Dagger

[quote name='Ani_Freak'][color=navy]Oh I see. A Couple of friends told me it was good, but not great. I'll see if I can find a preview somewhere, I am pretty sure NewType sent a DvD with an episode sometime ago lol. Thank you for the heads up.[/color][/QUOTE] Gunslinger Girl doesn't have universal appeal. Some fans think the world of it, though (I'm one of them). It has richly animated action scenes, but it's not an action series. I think that's where the problem stems from--people want it to be a dramatic, smash-bang production when really it's a slice-of-life show that happens to be about little girl cyborgs. It's quiet, subtle and kind of heartbreaking. There's a lot of character exploration but no saving-the-world story. And, as is probably appropriate for a show that deals with counter-terrorism, it's never clear who's really good or bad. ~Dagger~

Great second episode. All of the comedy (well, mainly the personalities of Isaac, Miria & Jacuzzi) teeters on the edge of being [i]oh God kill it now[/i] annoying without tipping fully in that direction. Quite a feat. I like how the music changes the mood. ETA: Interesting little tidbit about Ennis [spoiler]having been "made"...[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

[quote name='Avenged666fold']I thought it was pretty good. Fitting for the series in my opinion.[/QUOTE] I like it--the first time I watched the series in full, I stuck to the English version--but it doesn't stand up to a lot of newer dubs. That said, there are some stunning individual performances. Rachael Lillis as Utena in episode 33 is just brilliant. The critical scene relies entirely on the power of her monologue. ~Dagger~

So I just watched episode 12 of [b]Dennou Coil[/b], which is one of the single best (and funniest) anime episodes I've ever seen. Even if you're not that interested in the series as a whole, you owe it to yourself to check this out. The jargon established in earlier episodes might go over your head, but the main point won't. ~Dagger~

I'm also playing Tales of the Abyss. I've finished the main storyline but am still finding reasons to muck around in it.

[quote name='Lunox'][font="trebuchet ms"]Any recs?[/font][/QUOTE] Gunbuster 2. :p Good ongoing series: Seirei no Moribito, Dennou Coil, Mononoke, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Baccano! (depending on how future episodes develop). Good recent movies: 5cm Per Second, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo. The second episode of Mononoke [i]freaked me out[/i]. It's the perfect example of how a story can be horrific without showing any on-screen violence. There's maybe one drop of blood in the whole thing. Everything else is either off-screen or alluded to symbolically--those hideously creepy red ribbons and so forth. I might start a topic for the series. It leaves a fair amount up for interpretation, so there should be fodder for discussion. ~Dagger~

The fights in Jubei-chan are decent. I don't think you'd like the comedy or the story (I did, but it's Akitaroh Daichi at his wackiest, and I get the impression that it isn't your kind of thing). However, the fights in Jubei-chan 2 are simply unmissable. Those are the ones you'll want to fast-forward to... and gape at, and watch again and again. ~Dagger~

[quote name='Raiyuu'][b]Heroic Age[/b] (giant robots in space, except some of the giant robots are [i]really[/i] giant, are the remnants of an extinct alien race and live in certain people's right eyes)[/quote] Woo! Someone else is watching Heroic Age! You just inspired me to catch up with the last few episodes. *runs in happy circles* Bonus points for Murakami. If he doesn't get the Nobel Prize in the next ten years, I will take it as clear proof that there ain't no justice in the world. ~Dagger~

