Dagger

As the years have passed, the quality of dubs in general has improved by leaps and bounds. Just yesterday I re-watched the Vampire Princess Miyu OAVs--dubbed--simply to remind myself of how a perfectly good show can be ruined by awful English VAs (the same thing applies to Japanese seiyuus, of course, although they're generally far from mediocre). But the VPM OAVs were made in 1988, and presumably dubbed far earlier than, say, Spirited Away or Voices of a Distant Star. Voices of a Distant Star's dub is, in my opinion, [i]superior[/i] to its already excellent sub. AzureWolf, I agree with every single one of your points, and it's great to see that the process you've described has already begun to take place. In just a couple of years, I'm sure that anime dubbing will have grown even better. ~Dagger~

Hmm. I'm actually not a very big fan of Crispin Freeman (that man has such a peculiar name), although I can't claim to have seen Hellsing. In Revolutionary Girl Utena, his performance as Touga was a little too over-the-top for my tastes. Mr. Freeman also played Kagetsu in Shamanic Princess. He did a fairly good job in that particular role, but nothing about his portrayal of the character struck me as being really great or memorable. All the same, he does possess a lovely voice. Witch Hunter Robin is very high on my list of "anime to see." However, I've read reviews which said that it doesn't really get interesting until around the eleventh episode. If you've seen that far, is this true? ~Dagger~

"Eden" didn't appeal to me when I first heard it, but as the series progressed, its opening definitely started to grow on me. It's one of those songs that benefits from multiple listens. It starts to sound a whole lot better once you're able to anticipate the changes in its melody and can therefore sing along (not that I'd ever dream of doing such a thing.... >_>). But, yes, "Eden" more than makes up for Yami no Matsuei's terrible ending theme. ~Dagger~

As a fan of both shonen-ai and shoujo-ai, I had plenty of fun watching Utena.... but don't get me wrong, the series has myriad other merits. Its beauty, bizarre symbolism, and unique characters are what really attracted me. If you only saw the dub, I'd recommend giving Utena a second chance. Otherwise, it might just not be your kind of show--and that's perfectly okay. Speaking of the dub: for everyone who's seen both it and the sub, which did you prefer? I've seen the Utena dub cited on numerous websites as an example of truly atrocious dubbing. At first, I really didn't mind it all that much, but as the series grew more complex and emotionally involving, several characters' voices began to annoy me (Saionji, Utena, and Nanami, to be specific). So far, Utena's Japanese seiyuus seem to have been cast perfectly. I do hope that the dub begins to improve, at least by the conclusion of the next season. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Artemis [/i] [B]Out of curiosity, how many of us here are crazy enough to go see it at midnight? I'm going to, even though I have school in the morning. I'll probably be posting again in the wee hours of the morning after having seen it. *excitement* I've been dying for it to come out. It really should be the best one yet.[/B][/QUOTE] I haven't yet read a single bad (or even neutral) review--and yes, I'm also going to see RotK on Wednesday morning. By all accounts, it's supposed to be the crown jewel of the trilogy. I can scarcely contain my excitement. Last year I took several friends to the midnight opening of The Two Towers. It was tiring, but the overall experience was simply so memorable that I had no hesitations about deciding to do it again. In my mind, LotR can take priority over school any day. ^_~ EDIT: Well, early this morning, I finally saw RotK. It not only met all my expectations, but actually suceeded in exceeding them.... I'm eager to know what all you other OBers thought, so hurry on up and reply! ^_~ ~Dagger~

Heh, Nanami took a bit of getting used to. Once I learned not to take her quite so seriously, her antics became utterly hilarious. I actually don't mind Anthy (although she really does get slapped far too often), but I'm not sure what to think of her. She seems innocent and perhaps even simple-minded, but I suspect that all of her seemingly random statements and cute gestures actually have a purpose. For all I know, she might even turn out to be as manipulative as Nanami. I'd love to see the movie, but I think I'll wait until I finish the series. I've heard that it really is a visual and aural feast, so watching it should be quite an experience. ^_^ ~Dagger~

Heheh. This is going to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys. May the best poster win! ^_~ Name: Miyuki Shinpei Age: 18 Description: See attachment. Bio: Cute, conniving, and quite seductive, Miyuki [i]always[/i] gets what she wants. She's attended an exclusive American boarding school since the second grade, but longs for greater independence. As a high school senior, she can't wait to go to college. Miyuki is consistently unpredictable, particularly in her emotions, and loves to make other people squirm. Her prescence can cause the hours to pass quickly--as long as you aren't the object of her ruthless teasing and over-the-top practical jokes. She is also, incidentally, a nationally ranked fencer, and greatly enjoys sharpening her skills on those who are new to the sport.

