Milky Mixer
August 6th, 2006, 09:53 PM
Not sure if this is a "repeat" of any threads, but as someone who (1) has a limited budget when it comes to anime (meaning I can only afford to collect 1, 2, 3 series tops! at a time and I've already got my heart set on the upcoming Voltron release), (2) has a hard enough time keeping up with the US releases so might not be as "in the know" about what's hot and what flops before it even gets licensed, and (3) is seeing the series he is currently collecting (VOTOMS, GitS 2nd Gig) wrapping up their US releases shortly and will be ripe for some new stuff - I'm wondering what y'all feel will be the best stuff to check out this fall/winter. I haven't really had any interest in any of the newer longer series (meaning the 6 volume, 26 episode stuff that you really invest your $$ in) coming out over the spring/summer, so like I said, I'm ripe for new shows, new volume 1's, etc. as fall starts. I've been trying to watch the licensing news from the various con reports, but like I said, I'm not always as "in the know" when it comes to what's gonna be good and what's gonna make me wish I'd saved my money and spent it on something else.
So far, the two series that have me most interested are Shakugan no Shana and Ergo Proxy.
Shana's positives - I like the character design of the main character (speaks to my love of Shamanic Princess for some reason) and while I'm not completely sure I "get" the premise of the story, it sounds like it could be a cool supernatural adventure series. Plus Viz will be releasing the manga and the novels, so I like that I could collect the anime and the manga both. What's everyone's opinion on this show? Is it gonna be killer, or is it gonna be really silly? Is it poised to become another Naruto or Zatch Bell "mainstream US hit" since Viz has their hands on the manga ('cause I personally don't dig either of those shows), or will this one stay more "under the radar?" Is this one more comedy or drama?
Ergo Proxy's positives - well, I don't really "do goth" and though the show looks to have a bit of that gothy flare, I love the character designs and I love that it has the same director as Witch Hunter Robin (which I really enjoyed). I also like the techy/android/darkish futuristic element... sorta reminds me of other stuff I love - Texhnolyze, Ghost in the Shell, and Blame! Sounds like this could really be my thing.
Plus Geneon is releasing both of these shows and while I think they tend to have higher prices, I usually tend to enjoy their dubs, marketing, and the overall quality of their product. I know it's silly, but some of us have licensors we trust and ones we've come to steer clear of (I personally think thrice before I purchase anything from ADV but will get on board with Geneon and Media Blasters without much hesitation). So both shows have a lot of positives for me, but I'd like to hear what others think about them before I commit to anything. Granted, I have a few months to see what else is coming out, but maybe y'all think other new titles would be better choices. So please, any feedback (shy on spoilers please) would be welcome. I just don't wanna find myself in the same spot I was with Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, which I was warned would be mediocre but I ended up buying anyway and then regretted it by the time I was halfway through the series. One of those "Why am I buying this?" mistakes that I kept waiting to like more than I really did.
Oh, and just to give a little info about my "tastes" and the stuff I've really loved and don't regret purchasing: Otogi Zoshi, Ghost in the Shell, Witch Hunter Robin, Serial Experiments Lain, Texhnolyze, Shamanic Princess, Geneshaft, Betterman, Mirage of Blaze, Outlaw Star, Loveless, Kannazuki no Miko, Air Master... I'll also add that I tend to like cool female lead characters who aren't b!tches, BL or yuri are a plus but not necessary by any means, too much filler offends me but series that have standalone adventure/case episodes (like GitS and WHR) are great, I prefer drama and action over comedy but strong characterization is most important, and I don't do vampires.
So far, the two series that have me most interested are Shakugan no Shana and Ergo Proxy.
Shana's positives - I like the character design of the main character (speaks to my love of Shamanic Princess for some reason) and while I'm not completely sure I "get" the premise of the story, it sounds like it could be a cool supernatural adventure series. Plus Viz will be releasing the manga and the novels, so I like that I could collect the anime and the manga both. What's everyone's opinion on this show? Is it gonna be killer, or is it gonna be really silly? Is it poised to become another Naruto or Zatch Bell "mainstream US hit" since Viz has their hands on the manga ('cause I personally don't dig either of those shows), or will this one stay more "under the radar?" Is this one more comedy or drama?
Ergo Proxy's positives - well, I don't really "do goth" and though the show looks to have a bit of that gothy flare, I love the character designs and I love that it has the same director as Witch Hunter Robin (which I really enjoyed). I also like the techy/android/darkish futuristic element... sorta reminds me of other stuff I love - Texhnolyze, Ghost in the Shell, and Blame! Sounds like this could really be my thing.
Plus Geneon is releasing both of these shows and while I think they tend to have higher prices, I usually tend to enjoy their dubs, marketing, and the overall quality of their product. I know it's silly, but some of us have licensors we trust and ones we've come to steer clear of (I personally think thrice before I purchase anything from ADV but will get on board with Geneon and Media Blasters without much hesitation). So both shows have a lot of positives for me, but I'd like to hear what others think about them before I commit to anything. Granted, I have a few months to see what else is coming out, but maybe y'all think other new titles would be better choices. So please, any feedback (shy on spoilers please) would be welcome. I just don't wanna find myself in the same spot I was with Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, which I was warned would be mediocre but I ended up buying anyway and then regretted it by the time I was halfway through the series. One of those "Why am I buying this?" mistakes that I kept waiting to like more than I really did.
Oh, and just to give a little info about my "tastes" and the stuff I've really loved and don't regret purchasing: Otogi Zoshi, Ghost in the Shell, Witch Hunter Robin, Serial Experiments Lain, Texhnolyze, Shamanic Princess, Geneshaft, Betterman, Mirage of Blaze, Outlaw Star, Loveless, Kannazuki no Miko, Air Master... I'll also add that I tend to like cool female lead characters who aren't b!tches, BL or yuri are a plus but not necessary by any means, too much filler offends me but series that have standalone adventure/case episodes (like GitS and WHR) are great, I prefer drama and action over comedy but strong characterization is most important, and I don't do vampires.