So you like high fantasy... what about urban fantasy? Here are some recs, in no particular order (some young adult, some adult, just a couple of urban fantasies): [url=http://www.amazon.com/Amulet-Samarkand-Bartimaeus-Trilogy-Book/dp/0786852550/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888595&sr=1-2][u]The Amulet of Samarkand[/u][/url] by Jonathan Stroud [size=1](see also: The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Book-1-Stephenie-Meyer/dp/0316015849/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888487&sr=8-1][u]Twilight[/u][/url] by Stephenie Meyer [size=1](see also: New Moon, Eclipse)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Neverwhere-Novel-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060557818/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888658&sr=1-1][u]Neverwhere[/u][/url] by Neil Gaiman [size=1](see also: Anansi Boys, Good Omens, American Gods, Coraline, Stardust)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Lovely-Melissa-Marr/dp/0061214655/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888560&sr=1-1][u]Wicked Lovely[/u][/url] by Melissa Marr [url=http://www.amazon.com/Thief-Megan-Whalen-Turner/dp/0060824972/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888794&sr=1-1][u]The Thief[/u][/url] by Megan Whalen Turner [size=1](see also: The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Gard-Elizabeth-Marie-Pope/dp/0618150730/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888866&sr=1-1][u]The Perilous Gard[/u][/url] by Elizabeth Marie Pope [url=http://www.amazon.com/Night-Watch-Sergei-Lukyanenko/dp/1401359795/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888927&sr=1-1][u]Night Watch[/u][/url] by Sergei Lukyanenko [size=1](see also: Day Watch, Twilight Watch)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Master-Margarita-Mikhail-Bulgakov/dp/0679760806/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186888974&sr=1-1][u]The Master and Margarita[/u][/url] by Mikhail Bulgakov [url=http://www.amazon.com/Thirteenth-Tale-Novel-Diane-Setterfield/dp/0743298020/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889003&sr=1-2][u]The Thirteenth Tale[/u][/url] by Diane Setterfield [url=http://www.amazon.com/Historian-Elizabeth-Kostova/dp/0316154547/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889030&sr=1-1][u]The Historian[/u][/url] by Elizabeth Kostova [url=http://www.amazon.com/Crown-Originally-Published-Books-Firebird/dp/0142301515/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889116&sr=1-1][u]Crown Duel[/u][/url] by Sherwood Smith [url=http://www.amazon.com/Tricksters-Choice-Daughter-Lioness-Book/dp/0375814663/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889142&sr=1-2][u]Trickster's Choice[/u][/url] by Tamora Pierce [size=1](see also: Trickster's Queen, the Song of the Lioness series, the Immortals series)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Last-Unicorn-Peter-S-Beagle/dp/0451450523/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889224&sr=1-1][u]The Last Unicorn[/u][/url] by Peter S. Beagle [url=http://www.amazon.com/Hyperion-Dan-Simmons/dp/0553283685/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889257&sr=1-2][u]Hyperion[/u][/url] by Dan Simmons [size=1](see also: The Fall of Hyperion)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Great-Terrible-Beauty-Readers-Circle/dp/0385732317/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889400&sr=8-2][u]A Great and Terrible Beauty[/u][/url] by Libba Bray [size=1](see also: Rebel Angels)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Tithe-Modern-Faerie-Holly-Black/dp/0689867042/ref=pd_bbs_9/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889400&sr=8-9][u]Tithe[/u][/url] by Holly Black [size=1](see also: Valiant, Ironside, The Spiderwick Chronicles)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/dp/0553376055/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889503&sr=1-1][u]How I Live Now[/u][/url] by Meg Rosoff [url=http://www.amazon.com/Astonishing-Octavian-Nothing-Traitor-Nation/dp/0763624020/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889578&sr=1-1][u]The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party[/u][/url] by M.T. Anderson [url=http://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Daphne-Du-Maurier/dp/0380778556/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186890393&sr=8-2][u]Rebecca[/u][/url] by Daphne du Maurier [url=http://www.amazon.com/Privilege-Sword-Ellen-Kushner/dp/0553586963/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186889699&sr=1-1][u]The Privilege of the Sword[/u][/url] by Ellen Kushner [size=1](see also: Thomas the Rhymer, Swordspoint, The Fall of the Kings)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Deerskin-Robin-McKinley/dp/0441012396/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186890654&sr=1-1][u]Deerskin[/u][/url] by Robin McKinley [size=1](see also: The Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword)[/size] [url=http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Master-Patricia-McKillip/dp/0441005969/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186890709&sr=1-1][u]Riddle-Master[/u][/url] by Patricia A. McKillip [url=http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Kingdoms-Hardcover-Sea-Shadow/dp/1598169467/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186891010&sr=8-1][u]The Twelve Kingdoms, Vol. 1: Sea of Shadow[/u][/url] by Fuyumi Ono [url=http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Claw-First-Half-Book/dp/0312890176/ref=sr_1_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186891212&sr=1-1][u]Shadow & Claw[/u][/url] by Gene Wolfe [size=1](see also: Sword & Citadel)[/size] That's off the top of my head and based on what I've read in recent memory (hence leaving out stuff like Jane Yolen's excellent dragon series and a lot of YA I haven't had the time to revisit). I'd have been happy to provide descriptions for all of them, but... well, that might have taken up too much time & space. :animeswea Since you know your tastes better than I do, please feel free to ask me further questions if anything catches your interest. One or two items on the list are not fantasy or sci-fi, strictly speaking. However, they still have that kind of feeling to them. I didn't realize Octavian Nothing was historical fiction until I was well past the point of no return. The Thirteenth Tale is like one of those crazy Bronte-esque novels from the 1800s... it may not have spells flying around, but it sure as heck doesn't feel like contemporary reality. Same goes for Rebecca. ~Dagger~

