takashichea (Level 21)
Welcome everyone! I'm here to promote the Mushibugyo discussion thread.
After doing a mini marathon, Mushibugyo is generally a fun Shonen series that had a bad execution at the first episode. It reminds me of Rock Lee and his Ninja Pal series where most folks dropped it on episode 1. Then, both series gradually gets better after the first episode. The first episode has pacing problems. It rushes to cover how Jinbei got to Edo and to the introduction of the Mushibugyo group. I got this impression from manga fans. Two of the cons I have seen from fans about Mushibugyo's first episode is that how it had so much fan service and it has the whole damsel in distress trope. After episode 1, Mushibugyo jumps straight into the characters of the Mushibugyo team and covering their back stories.
Major Spoiler Warnings Below
Good
Jinbei is an easily lovable character who trains hard and befriends the Mushibugyo group. At first, the Mushibugyo group hated him, but they end up liking him. Like Kotori Matsunohara said, Jinbei is the glue that holds everyone together. For the rest of characters, they stand out especially their Crazy Anime Hair. You might have a favorite one. Hibachi is the explosives specialist, and like Jinbei, she looks up to Mugai and wants Mugai to recognize her. Shingiku Koikawa is like a drunk Kenpachi Zaraki (for those who watch Bleach). He is a laid back ex-convict who can slash rocks and objects with a polished edge. Tenma is defensive specialist who uses Shikigami. His back story is interesting because he is actually scared of insects especially centipedes and others that wriggle and squirm.
While the previous episodes 2-4 cover the other characters, episode 5 does focus on Mugai but does not reveal much. Mugai is a mysterious guy who used to be a part of the Mushikari. Though, it's interesting to note that Koikawa's mother was killed by the Mushikari. I wonder if Koikawa has any grudges against Mugai and his group. We have to wait and find in later episodes.
Bad
For those who hate fan service, this show is not for you. Haru and Hibachi are usually sources of fan service when their clothes get ripped off. There is a lot of Gainax Bounce for Haru. It does follow the Monster of the Day trope by introducing a new insect, but it does keep things interesting with the character back stories. Like I discussed earlier, the first episode can rub people off the wrong way by portraying Haru as a damsel in distress. Plus, the part where she gets kidnapped, the spiders just drip their white web stuff all over her.
I was expecting Nakama cliches for this anime, but it didn't. It's nice to see a Shonen anime without a whole friendship speech once in a while.
Mushibugyo is a Shonen series that you should not take seriously. It's a mindless shonen series that revolves around a group of samurai protecting Japan from insects. It's like Powerpuff Girls in a sense but with more fan service and blood. It's not a battle shonen manga series like Naruto, Bleach, or One Piece.
Hope you guys and gals enjoy Mushibugyo.
Arc System Works presented the story, cast, and staff for BlazBlue Alter Memory, the upcoming anime of its fighting game franchise, at its Arc System Works Festival event in Yokohama on Sunday.
The story is set in December of 2199, when the streets are full of anticipation for the end of the year and the start of the new one. Amid the celebrations, word spreads that Ragna the Bloodedge, an SS-class rebel with the highest ever bounty on his head, has appeared in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi. The apparent aim of Ragna or the "Grim Reaper" is the destruction of the system controlling the world. To collect the bounty, a motley array of unrivaled fighters converge on Kagutsuchi.
Via ANN
Cast
The games' cast members reprise their roles in the anime:
- Tomokazu Sugita as Ragna the Bloodedge
- Kanako Kondou as Noel Vermillion
- Tetsuya Kakihara as Jin Kisaragi
- Kana Ueda as Rachel Alucard
- Yūichi Nakamura as Hazama
- Chiwa Saito as Taokaka
- Chiaki Takahashi as Litchi Faye-Ling
- Kenji Nomura as Iron Tager
- Asami Imai as Tsubaki Yayoi
- Chie Matsuura as Kokonoe
- Tomomi Isomura as Makoto Nanaya
Staff
- Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda (Atelier Musa)
- Color Key: Haruko Nobori (Hiwa)
- Director of Photography: Koujirou Hayashi (Graphinica)
- Editor: Masato Yoshitake (Graphinica)
- Sound Director: Masaki Tsuchiya
- Sound Production: Studio Mausu
- Music Production: Lantis
Source
FUNimation is releasing Guilty Crown in DVD/Blu-ray format on August 27, 2013.
Plot
After the spread of the "Apocalypse Virus" in Japan in the year 2029, the country has been placed in an emergency state. Since the spread of the virus, the Japanese government lost all of its foundations, and the reign of the international organization known as GHQ began ruling the country. Now Japan is in a state of martial law, which is enforced by the GHQ, and is considered a "quasi-independent" nation.
