traksute on 20/8/2008 at 16:55
Quote:
Despite being part Japanese, I've never really liked anime myself. My friend had to convince me to watch Cowboy Bebop, and I enjoyed that along with Samurai Champloo (same director), but I just can't seem to get into any other ones.
I'm in the same boat. I'm not sure how many television series about adolescents who are really good at driving giant weaponized robots but are ethically opposed to driving giant weaponized robots but in the end drive them some giant weaponized robots one nation needs, but I think Japan hit its quota a few years back.
I'm as nerdy as the next guy, and I've tried to get into anime, but many of the shows people praise leave me unimpressed. That's not to say none of it is good, just that a lot of it doesn't appeal to me. (I liked Cowboy Bebop, too, but I think many purists say it's "too Western.")
demagogue on 20/8/2008 at 21:52
Like everything in Japan I have a love-hate thing going on... So many things are so inspired, but then yeah they just have to throw in a giant robot and fuck everything up. I usually try to look past the J-fluff.
It's one of those things, though, where (at least for me) I think it's important to be literate in, because they are pushing barriers that aren't getting pushed in other places. They are really experimenting with style and plots, and I like that energy and inventiveness. And enjoy it or not it's pushing its cultural weight around these days and is influential in ways you don't see at first.
A few days ago I picked up a manga about Robert Johnson where a fully Japanese artist was telling the story of a poor Southern black sharecroppper turned bluesman ... and telling it really well. Except for the occasional karate move, it felt convincing. Then towards the end he throws in some side-plot where RJ teams up with Bonnie & Clyde and I thought, no way. But even with that, I couldn't help but think this manga was capturing the spirit of the story in a way another medium couldn't. There's a lot of eye-rolling idiocy in J-dom, but there are some real jewels out there, too, that are doing really interesting things that nobody else is doing. IMHO. You just really need to dig sometimes to find them.
Aerothorn on 23/8/2008 at 20:13
I'm currently on a big Angel bent (can't wait to get my hands on Season 5) but it's probably better to watch Buffy seasons 1-3 first, even if they're not quite as good.
If you like Cowboy Bebop but can't get into other animes, try Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I was in the same boat as you, and that was the first anime since Bebop that I really got into.
Paranoia Agent is also very interesting, but is much more surreal/Japanese then Bebop or GITS:SAC.
Other good TV shows of various types:
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Creature Comforts (the first British season)
Futurama
I, Claudius
Pinky & The Brain
Police Squad!
Rex the Run (season 1)
Aja on 24/8/2008 at 03:00
you guys
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Fafhrd on 24/8/2008 at 06:43
My Current Appointment TV:
Mad Men. Probably the best show currently airing. Fantastic cast, amazing characterizations, and some of the smartest writing on TV, ever.
The Middleman. Significantly lighter fare than Mad Men, but it's tons of fun. Think a much more pop/geek culture oriented Doctor Who, but written by people who clearly have actual geek DNA. For example: in the pilot episode the main character is asked what comic books she reads, and she lists Fell, Astro City, and Mouse Guard (also X-men (old school, not Ultimate) and the Flash, but it's the first three that grabbed my attention due to their non-mainstreamness).
Eureka. This season has actually been a lot weaker than the previous two, but I think it's about to pick up steam, and is another light show with a cast that is clearly having a blast making it.
Burn Notice. Weekly Bruce Campbell (as a supporting character). That should be enough for anyone. Also in many ways the new MacGuyver, since the main character almost always cobbles together some sort of sneaky gadget with common household implements (car trunk x-ray made with old TV bits and a taser the week before last).
