Between this and TEXHNOLYZE (the review of which will be coming soon), I’m realizing that there were a whole bunch of other tropes I should’ve discussed during that one Vice Pit session. AESTHETICA OF A ROGUE HERO falls under the classification of what I like to call “Stereotypical Anime” - - a somewhat vague term, I’ll admit, referring to any show that inescapably reminds you of the worst things mainstream society associates anime with.
Let’s see, we’ve got…
- A rushed pilot episode that doesn’t bother introducing its world, leading to undue confusion for even the savviest genre aficionado.
- A hero whose most salient gimmick is his quick draw panty raiding skills.
- A squad of sexy lady assassins dressed in maid outfits without much concern for the practicalities of such attire in the field.
- Revolving holographic runes that accompany very technical discussions of power levels in the middle of a fight.
- A chick with pink hair for no reason (not much of a demerit, but still part of the stereotype.)
And it stinks, because there are some interesting concepts, here. Honestly, the notion of there being some asylum that trains and rehabilitates traveling inter-dimensional warriors is interesting… but it’s set up so clumsily here that it may as well have tripped over both feet.
Also, since we just recorded a Vice Pit about the divisions and tensions between Eastern and Western genre audiences (that should be up tomorrow or Friday,) my viewing here's couched with a lot of bemusement over the smugness some otaku have about how manga/anime’s supposed to be so much more gender inclusive than American comics and cartoons. Look, I’m not going to turn this into some soap boax about gender roles in media… but there’s still no way to avoid saying that this is a borderline misogynist show.
Matters of fact: the "Rogue Hero" smuggles his subservient gal pal around, naked in a potato sack. I really hope at least somebody in the target audience got off on that, ‘cause it’s serving nobody if they didn’t.
Watch this episode, "New Game Plus” here and decide for yourself.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
I think the girl is the daughter of a demon lord so the hair can be any color. The other points are dead on. This series gets too ecchi, sometimes even bordering hentai. I'm really thinking about dropping it
Yep, that pretty much describes an anime.
This review was a riot. This sounds like another generic proper noun anime series. What I mean by that is that take a layer of tried and true tropes, deliver them in a tried and true way, telling a tried and true story but it's all layered underneath new proper nouns with the creators thinking that if they change the name, that makes it unique rather than say... switching up the tropes or actually executing anything well.
Anyways, this series sounds like hot garbage. The potato sack side kick sounds utterly ridiculous and LOL-worthy but I get the feeling that the show somehow plays this serious and eventually throws in some tragic tale at some point.
Yeah, this show is very naughty, and it has lots of nudity. Though, it doesn't have any innuendos like Astarotte's Toy or HOTD. I do feel dirty watching this show, but I'm a wiki editor, and I'll continue to work on it until it's over. (since I announced it was a team wiki project.) It's a dirty job.
i@takashichea said:
In fact, the orginated light novel series contains much more nudity and sex descriptions than this anime, sometimes that's too much and thus it disgust me from enjoying the novels.
Like I said in the forum, this show is bad, and you should feel bad for watching it.
@takashichea: I appreciate your willingness to contribute to the wiki, but unless BermanBraun or someone is secretly paying you, you're under no obligation to spend your time filling in the wiki information of terrible stories. It'll make you a happier person to just let it go.
Yep, can't really argue with this review. That said though--while it's not one of my favourite shows this season--I am getting enough enjoyment out of it to tune in each week.
I think the actual premise is pretty unique and interesting. The show opens with the protagonist returning from his quest, having already gained powers, defeated the bad guy, saved the princess, so on and so forth, and because of all that happening beforehand he's now one hell of a bad-ass. He's a bit of a playboy too, which is actually a nice change from the typical wimpy, spineless harem protagonist. He's kind of--now stay with me on this one--a bit like Tony Stark in the Iron Man films. He's arrogant, powerful, cocky, does whatever he pleases... he's kind of an asshole, really. But he's a likeable asshole, and very much a good guy deep down.
I'm not saying that necessarily redeems the show though. Ultimately it's still a hot-girls-fighting-clothes-exploding-fan-service anime easily grouped with things like Queen's Blade and Samurai Girls, so if you're not interested in anime of that sort then this one probably won't do much to change your mind.
@DocHaus said:
Taka has a wiki editing addiction and is far beyond your help I'm afraid, he's one sick puppy. I think he may have infected me, too. Run, Doc! Run while you still can!
If you didn't like texnolyze I am really going to be disturbed..that is one artistic, moving, and thought provoking show..though it is also depressing as hell. Much like Lain it is one of my favorite shows...and it is so much better than yu yu, naruto, bleach, or I could go on...
@zaldar said:
Brace yourself for an aneurism then, pal.
@Daniel_Newton said:
@Lurkero said:
@sickVisionz said:
@DocHaus said:
It feels sooooooooo good to be right.
Akatsuki is one of those lovable bastards that some of the girls are already smitten by him (even the tsundere girl if you watch episode 6), and I can't believe this is a harem anime series. Just wait until you watch episode 2! It's way worse than episode 1.
@ngkachun4:
Thanks for the info! You should add that to the Light Novel wiki page or the franchise page noting the differences between the anime and its Light Novel counterpart. I wish they publish the Light Novels, so I can work on the pages.
@DocHaus: @Daniel_Newton:
Yup, I'm a wiki addict who is like that guy from Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. No wiki page is dirty enough for me to get job done.
Like Daniel, I liked how it starts with the hero saving the princess, but the school thing is just cliche. I'm hoping for some adventures outside of school. (Not that I enjoy the show, mind you. I hate it.)
The pink hair and green eyes girl is a common trait.
Not gonna say it's the best show ever! But i will say after watching one week male lead after another in anime this one at least is a bit different .
Oh an its kinda neat people assume the leads a arse cause he is not whimptastic.Also wait there are other shows where the lead panty raids?Lets see almost 300 series in now an this ones a 1st for me.Also he sets him self up to look a certain way .if the show lasts maybe they will show more but you can see a pattern after a few shows.
@DocHaus said:
That is kinda funny.Awesome way to make others who might like the show feel bad tho.Great projection of moral audacity .Good thing i am immune to such things.Or that may have changed the way i enjoy anime....ok probably not at all.By the way it does not make me feel bad watching this show.Strike Witches did tho .
The shows almost a goof / parody off of fantasy anime an high school battle anime.With a few interesting ideas mixed in.Don't think it last long enuff to explore the ideas tho.They paced an plotted the series wrong.But its different so maybe that is all i need out of it.
Typical anime tho? I would disagree.
@No_name_here said:
Wow...I think I am going to have to stop reading your stuff then. I mean seriously the show was thematicaly and artistically incredibly interesting. Depressing yes but full of metaphor visual and otherwise. I suppose for someone who doesn't understand the beauty of the second ghost in the shell movie, and thinks yu yu and dragon ball z are shows that can be learned from I shouldn't be surprised. Getting more and more concerned with your taste. Intellectual shows are practically always better than stupid shonen crap.
Next you will say you didn't like ergo proxy or paranoia agent...