10 years pass, and we see the story through the eyes of Shu Ouma, an average 17-year-old teenager who lives a normal life. However, his normal life style is soon shattered after his chance encounter with Inori Yuzuriha, who eventually involves him with the anti-government group she is a part of, known as Funeral Parlor, or Undertaker.
By KuroNekoXIII
Cast
- Shu Ouma - Austin Tindle
- Gai Tsutsugami - Micah Solusod
- Makoto Waltz Segai - John Swasey
- Inori Yuzuriha - Alexis Tipton
- Ayase Shinomiya - Emily Neves
- Tsugumi - Monica Rial
- Yahiro Samukawa - David Trosko
- Souta Tamadate - Corey Cleary-Stoner
- Shuichiro Keido - Charlie Campbell
- Haruka Ouma - Martha Harms
- Hare Menjou - Tia Ballard
- Argo Tsukishima - Jarrod Greene
- Daryl Yan - Joel McDonald
- Arisa Kuhouin - Caitlin Glass
- Yu - Leah Clark
- Shibungi - J. Michael Tatum
- Mana Ouma - Alexis Tipton
- Kanon Kusama - Apphia Yu
The year is 2025. Earth is engulfed in the crossfire between massive warring alien life forms that leave annihilation in their wake. While searching for clues about his past, Ao is caught in an attack and forced to fly a giant humanoid fighter craft to save himself and his island. Fragments of the teenager's origin come to light when a hostile shape-shifter seeking revenge on Ao's missing mother—who vanished two years after his birth—targets him instead. Consumed with learning how his machine of war is connected to his mother and the monster that now pursues him, the young pilot will fly full throttle into combat zones without hesitation.
Dub Cast
- Ao - Micah Solusod
- Naru - Lindsay Seidel
- Fleur - Sainty Reid
- Elena - Jad Saxton
- Ivica - John Swasey
- Rebecka - Jamie Marchi
- Truth - Todd Haberkorn
- Gazelle - Brandon Potter
- Noa - Monica Rial
Funimation will release the series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on October 15. BONES' television anime sequel to its first Eureka Seven anime series premiered in Japan in April 2012. The anime sequel features the return of the original anime's director Tomoki Kyoda, as well as several mechanical designers, art director, color stylist, visual effects director, and director of photography. The first anime's character designer Kenichi Yoshida and main mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori are also credited for "key character designs" and "Nirvash designs," respectively.
From ANN
Hi everyone, I'm Takashichea (Taka for short). This blog is about me trying recommendations from the Anime Vice community. This is continuing off from the Summer Experiences where I venture into new genres of the animanga world thanks to my friends in this community. I was more of a Shonen fan and started reading manga that my little sister brought from the library. Most of them were Shonen titles.
Here are my first and final impressions of you guys and gals' recommendations. Don't worry, I don't put any spoilers.
Accel World
Recommended by Supreme Marvel
In 2046, people can access a virtual network known as the Neurolinker via their cellphone terminals. A perpetual victim of bullying, middle school student Haruyuki spends his time absorbed in games in a corner of his local network. One day he is approached by the most famous girl in his school, Kuroyukihime (Black Snow Princess). She gives him a strange program called Brain Burst that has the power to "accelerate the world."
After Sword Art Online was finished, I was curious about Reki Kawahara's work, Accel World. is my pal who was watching Sword Art Online at the time recommended to me to watch the anime. Upon looking at Accel World's cover, I saw a pink pig with beautiful girl in the ebony dress. Damn, that is a weird relationship. As I watched it, I found it It's about a video game just like SAO but more fan service, the loli kind. The uniqueness in this anime was the main character is not your average guy. Haruyuki is chubby and short and gets bullied by punks.
For the characters, I pretty much enjoyed everyone, but Haruyuki gets to me sometimes. It was weird that Haruyuki is voiced by Yuki Kaji who voiced Shu Ouma in Guilty Crown. Somehow, Haruyuki and Shu Ouma have this crybaby thing. I just want to punch them and tell them to be a man. Accel World was fun to watch until the last arc where it derailed. It's like SAO where the bad guy takes your precious girl and abuse her.
Angel Beats
Recommended by Sotyfan16
In a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the otherhand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers.
In January 2013, I finally had a chance to try Angel Beats on Netflix (Oddly enough, I didn't know it was on Crunchyroll). recommended the anime along with Infinite Stratos and Dream Eater Merry via Twitter after he and I talked about Astarotte's Toy. At first, I thought it was a cheesy Moe, Shojo anime with a Haruhi look-alike, and I expected to hate the anime. However, I was wrong. Angel Beats blew my mind. It's a beautiful yet bipolar anime because it made me laugh and cry within the same damn episode. I love the characters and their chemistry. While Hinata and the rest of the guys were barrels of laughter, this other group, Yuri, Otonashi, and Angel, provided a lot of drama, tension, and tears. It was a dangerous blend. The problems with the anime I have is that it's too short. A few characters have their back stories revealed. I was curious about the whole gang. How did they died? I made up some crazy theories with my little sister who was watching the anime with me. Plus, the anime crammed too much genre elements: drama, tragedy, romance, and comedy. The romance element was unexpected because the build up wasn't intense.
