Best Stuff Coming Out In Fall/Winter 2006

[Milky Mixer]

I posted this in the dvd forum but thought I'd post here too since no one's really generating feedback over there...

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 (arrogant is fun, b!tch not so much), 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.

[John]

Haven't watched very much of either Shana or Ergo Proxy because both of them didn't really grab me. I can say that if you enjoyed Texhnolyze, you'll probably also enjoy Ergo Proxy.

Looking at stuff coming up this year:

I'm looking forward to Tsukuyomi, but you've already said that you don't like vampire anime. That would also exclude the mediocre Trinity Blood.

Zipang is excellent alternate history drama about what would happen if soldiers during WWII knew that Japan was destined to lose the war.

Haven't watched much of Noien, but it seems to be an unusually good, and very strange sci-fi adventure series that you may like if you're into avant garde sci-fi/fantasy.

[Leader Desslock]

...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! ... "in the know" about what's hot and what flops before it even gets licensed, ... ripe for some new stuff ... 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.
Do you also cruise the bargain bins looking for deals on completed series? It would seem to me that a person on a limited budget would be greatly served by looking for series that have dropped out of the limelight of expensive hype.

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.
Do you rent at all? I can't tell you how much money I've saved by renting series that were 'iffy'. Online reviews and a little common sense are all I've ever needed to steer away from titles I wouldn't enjoy (never made a single purchase I regretted), but I can say that rentals have made this job a lot easier. They've allowed me to see a lot of shows that were worth watching, but not worth owning: Blue Gender, Photon, ZOE, Lain, etc.

I'll also add that I tend to like cool female lead characters who aren't b!tches ...
My obvious recommendations are Haibane Renmei and Planetes, worth a rental if you haven't seen them. Very character oriented drama (but not too heavy) with strong and personable female leads.

Have you checked out some of the classics (which you can get cheaply), like Cutey Honey and Project A-Ko?

Zipang is excellent alternate history drama about what would happen if soldiers during WWII knew that Japan was destined to lose the war.
That one's definitely on my watch list.

[Irons]

Ergo Proxy was something I was anticipating however I haven't watched much of it either. I might find myself pulling a Samurai Champloo with it however and giving it a second chance and loving it. Sometimes it just takes a stretch of greatness to make you appreciate a series, but I haven't found that from Ergo Proxy in the first few episodes.

Reminds me a lot of Ghost in the Shell and Witch Hunter Robin in terms of production value and darkness, but that's about it. In terms of plot it is more like 1984 or Minority Report with monsters. I even get some Gattaca feel from it as well.

[Milky Mixer]

Thanks for the feedback, guys, and of course I welcome more comments from anyone who wants to contribute their opinions on the two shows I'm targeting or might suggest something else that's up and coming this fall...

Sounds like no one's really heard much about Shana, which sorta surprises me since both the manga and anime rights have been nabbed. I've generally liked the manga by Viz that I've picked up, but I'm also a bit skeptical since they seem to be behind the series that "go bananas" in the US like Naruto and Zatch Bell, which to me tend to appeal to a younger crowd and aren't really my thing (no offense, Zatch Bell fans!). Of course, Geneon's got the anime, Viz just has the manga. I did read a page of online reviews of Shana and they seemed to be mostly positive with most viewers giving it 4-5 stars. (But how many stars do these folks give Zatch Bell? wink wink)

Desslock, my curmudgeony friend, you somehow always know how to make pracitcal comments and still make a person feel like they've been called into the principal's office, heh! To answer a few of them: Yes, I've purchased bargain titles/sets (that's how I picked up Betterman, Geneshaft, and Lain... all of which also aired on the evidently cancelled Anime Unleashed block of Tech TV back when Tech TV wasn't Spike 2, er, G4 and showed cool stuff). No, I don't rent anime... but I don't rent movies in general. I have thought about joining the Anime Nation rental program, but so far haven't done so. And yes, I do like older titles... I've been digging on VOTOMS, searching for Arcadia of My Youth, and am excited to defend the universe with Voltron (I thought about waiting and getting the "original" Go Lion series but yknow, I grew up on Voltron and think I'd just like to have that cozy nostalgia moment watching it... besides, does Go Lion have the same killer music as Voltron?). I guess you and I are also different in our opinions of Lain and Haibane Renmei. Lain, to me, blows my mind... I thought it was a fantastic series. Haibane Renmei... I got the set for a gift and honestly found the show a bit boring. I need to go back and watch it though, as I'm wondering... is there some kind of zen/buddhist thing going on in this series? I don't know, I just didn't find it nearly as compelling as Lain or Texhnolyze, also by the same creative team.

Sounds like Ergo Proxy could be my thing... Gattaca, Minority Report without Tom Cruise... the style of GitS and WHR... hmmm. Looked up Noien... sounds kinda creepy in a Star Trek/Twilight Zone kinda way, with one character claiming he's another character from 15 years in the future.

[Leader Desslock]

No, I don't rent anime... but I don't rent movies in general. I have thought about joining the Anime Nation rental program, but so far haven't done so.
I don't use RentAnime.com. I use that other one. I don't rent many movies at all, but I preview a ton of anime.

besides, does Go Lion have the same killer music as Voltron?
If it doesn't have the fanfare they played while forming Voltron, I wouldn't buy the series. I can pretty much guarantee that.