I've heard that although Yu Yu Hakusho is going to be re-starting, Cartoon Network plans to run all 112 episodes. This information has been posted on several official websites, so I can only assume it's true. As a big YYH fan, I'm [i]incredibly[/i] happy--no matter how much they censor the later episodes, and no matter how many times they've already showed re-runs of the earlier ones, it'll all be worth it if I can finally see the show in its entirety. ~Dagger~

Lavie Silvana strolled down the streets of Sector 7, her hands shoved deep into the pockets of her cream-colored coat. She was an unremarkable, well-built woman with striking blue eyes. Lavie wore a practical-looking pair of glasses, and often reached up to smooth her dark and slightly disheveled mane of hair. Though she was whistling softly, she certainly wasn't admiring the view; every building within view was filthy and dilapidated. After a moment or two, her cheerful whistling ceased. She sighed and adjusted her glasses before briefly glancing back at the shop where she'd worked every day for the past five years. Her employer had decided to close early today, and so here she was, an energetic young woman with absolutely nothing to do. She could go home, but her flat was in a rather depressing state. Messy, musty, and filled with books and dust bunnies, it was far from comfortable. Lavie was simply happy to have a steady income and a home of her own; in the slums, few people could lay claim to either of those commodities. For once, she wasn't in the mood to socialize, either--she'd been schmoozing with customers for hours upon end. What to do? She didn't feel much like returning to that bar--7th Heaven, or whatever it was called. She had listened to Leo's speech with mild curiousity and a growing sense of unease. Lavie was satisfied with her life.... not exactly [i]happy[/i], but content to continue as she had for most of her adult life. And yet his words had reminded her that she was still rather young--she should still be full of fire. Frowning, she drew her coat more closely around her body, glaring fiercely at anyone who dared to give her a second look. She didn't wish to be troubled by any budding teenage muggers tonight. Lavie stared intensely at the crumbling sidewalk as she wound her way down an elaborate, utterly random path, winding in and out of various alleyways, and occasionally ducking through dark side streets and abandoned buildings. She was, in fact, quite surprised to find herself standing outside Leo's door, and equally startled to realize that she'd already begun to knock.

Arcadia, Drix, and Terra, thank you [i]so[/i] much for your wonderfully detailed comments. I wrote this poem during fifth period math.... hmm, I should really start paying attention in that class. Anyway, I'll probably try to revise it when winter break rolls around. [b]Red Delicious[/b] Don't be fooled. Blood is never sweet; it tastes of tears and sea salt. Beneath that lies a dull metallic bite. But still she raised her finger to her lips, as though seeking to draw poison from the wound. Her knife had cut a little flap of skin, shaped like half the moon. She'd been slicing the reddest apple ever seen since Eden, or earlier. Blood would be pale by comparison. Try, if you will, to extract her emotions from the empty kitchen, her half-peeled apple. Even the slightest pain stings more deeply in solitude. ~Dagger~

rttocs77, why is today a good day for Republicans alone? [i]Everyone[/i] should be happy about this--whether they're American, Australian, Democratic, Republican, Iraqi, or any other nationality or political affiliation. I'm personally rather liberal, and I can't claim to have supported all of President Bush's decisions, but why on earth would that stop me from celebrating Saddam Hussein's capture? ~Dagger~

How incredibly meaningful. I'm just shocked by the sheer profundity of your words; reading this poem (if that's what it is) was definitely a life-changing experience. Um, in all seriousness, I'm just about speechless. The [i]only[/i] way that your piece might work would be if it were made into a humorous song--and even then, it wouldn't be particularly interesting or funny. I hate to be overly critical, but I'm not getting the sense that you poured your entire heart and soul into writing this.... so please excuse my harshness. EDIT: You might want to provide some kind of warning regarding the poem's content. I personally find it rather offensive. ~Dagger~