BONES clearly did episodes 17 & 18 in their sleep, but I'll forgive them because the final arcs will doubtless be outstanding. ~Dagger~

If you liked The Princess Bride, go see Stardust [i]right now[/i]. Based on a (graphic) novel written by the ever-delightful Neil Gaiman, it's a deviously hilarious fairy tale. There's a falling star who turns out to be a temperamental girl with a broken leg, sky pirates who bottle lightning, a trio of witches led by Michelle Pfeiffer, a supremely adorable mouse and gags that run the gamut from blink-and-you-miss-them to uproariously obvious. I'm going to see it again. And maybe, if I watch it multiple times, that will (by some magical process) help give Good Omens a similarly excellent film adaptation... Robert De Niro's performance was, um, unforgettable. :animeswea ~Dagger~

The Chevalier novel, manga & anime were all planned out by Tow Ubakata (the writer of the good parts of Fafner, as well as Heroic Age and several acclaimed sci-fi novels). However, their storylines differ, sometimes rather drastically. Personally I love the character designs in the anime. Production I.G. made them subtly gorgeous (as BONES did with designs from the same person in Kurau). It's nothing like Hellsing as far as I know... and no, the plot is not episodic. It more or less hits the ground running. ~Dagger~

You might want to check out [b]Mononoke[/b] (which Kanji mentioned, and which I'm also watching currently) if you like Gankutsuou's art style. Not that they're the same--Mononoke is way further out there, so to speak. Incredible backgrounds. ~Dagger~

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"] it looks like it takes itself very seriously, which I'm not sure about, but with your reccommendation it can't be bad.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] Ahahahaha. Couldn't be further from the truth. One might even view the show as a never-ending spiral of self-mockery. It certainly doesn't hesitate to make fun of everything that came before it in the genre. (Wait... I thought you liked yuri? How have you [i]not[/i] seen this?) ~Dagger~

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]The only show I've been recording and making special effort to view at it's times is [B]His and Her Circumstances[/B], which, within 3 episodes, has proven itself to be to most amazing shoujo ever. I can't wait to see it through.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] If you've got the Funi channel, you can also watch [b]Revolutionary Girl Utena[/b], which [i]is[/i] the most amazing shoujo ever. :p The dub in the earlier episodes isn't up to par, unfortunately (and some would say that it never gets particularly good). At this moment--literally--I'm watching [b]Seirei no Moribito[/b]. In addition to having an awesome older heroine, it boasts the most likable and intelligent child character I've seen in a while. Really looking forward to seeing this again when it comes out on DVD. ~Dagger~

[size=1]That's awesome. I'm totally picturing a Cullen-Black hybrid right now. Like... a gigantic Edward who gets mad really easily. XD[/size] [quote name='Clurr'][FONT="Arial"]I was horrified when [spoiler]Bella realized she was [i]in love[/i] with Jacob. I was certain she wouldn't leave Edward, but I just couldn't get over her feelings.[/spoiler] I think I'm fine now, but maaaaan. I panicked.[/FONT][/QUOTE] Same here! I [i]knew[/i] there was no way that a series which has been built around [spoiler]Edward/Bella[/spoiler] from the very beginning would change that drastically, but I still couldn't help getting disproportionately distraught over it. I also hoped that [spoiler]Bella would change[/spoiler] in this book, but at least it didn't happen toward the very end, leaving us all in (even worse) suspense. I'm curious about how Ms. Meyer will handle it. The first three books each take place in a relatively short period of time. Once [spoiler]Bella changes,[/spoiler] will the story linger on [spoiler]her struggle to control herself during the first few years[/spoiler] or fast-forward? Apparently sales have been fabulous, but that's no surprise. ~Dagger~

Freud has been pretty much 100% discredited* by modern psychology, though. Or is that what you were saying? Anyway, I guess part of me is leery about accepting definitive statements like "women are attracted to men because of X" or vice versa. As you said, there's so much we don't know--so much that even respected studies don't realize they have to account for. Any insights into complex behavior (e.g. everything related to marriage, sleeping around, romance, raising kids) are subject to endless change, refinement and contradiction. Studies of this nature can yield interesting** results, but I don't think they should ever be taken as an actual explanation for what goes on in a modern society. There are just too many factors. *Which is funny, because English teachers still love him. **I recently read yet another article about how women like masculine-faced men for one-night stands but prefer men with more feminine features as long-term partners, particularly for raising children. "Huh," I thought. "Cool." As with anything else in the area, though, I would rather not risk reading too much into it. ~Dagger~