I guess you and I are also different in our opinions of Lain and Haibane Renmei. Lain, to me, blows my mind... I thought it was a fantastic series.
So did I, actually. It certainly didn't blow my mind, but I thought it was a great series. I'd say it was the best 'art film' type anime I'd seen since Evangelion or Voices Of A Distant Star.

The reason I didn't feel the need to own Lain was ... it's a gimmick series. The first time you watch it, you almost think that all the X-Files details with which you're bombarded actually matter. So you try to keep track of them until they become bewildering. When combined with the trippy art and foley work, you really get a sense of Lain's state of mind - which is the point. Then, when you find out that the simple message of serendipity is the main point and all those little details don't matter at all, they drift away, the plot resolves and you have the same sort of relief that Lain herself finds.

In terms of the writing, this is some grade-A ingenious stuff, and I had to seriously tip my hat to the production crew and especially the director. He stuck to his guns, made a series that (in terms of the action) was as interesting as watching paint dry, stuffed it with meaningless technobabble to alienate his own audience, then pulled it all together - because that was his creative vision. Not a lot of people could've pulled that off, and most of them that had the talent wouldn't have had the guts.

So I think it's a great series, obviously...

But then, to buy a series, it not only has to be good, it has to have rewatch value. And once you know the gimmick, Lain doesn't have any - at least, not for me. What starts out as a surreal trip through the mind of a perplexed demigod the first time through becomes... well... 13 episodes of watching the same car drive through the same damned intersection. You know that the technobabble doesn't matter, you no longer feel Lain's confusion, so it just becomes a six-hour long acid trip that ends with "groovy, man".

Bully for you if you can get something out of it, but I'd rather watch FLCL if I need trippy imagery; it's shorter and the music's better. Different strokes, I guess. I do think Lain's a good series, though. I've recommended it on more than one occasion.

[ransom]

Sounds like no one's really heard much about Shana, which sorta surprises me since both the manga and anime rights have been nabbed.

Well ask the fansub watchers. I saw the first ep of Shana, looked interesting and had interesting story potential, but didn't grab me. At that time of year, there were certain forums that talked it up big, but the interest has evaporated.


Desslock, my curmudgeony friend, you somehow always know how to make pracitcal comments and still make a person feel like they've been called into the principal's office, heh! To answer a few of them: Yes, I've purchased bargain titles/sets (that's how I picked up Betterman, Geneshaft, and Lain...


I don't think he was calling you into the principles office over it, bargain hunting is a perfectly legitimate purchasing strategy for someone on a limited budget. While I tend to buy certain titles at tfull price when they are released in my country, I tend to import a lot of those cheap boxsets from the US.


Haibane Renmei... I got the set for a gift and honestly found the show a bit boring. I need to go back and watch it though, as I'm wondering... is there some kind of zen/buddhist thing going on in this series? I don't know, I just didn't find it nearly as compelling as Lain or Texhnolyze, also by the same creative team.


Haibane ownz. And the religious themes are more christian - not just the iconogrphy, but the very nature of redemption in this series is so profoundly christian, that I have seen posts about people who do theology talking about it.


Sounds like Ergo Proxy could be my thing... Gattaca, Minority Report without Tom Cruise... the style of GitS and WHR... hmmm. Looked up Noien... sounds kinda creepy in a Star Trek/Twilight Zone kinda way, with one character claiming he's another character from 15 years in the future.

I know people who are loving Ergo Proxy & Noein very seriously. They consider them the two best shows from their respective seasons.

I am not sure what else you are into, I don't know if you like cute/funny anime, but all of the first 3 galaxy angel series are available stunningly cheap, also Kamichu! is half released, Strawberry Marshmallow is nearly completely released. As for older stuff, VOTOMS is something I eagerly want to complete, Patlabor is well discounted now for what amounts to one of the best series ever.

The only thing wrong about Zipang is that it is not about 100 episodes long (and cover the entire breadth of what must be a stunning manga story) - the manga page count is up there at Naruto/One Piece lengths. The only comparable work is Silent Service an anime made from the manga-ka's previous work that touches some similar themes. However that show had a lot of weaknesses, and to a US audience can be somewhat unpalatable, Zipang is superiour in every way. As an anime fan, I am saddened that it is over, because I feel that a war anime of that calibre will never be made again, unless Sunrise do something of 08th MS Team quality for the gundam 30th anniversary.

One new DVD that hasn't been mentioned is Utawarerumono aka Shadow Warrior Chronicles, recently announced by ADV, and due for release in early 2007. Its a great show, very popular on fansub - its a simple fantasy story (based on an ero-game of all things) executed very very well. Its a nice return to form for ADV too, to get back into bringing out popular, recent and high quality anime. IIRC correctly Black Lagoon is licensed (manga? geneon?) and there is simply not enough gunplay anime made, adn this is a great example of it.

Also don't overlook other great stuff right under your nose ... like Eureka 7, Gankutsuoh - The count of monte cristo etc.