My favorite anime theme song is probably "Rinbu Revolution" from Revolutionary Girl Utena. Because it sounds like the typical J-poppy opening, I was initially unimpressed, but as I continued watching the show, I gradually grew to love it. "Rinbu Revolution" has a certain energy and richness of sound that I find really appealing, and it always gets me psyched about seeing the next episode of Utena. It doesn't hurt that the accompanying animation is extremely well done; it matches the music's beat almost perfectly. ~Dagger~

That's a lovely start. You chose an excellent color for his skin--it's neither too yellow nor too pink, and looks very realistic. What little shading you've added so far is equally well done. I look forward to seeing the final version. If you want to know the best way to color black-and-white artwork in Photoshop, try searching Google for a tutorial. There are many excellent sites designed to help people make the most of their line drawings. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ChibiHorsewoman [/i] [B][color=hotpink]I think Utena is a very strong individual. She fights for what she believes in (this is of course only said by a person who hasn't seen much of the animation).[/b][/color][/quote] Utena Tenjou is an amazing role model. She's unique among anime heroines in being brave, intelligent, resourceful, spirited--and yet also completely human. Utena occasionally makes bad decisions, but she possesses the humility and courage to admit that she regrets them, and always works to set things right. Many young female leads are whiny and weak, and rely upon the protection of a male character. Though older women (such as Mireille from Noir and Elvy from RahXephon) are more often portrayed as strong, they're usually also cynical or self-serving. Utena may represent an ideal rather than reality; after all, she is beautiful, smart, and beats boys at their own games, but she's still incredibly admirable and likeable. [quote][b][color=hotpink]My favorite scene is where Utena [spoiler]faces Touga (is that right?) with a bamboo practice sword and he has a real sword. However, she knocks his rose out of his collar and wins the duel.[/spoiler][/color][/B][/QUOTE] That's actually [spoiler]Saionji[/spoiler]. But you made a good guess--[spoiler]he and Touga are best friends[/spoiler]. ~Dagger~

Subtitles take some getting used to, but once you're accustomed to reading them, it's possible to enjoy the show's animation and still get the gist of what its characters are saying. I don't really [i]read[/i] subtitles; I watch the whole screen, and in doing that, I just sort of absorb them. Subtitles can be very distracting if you try to pay careful attention to every single word. However, I do feel that dubbing works far better in animation than it does in live-action movies, so if I like a dub, I'll probably watch it just as often as the corresponding sub. ~Dagger~

I recently finished watching the first season of Revolutionary Girl Utena, and I really enjoyed it. Utena is a dramatic, quirky little show that pushes the "shoujo" genre to some rather crazy extremes. It has frequent moments of weirdness which could be said to rival Fooly Cooly's, although Utena is definitely more linear and less frenetic. Everything from its story to its artwork is highly stylized and rife with symbolism; for example, each of the main characters is associated with a particular color, one which seems to suit his or her personality best. The character designs are visually striking and look stereotypically anime-esque--most people are very tall and thin, with startlingly colored hair and large, bright eyes. One of my main reasons for liking this series is its unpredictability. Although Utena's basic plot is simple, it sometimes plays out in completely differently ways than what I'd come to expect. Utena is apparently notorious for its sexual politics (the show includes numerous same-sex couples, hints at student/teacher relationships, and several instances of implied incest). Although these first thirteen episodes have remained fairly tame, I've heard that things really begin to pick up in the second season, so it'll be interesting to see how the various love polygons develop. If anyone else has seen this show, I'd love to hear your thoughts. ~Dagger~

Amazon.com has decent selection of imported OSTs. Numerous smaller sites also offer downloads--though these may come with the usual "delete after twenty-four hours" disclaimer, that doesn't make them legal.... so be forewarned. You'd probably be able to find some anime soundtracks on Ebay, but it's sometimes difficult to tell whether such products are bootlegs or not. In general, the higher the price, the more likely it is that an item will have been obtained and put up for sale through legal means. If you don't have a bottomless wallet, this may not sound very encouraging--but hey, that's life. Anime costs a lot, as do anime OSTs. Sasuke, you mentioned Rhythm Emotion (from Gundam Wing). I love that song! It's incredibly catchy. ~Dagger~