Good response, but I was actually thinking of it the other way around! :p Some guys seem to love seeing women stroll around the house in a man's shirt (as part of the morning after image). The same reasoning could apply, of course. ~Dagger~

I think it's a bit odd, actually, that people refer back to evolutionary theory when trying to explain why this or that couple is together. They say that initial attractiveness has to do with child-creating potential or whatever, but the ultimate reasons that people get involved in long-term relationships are [I]way[/I] too complicated to be reduced to evolution. Heck, even sexual attraction can't be easily accounted for by evolution etc. Why do I get weak-kneed when people wear glasses? What's with the "girl wearing her boyfriend's shirt" fetish? ~Dagger~

Good luck with getting your hands on it! As an aside, there are some great humorous moments in Eclipse. I can't remember if Twilight or New Moon were particularly funny, as it's been a while since I read them, but the occasional comic relief came as a tremendous relief (heh) this time around. I'm thinking of making this the next book-snippet in my sig: [size=1]His eyes narrowed slightly. "But I [i]am[/i] a werewolf," he said unwillingly. "And he [i]is[/i] a vampire," he added with obvious revulsion. "And I'm a Virgo!" I shouted, exasperated.[/size] :animesmil ~Dagger~

Just finished Eclipse! [url=http://www.amazon.com/Eclipse-Twilight-Book-Stephenie-Meyer/dp/0316160202/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4768142-6212910?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186525538&sr=8-1][u]Amazon[/u][/url] has a decent plot teaser, MadHatter. I'd rather not post it myself, since it spoils New Moon... First of all, my absolute favorite part of the novel was the way it broadened the series' world. The history lessons were fascinating, and I loved learning about [spoiler]Rosalie and Jasper's pasts, the "third wife," and Sam, Emily and Leah.[/spoiler] Now, here's the thing. In most cases, I adore [spoiler]a good love triangle.[/spoiler] But. [spoiler]This was a pretty painful book to read, especially as you get toward the end (when Meyer once again shows off her talent for bringing things to an nail-biting and twisty close, practically Harry Potter-style). I thought New Moon had run me ragged emotionally, and I'm the most surprised of all to admit that Eclipse tops it in every respect.[/spoiler] Did I like the fact that [spoiler]Bella cared about Jacob in that way?[/spoiler] No. But did it ring 100% true for the character? Yes. [spoiler]And of course, she didn't like it any more than I did.[/spoiler] Agonizing. Jesus H. Christ, does it suck to be [spoiler]Edward. [i]And[/i] Bella. [i]And[/i] Jacob.[/spoiler] The epilogue [i]killed[/i] me, not in the least because it's kind of a cliffhanger. I'll be back to post more when I've recovered... ~Dagger~

Oh my gosh, this thread makes me so happy. I am about to speed to the store and buy Eclipse. (Squee, squee, squee.) People complained about the extreme teenage girl love-angst in New Moon, but I ate it up... while it's not exactly admirable behavior, I've been there personally, and the person involved was [I]hardly[/I] my true love vampire soul mate. From that perspective, I found Bella's actions to be embarrassingly realistic. That said, I'm hoping for MOAR EDWARD in Eclipse. :catgirl: ~Dagger~

Hikaru no Go also uses Obata character designs, but since the characters are younger than those in Death Note, the resemblance doesn't become apparent until later in the series. ~Dagger~

Awesome show. Awesome (& helpful, haha) OP. The rather metafictional lead-in convinced me that I was in good storytelling hands with this series. After that I just sat back to enjoy the ride. Love those resurrection scenes. You guys have covered most of the relevant first episode stuff better than I could, so I thought I'd touch more on the voice acting. Because I like the "weird" voices so far, it was disappointing to hear Takehito Koyasu basically going on autopilot as Luck. I mean, he's never a [i]bad[/i] casting choice, but this role isn't exactly a stretch for him... Contrast that with Kappei Yamaguchi, who sounded amaaaazingly creepy as Chic (and he had very few lines to work with, too). I like Hiroyuki Yoshino's easygoing and slightly uncultured Firo. His voice has a distinctive timbre to it, but if his other roles are anything to go by, he's still fairly versatile. Mitsuru Miyamoto also stands out as Maiza. Looking forward to hearing more of the ladies. ~Dagger~

It depends, obviously. Of course I prefer talking to friends and family in person (with the phone & email coming second and third, respectively). But if it's someone who I will probably never be close to--e.g. a brief acquaintance or a superior--I'd much rather use email. I hate IM. ~Dagger~