The music in Angel Beats is unforgettable. Every time I hear that opening or a song from Girls Dead Monster, flashbacks of this anime are vivid as day. I still have some withdrawals from this anime. It is a funny but sad anime.
Overall, Angel Beats joined my list of best anime series. I definitely recommend the anime to anyone.
Off-tangent
Regarding Netflix, I tried the one month free trial to see the anime selection they had. It was so small. Then, I came across Angel Beats and remembered Sotyfan16's recommendation. I watched it with my little sister that night. We finished in a 6 hours marathon. We couldn't put it down. After that, there was not much good anime series on Netflix for me to watch.
Black Lagoon (Manga)
Recommended by Sonata, FoxxFireArt, and Sotyfan16
Okajima Rokuro is a Japanese businessman…in a town full of Japanese businessmen. His normal day consists of social drinking with clients and being kicked around by his bosses. He finally gets a break though, as he’s sent by his company to the tropical seas of Eastern China to deliver a disc…only his boat gets hijacked by a band of mercenaries that were hired to steal it. “Rock” (as he is newly dubbed by his captors) catches the interest of the only female merc “Revy” as she thinks he’s worth a ransom, taking him hostage. However, the disc turns out to be more trouble than its worth, and complicates things both for Rock, and the mercenaries known as Black Lagoon.
Black Lagoon was the big thing in Anime Vice just like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. After I read the Beginner's Guide to Black Lagoon that was written by Sotyfan16, I was curious about this franchise. From what FoxxFireArt said, it was about Rock who picked what kind of bad guy he wanted to be (if I remember correctly). Black Lagoon was one hell of a roller coaster. It was funny and action packed, but the ugly scars popped up from the rotten underbelly. I stopped reading the manga after the Yakuza arc in Japan. The brutal ending just made it hard for me to stomach.
Black Lagoon is definitely a great recommendation for fans who aren't queasy with blood. Revy and the gang provide lots of entertainment with lots of profanity.
Durarara!!
Recommended by Wales
Ryūgamine Mikado is a boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi has warned him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: a champion fighter, an informant, and a mysterious gang called "Dollars." Nervous from Masaomi's stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Scarves will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will pushed to the breaking point.
Wales recommended me back then. I watched the first half back in 2011 then I resumed and finished it in December 2012. Durarara!! was great, but it was very slow at the beginning. Mikado was boring to tell you the truth. Only Celty and Shizuo were the reasons I continued to watch the series. The anime spends time building the world for you and revealing all the key players in this wacked out chess game. It immerses you in the urban myth.The latter half of the series was better. You had three friends who harbored secrets that forced them to collide eventually.
Durarara!! is a good anime for those who love the mystery themed shows.
Pet Girl of Sakurasou
Recommended by Daniel Newton
Sorata is kicked out of his high-school dorms for keeping a cat, and moves into a small dorm called Sakurasō. It turns out that all the residents, in addition to being uncontrollable and weird, are outstanding in some way: a well-known animator, a scriptwriter, a programmer. A beautiful girl called Mashiro moves in who is an internationally known painter but is so devoted to art that she can't even dress herself, and Sorata is given the job of looking after her. Through her and the other residents, he learns who he is and what he wants to do.
During the fall semester of 2012, Daniel and I were making discussion threads to get folks watching and discussing the new anime series that season. Daniel told me about Pet Girl of Sakurasou and how it was up my alley. Plus, he needed me to be on his team to tackle the wiki project if I get into it. Within the first 3 episodes, I got hooked on it. Sorata is the tsukkomi living in a hall of gifted but weird folks. The characters grew on me. All of their struggles with relationships and making their dreams come true is one hell of a ride.
Usually, I'm not into slice of life show, but I got into the genre back in the summer with Tari Tari. I would not say Sket Dance was my first slice of life show because it was more comedic than slice of life. Tari Tari was my first traditional slice of life. For Pet Girl of Sakurasou, it was a romantic slice of life anime series that wowed me. It's character driven with all the drama and emotions you see from high school students.
I recommend this anime to romance and slice of life fans.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to make recommendations to your friends here and outside of the community.
You can also make some recommendations for me, too. You can do it here in the comments or comment here at my list: Anime Vice Members' Little Anime/Manga Recommendations.
