Nekova

If this had been posted earlier this month I would hope it was an April Fools joke, but as it is... um... wow. Have any of these people actually thought about the [I]many[/I] factual impossibilities that this theory has?

Actually, this is only about 2-3 years old: it aired in 2003 in Japan. It is really good though. I've been working my way through the fan subs and am amazed at how much I'm into it. I can't believe how different it is than Haibane Renmai (Yoshitoshi ABe's previous anime). The first couple episodes were more graphic than almost anything I'd seen previously!

I get that feeling a lot when I finish an anime series. Not because it's over (one of the things I like best about anime is that most series are planned from the beginning and have a definite, conclusive ending), but because it seems most of the series I own have endings that are absolutely gut wrenching. The first time I watched X, for example, I couldn't think of anything else but that for days afterwards, and I had to go online and learn everything I could about the series. When I finished Wolf's Rain, and a lot of other series, it was the same.

A series that grabbed both me and my friend (the one person who'll spend a full weekend on an anime marathon to finish a series in one sitting) was Wolf's Rain. Even though it slowed down a bit in the middle (especially with the recap episodes), the first episode was amazing in how it gave you exactly enough information on their world to keep you hooked all the way through to the incredible, heart-stopping ending.

A scene that has always stuck with me, and still makes me get all frusterated and emotional when I think about it too long, is the one in X (the series) when [spoiler]Subaru and Seishiro finally fight on the Rainbow Bridge and Seishiro essentially kills himself so that Subaru would live [/spoiler]. If you've read Tokyo Babylon and know their whole back story, there's no way for that not to affect you! Another, also from X, is the scene where Arashi breaks down because [spoiler]Sorata died protecting her [/spoiler]. Her [spoiler]grief[/spoiler], at least in the japanese version, is so heartbreakingly [I]real[/I] that the images and sounds still stand out in my mind, even against such an amazing series. One final one, and one that's a [I]llittle[/I] less tragic, is from Sailor Moon Stars, where Usagi and Seiya are on the roof of the school. She is kneeling on the ground and crying because she [spoiler]misses Mamoru so much[/spoiler], and Seiya kneels in front of her helplessly and asks if she couldn't accept him instead. *sigh* Now I'm all sad after thinking about these parts!

Wow! I went into this show with average expectatations, and have to admit I've been pleasantly surprised. The first few shows seemed average, but #'s 5-7 were way above par and now that I'm up to episode 15 I've got to say this anime has me hooked. Although it's had quite a few episodes done mainly for comedic reasons, the plot and background to the series has started to gain a lot more depth. I think this is shaping up to be one of my favourites, at least if it can keep going strong.

I just saw the first episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and couldn't believe how much I liked it immediately (especially since I'm not a huge mecha fan). The whole father-son relationship, the interactions between everyone else, and the plot in general (as much as was revealed in that one episode) just sucked me in, and now I am waiting [I]anxiously[/I] to see the rest. Usually, even with animes that end up being my favourites, it can take a few shows to really get me involved with the characters. What shows affected you the same way right from the beginning?

The biggest example I can think of is Inuyasha. My friend and I watched the second half of the series in one weekend-long marathon, and when it was over we just looked at each other in disbelief. Absolutely nothing had been settled at all. Most of the anime I have has good endings. Haibane Renmai, Saikano, Now & Then, Here & There, Escaflowne, etc... I think the anime that are planned from the beginning and have a definate number of episodes (eg. 13, 24, 26, etc) usually have complete endings, whereas the ones that are just let to run until people lose interest are more likely to stop without necessarily finishing everything up.

[quote name='Ramen_Mido]I was surprised by the end of Wolfs Rain I mean [spoiler]all the main chacters were killed[/spoiler'] I never expected that.[/quote] Yeah, as soon as I saw this topic heading I thought of wolf's rain. When Cher [spoiler] died in the earthquake [/spoiler], it was so incredibly sudden and unexpected I actually had to stop the dvd for a minute while I processed it. I couldn't believe that something this major could happen so abruptly and without warning. As the others [spoiler] were picked off one by one [/spoiler], it was a little easier to take. Still horrifying and tragic, but at least not quite so heart stopping ([spoiler] at least until Tsume killed Hige, but that was shocking in a whole other way[/spoiler]).

The animation of the people takes a bit of getting used to, but the storyline and the visuals are second to none. This movie is one of the true anime masterpieces that should get a lot more attention than they do.

The last episode had the same "to be continued" message that was on every other episode, and it definately left some gaping plot holes. Does anyone know if they ever plan to pick it up again (for instance, when enough manga are written to compose another season)? I loved this series, but felt totally unsatisfied with the last couple episodes. They would have been awesome as part of the middle of the series, but just left me hanging since (as far as I know) they won't be continued.

I love WotH! I picked it up last year on eBay, and have watched it at least a dozen times. I'm not a huge romance fan, but I love the relationship between these two. For anyone who saw the dub: is it any good? I only have the subbed version, and I might pick up the dub to show my younger neices.

If you asked me a week ago I would have said X, just because of the instrumental pieces used in the last couple episodes. However, since I watched the whole series of A Vision of Escaflowne yesterday (anime marathon with a friend), I now have to change my answer. The classical music that plays in the various battles throughout the series in incredible! I'd never heard it put to use in an anime before. I don't know if they were actual classical pieces or if they were all created just for the series (they vaguely reminded me of O Fortuna from Carmen in a few places), but they worked so well with the visuals it gave me goose bumps. I also loved the more pop-inspired opening theme and the song that plays when Hitome finds a cd in the marketplace.

