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Post by Emily on Jun 26, 2005 19:09:27 GMT
now that you mention it... but then any gril with midlentgh dark hair and glasses could apply
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Post by stokerino on Jun 26, 2005 19:22:35 GMT
Harada Chie from Mai-HiME is another such character with midlength dark hair and glasses that, consequently, reminds me of Ally:
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Post by Ally on Jun 27, 2005 7:56:34 GMT
now that you mention it... but then any gril with midlentgh dark hair and glasses could apply And the book, dammit, the book... Heehee, Harada Chie does look like me...my clones are spreading...
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Post by Emily on Jun 27, 2005 17:39:17 GMT
"Bonjour, je cherche mon Livre... Hello I WANT my BOOK!"~ hocus pocus.
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Post by Ally on Jun 27, 2005 18:07:04 GMT
Damn straight.
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Post by stokerino on Jul 1, 2005 22:11:34 GMT
Downloaded all 13 episodes of Gunslinger Girl today...they were no longer available in single-episode form due to being recently released in the US, so I had to get them in a block from BoxTorrents. Only watched one episode so far, but I can already tell that there's going to be a fine line between whether this series succeeds or fails in my eyes.
It all depends on where it lands on a certain scale.
This scale:
Saikano <----> Noir
aka:
Fucked Up Awesomeness <----> Pretentious Bullshit
The risk of it ending up as PB is, admittedly, high. When you have the premise of schoolgirl assassins in *insert random European country here* (Italy), you have to worry. That said, the scope for achieving the FUA of the infinitesimally superior Saikano is great as well. It places an emphasis on a chilling atmosphere and cold realism rather than 'coolness'. You only get flashbacks that matter, rather than repeating the same one several times over a single episode without any real reason or advancement. These can only be good things. ¬_¬
The fact that the main character (a girl named Henrietta - this is Italy after all. Ignore the Japanese sailor school uniform...) seems to very much be a mix between Saikano's Chise and Noir's Kirika only furthers the comparison. Even if it is done by taking Chise's appearance and implanting Kirika's personality into it (but without the infuriating self-pity, thank god). You could try comparing Henrietta's adult 'partner', José, with Shuji from Saikano...but aside from being a tall guy with a reserved expression, you wouldn't get very far really.
There is no way this is going to be as good as Saikano, for various reasons.
Firstly, there are adults in it. Adults who know what they're doing. This is why Fafner has nothing on Evangelion - what good is trying to play the FUA card if the characters know what they're doing? That's what Gunslinger Girl and Fafner lack, and what Saikano/Evangelion have - the "WTF HAVE YOU LANDED ME IN?!" factor.
Secondly, I'm sorry - but the Schoolgirls-With-Guns deal is *never* going to be a positive factor for me. SWG is just fan service, that's all it is, and it is VERY difficult to get the 'Pity' counterbalance right. As can be seen with Noir's over-the-top "waaa why do I keep killing? I don't want to kill...but I will" illogic. Henrietta isn't as bad as Kirika (at least...not yet). Maybe this is why Chise from Saikano is so much more bearable - she's actually a schoolgirl, with a personality and an occasional measure of humour...not a soulless killing machine who just happens to silently cry at every other moment.
I am going to watch the other 12 episodes of the series, and then maybe my conclusions will change. As it stands right now it could go either way. And if it does disappoint me? I'll just have to rewatch some Saikano to make me feel better (which is perhaps the only sense in which Saikano could EVER make ANYONE feel better...).
(Speaking of Saikano, I've just learnt of a new 2-part OAV being released this August/September. Sweet.)
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Post by stuart alman on Jul 2, 2005 11:56:01 GMT
lousy good for nothing tim and his constant noir bashing. Although Saikano does rule no end.
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Post by stokerino on Jul 2, 2005 11:57:58 GMT
Give it up on Noir Stu. Our conclusions have long been set. ¬_¬
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Post by Ally on Jul 2, 2005 13:50:07 GMT
You know Stu. If he even has the faintest shred of hope that he can change our minds, he'll try...
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Post by stokerino on Jul 2, 2005 13:58:18 GMT
He knows he doesn't, which is why he doesn't really try anymore. He just mutters bitterly whenever we bring it up.
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Post by stuart alman on Jul 2, 2005 14:38:45 GMT
hey muttering bitterly is a great way to go. You do it all the time so you cant complain when i did it now and then. mumble mumble.
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Post by Emily on Jul 5, 2005 9:30:25 GMT
oh well stu... at least yasha agrees with you (hehehe... sure way to break stu's brain)
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Post by Ally on Jul 5, 2005 10:07:49 GMT
Best Inuyasha line EVER:
Inuyasha: Dammit, Jakotsu, I can never have a straight conversation with you!
Teehee...
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Post by stokerino on Aug 5, 2005 11:46:33 GMT
Heh...just working my way through the first series of Mahoromatic. It is pretty damn silly...if in a vein that has far too much in the way of fan service and the girls talking about each other's breasts (it's Gainax, so I can now see where Abenobashi's vein of fan service came from). The best thing about this series is actually how much Mahoro herself reminds me of Tenma. I mean for god's sake - she even has the side-antenna things... And although I've only watched 4 episodes and don't know where it's from, I've come across this gif and it amuses me. >_> So yeah, an amusing-enough series if you wade through the sheer EXCESS of fan service...but fuck it, in the title sequence she does the Project A-Ko trick of hopping across missiles in midair. I've gotta stay tuned for that.
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Post by Emily on Aug 5, 2005 12:07:33 GMT
Tim!! maids! just say no.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 5, 2005 12:10:46 GMT
Ehh...sometimes you just have to watch these things. Mahoromatic is one of those animes that I've heard thrown around for ages (it's fairly old, 2001 vintage), so I figured I might as well check it out. I mean god - It's not like "He Is My Master" or that sort of thing...
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Post by Emily on Aug 7, 2005 12:09:43 GMT
so, lots of people talk about cocaine and stealing cars... but are those good things?
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Post by stokerino on Aug 7, 2005 12:15:08 GMT
...Say what now?
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Post by Emily on Aug 7, 2005 22:16:42 GMT
in that just because lots of people talk about something doesn't make it good.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 7, 2005 22:44:46 GMT
Perhaps so, but in the anime world where personal health/the possibility of being arrested arn't issues, everything's warrented at least one shot. As opposed to being dismissed purely because of the occupation of the main character...
The fan service has almost entirely dropped away now after the first 3 or 4 episodes, as was expected. Well, except for the teacher...god I hate her so much.
Have no problem with any of the other characters though...the schoolfriends (Miyuki/Rin/Chizu/a couple others) are cool enough. Slash is quite amusing, and Ryuuga is your typical kickass evil bishi...you know, as you do.
I do have to say though, the way they give you an update at the ending of every episode..."Time before Mahoro's system shuts down: 309 days". Bleak, much?
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