludicrously predictable. They are cliches, and that cannot be denied, surely? Surely?!

4. The series is emotive. It presents situations that are designed to make you gush in the extreme, or gasp in the extreme, or just plain stare wide-eyed in bafflement. There is no subtle medium. While this means I could easily keep watching without getting bored, there was absolutely nothing new or substantial I could take away with me. I just kinda went 'Oh, well, um... meh.' I understand there are complex issues such as subtle line between love and obsession, rape, scientific abuse etc, but not one of them was dealt with maturely i.e. intelligently, with any higher understanding of their implications. They were just tools to make the series emotive.

Sorry, if that sounds ranty. It really isn't meant to be. Just thought I'd give a fuller explanation. Whiler Ayashi no Ceres has good points, the fundamental flaws just cannot be overcome. No matter how gushy the romance.

from VivisQueen

Konnichiwa!

*SPOILERS AHEAD* 

.... You know, I had no idea what you were talking about, with the dates etc, until I thought 'Wait...'. I went and checked, and Ayashi no Ceres was aired in 2000. I THOUGHT IT WAS EARLY NINETIES!!!! I'm afraid that means I'm going to lower my animation rating and amend my comments slightly. That's godawful for a 2000 anime, especially when you consider stuff like Bebop and Card Captor Sakura are a few years older and look WAY better. Escaflowne is 1996, I think, and that looks twice as good. Ayashi no Ceres is quite below par for 2000. No joke.

Now to move onto addressing your comments - I guess it's just a matter of taste. I acknowledge there are good points to Ayashi no Ceres. However, let me simplify the problems I had with it, and why it cannot ever be more than average.

1. In particular, yes, the ending to the 'second Ceres' episode with the suicide has a great impact. But you cannot excuse the contrived build-up to this rather shocking ending (I mean, where did this random cousin come from? And what's the point in Kanami having her run amock like that? And why does Aya get over it so quickly rather than it affecting her entire personality for the rest of the series?). Not to mention that, after a while, dark gory things lose their impact, so Ayashi no Ceres could never rely on that for long.

from eirowen

Konnichiwa!

I just thought that the true nature of the characters was more well displayed in the second season of Honey and Clover. I loved the way that they became more relatable that in the first season... plus I feel like the ending of the second season was far better than anything that could have happened in the first season. I loved how Takemoto goes on that great adventure and that in the end, even though he didn't get Hagu, that he was happy that he still loved her. I only wish that I could have that kind of strength....