I'm so depressed. My friend and I had a weekend marathon and watched all of Sailor Moon Stars (we'd both been following this show since the first season aired on YTV so many years ago). I absolutely loved season 5 (after Sailor Moon Super S I was worried it would be just as infantile). It had the best possible ending after awesome episodes the whole way though. But now I realize that it's DONE. There are no other movies or series to look forward to. It's so sad, at least for me. I'm into a tonne of other anime as well, but since this was my first anime love it's like a door has closed. *sigh* The only question I had at the end was how the whole NeoTokyo thing gets started. I was hoping there would be a few clues or something that would hint at their future. Did anyone else ever wonder about that? But that was the only thing I could pick at. I absolutely loved the character of Usagi over the years. And I LOVED Seiya! By the end I wasn't sure who I wanted to end up with Usagi (Mamoru or Seiya). The scene on the rooftop in the rain where [spoiler]she starts crying because she missed Mamoru and Seiya asks her if she couldn't accept him instead[/spoiler] made my heart break. Over all, I think Sailor Moon Stars is the best season of a generally incredible series and I wish I could see more.

[quote name='Kune]I never watched Tokyo Bablon, so I don't know much about Subaru's history XP. What happened between him and that guy just confused me lol, I still don't get why they [spoiler] killed his sister [/spoiler']. [/quote] I watched X once, and had the same questions you did about Subaru and Seisheiro. Then I read the Tokyo Babylon manga, and watched X again. Once you know the history behind them, their story in X becomes the most important and tragic (at least to me). In the manga, [spoiler]Subaru is an older friend of Subaru and his sister Hokuto. Over the course of a year he causes Subaru to fall in love with him (for extremely complex reasons I'm not going to get into), and then revealed that he was the sakurazukamori (a master assassin) and tried to kill him. He couldn't do it though, because he had let himself like Subaru more than he planned on. Hokuto later went to Seishiro and made him a bargain. He would kill her in Subaru's place and leave Subaru alone[/spoiler]. Once you know that (and I highly reccommend reading the manga so that you get the whole story), their scenes in X make a lot more sense. Let's hear it for the yaoi!

This is one of the best Ghibli films, one of the best anime, and one of the best [I]movies[/I] period I've ever seen. I think this film should be mandatory viewing. It's one of very few movies that, in my opinion anyway, would change the outlooks of every person who watched it.

I loved this series, even with one of of the most depressing endings I've ever seen! I had a thought though. I wonder how the ending would have gone if Cher [spoiler]was still alive[/spoiler]. Darcia seemed to have a soft spot for her. There was nothing romantic, but he was always willing to have her around. Too bad they [spoiler] had to kill her off [/spoiler] in episode 27.

Didn't the endings seem very similar? I love both, but when I was thinking about the ending of WR I noticed how close they were. In both series, [spoiler]the companions of the main person are picked off one by one and violently killed, and then the protagonist and antagonist die, and then they're all reborn not knowing each other[/spoiler]. It was suggested to me that this is a common theme in anime. Can anyone think of any other examples? What are your thoughts?

My favourites are mostly Ghibli movies. Grave of the Fireflies and Princess Mononoke are in first place, followed closely (in no particular order) by Pom Poko, Ghost in the Shell, Whisper of the Heart, Tokyo Godfathers, and Metropolis. If you can't tell, it's hard for me to narrow the list down to my all time favourite!

Does anyone know if the Inuyasha series will be extended? The last episode was extremely openended, and there was a bit of a teaser with members of the 'cast' asking you to wait and see what happens next, but I never hear anything except rumours of new movies. Will the series continue?

I read the books about five years ago, and remember loving them even though I only vaguely remember the plot. I'll have to pick them up again so I can refresh my memories in the near future. I don't know how closely it will follow the books though. If the director is anything like his father, the similarities will end with the names (and it won't necissarily be a bad thing).

It stops so suddenly after episode 167. Are they waiting for more manga to be written first, or is it just going to end there?

You can definately see this in some anime. In Inuyasha, for example, it's definately true. Inuyasha is strong, but Sesshomaru (who has longer hair) is stronger. Naroku gets longer hair throughout the series as he undergoes transformations and becomes more invinceable. Of course, I wouldn't say it's a general rule for all. Fuma, in X, has shorter hair (not a whole lot longer than a brush cut) than almost anyone, but he totally kicks @-- in any battle he's in. Kakyo is the weakest of anone (even Hinoto manages to kill [I]someone[/I] ) but he has the longest hair. I guess it's like any other theory. You can make it work for some, but not for all.

[QUOTE=serenayasha]what makes sad anime parts so sad. i cry so much when good charater die or get hurt or worst but never know what makes me cry so bad( and it aint because i'm a cry baby) [COLOR=Red]do any of you know? If so as there ever been anime part you know that would mak the toughest person alive cry.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] Just about every single part of Grave of the Fireflies. I can't think of any other movie that affected me the way that one did, and there isn't a single scene that seems contrived or melodramatic. It's simply the most tragic and yet most amazing film ever created (in my humble opinion).

I'd go with Sorata from X/1999. If I'm going to be stuck on a deserted island for who knows how long, I'd rather be with someone who'd likely make me laugh!