No, I haven't seen Pretear, but I really, really want to. It sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of the "magical girl" genre, but when done right (as in the six-episode show Shamanic Princess), it can be very entertaining. It may be overhyped, but I've heard that Pretear is one of the best shoujo series ever made--this is high praise coming from reviewers who've seen Vision of Escaflowne and Fushigi Yuugi. Plus, it's only thirteen episodes, which means that it won't cost inordinate amounts of money..... and besides, I generally enjoy short shows more than long ones. But enough about me. Without giving anything away (no spoilers, please), what did you like most and least about Pretear? Would acquiring it be worth the expense? ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sara [/i] [SIZE=1][b]Sare-Bear[/b]: Classic nickname. My dad used to call me this....it might have had some connection with [i]Care Bears[/i], and it might not have. It rhymes, anyway. [b]Sadie[/b]: Apparently this is a nickname for "Sara," although I didn't know it. It was mentioned in our script at one point last year, and one of the drama people took to calling me that for a while.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] Heh, that's funny. My name is Sarah, and my dad used to call me Sarah-Bearah..... Interesting coincidence, neh? When I was in fourth grade or so, I was completely smitten with the name "Sadie." Looking back, I have absolutely no idea why (my memories of elementary school are rather hazy), but I tried to convince all my friends that Sadie was my real name. It never really caught on, which I can imagine must have been something of a disappointment. ^__^;; ~Dagger~

Heh, you may be forced to wait a while. From what I've heard, Inuyasha is still running strong in Japan, and shows little sign of stopping--even after five seasons and over one hundred and forty episodes. The manga, too, is incomplete, and so far consists of at least thirty-five volumes. This is all rather daunting... it doesn't help that the Inuyasha DVDs cost approximately $25 each, at a measly three episodes per DVD. It would therefore be quite impractical to collect the entire show through legal means. I just hope that Inuyasha comes to a satisfying conclusion, and that poor Kikyo doesn't get completely shafted. ~Dagger~

Wow, you're very talented. Protecting: The blending is smooth and effective, and you don't go overboard with the pixellation, which is good. It can be a little bit distracting in some areas of the image, but for the most part, it looks pretty darn neat. Blend away Tom Cruise's sleeve and hand (in order to fully reveal the young boy in the center of the wallpaper), and it'll be nearly perfect. The blurry, faded "protecting" in the upper left-hand corner is beautiful and suits the image perfectly. The other text, however, looks too stark. Try either reducing its opacity or changing it to a more natural color (rather than that harsh black). The Last Samurai: Once again, I love the blending, but those plain gray areas leave something to be desired. Try spicing them up--by adding cherry blossoms, for example-- in order to make the wallpaper look more complete. ~Dagger~

I haven't seen either of those series, but from what I've heard (and I pretty much live at Amazon.com, so I've heard quite a lot), Neon Genesis Evangelion is probably [i]much[/i] better. I mean, it ultimately depends on what you personally look for in a show. I'd go for NGE, but that's because I enjoy strong character development and a deep, intriguing plot. Also, its animation is probably far superior to that of Fist of the North Star (especially considering that the latter show was produced in 1984). If it's action you're looking for, I'd buy something that was made more recently. Also, while NGE is twenty-six episodes long, FotNS has over two hundred episodes, so you'd stand a much better chance of collecting the entirety of Neon Genesis Evangelion. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SubaruFan [/i] [B].And also,never beating a nemesis,and like Kagome's always losing the shards,it's an expression that you can't always win and that stories don't always have happy endings. [/B][/QUOTE] What you just mentioned may actually be my favorite aspect of Inuyasha. It's the type of show that I'd expect to dissolve in a big pile of sappiness and happily-ever-afters, and yet never does. To Rumiko Takahashi's credit, Inuyasha can sometimes portray human emotion with truly astonishing realism. The bittersweet love triangle between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyo is perhaps the show's most successful plot device; it almost makes me hope that the series will have a tragic ending, sadistic though that may sound. ~Dagger~

Ashley_the_blr: Welcome to Otakuboards! ^__^ And now for a slight change of subject. I've been wondering why I feel so ambivalent about Inuyasha, and I think that one of my main reasons is the fact that it doesn't really go anywhere. No matter what happens, no matter how many cool new characters are introduced, Naraku always seems to have the upper hand, and the Shikon Jewel shards just keep slipping through Kagome's fingers. Out of all the anime that I've seen or heard of, Inuyasha is alone in being a truly lengthy series (140+ episodes) with only one main villain. Do you think that Naraku's constancy adds something important to this show, or is it actually a weakness? ~Dagger~