VIEWING CONQUESTS
Naruto Shippuden (disk 1) - thank goodness for the time jump. The characters have all grown up (at least a bit), Naruto is a bit less obnoxious and it looks like the storyline will finally be getting darker. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Akatsuki and finding out what Sasuke has been up to. Good stuff.
Gassaraki (disk 1) - I have a feeling this could be really good, but I was a bit run down when I watched it. The animation is very good for an older show, and the plot seems to be complex and well-crafted (near future, mecha-related show; there is a mystical element, as well). Will need to re-watch.
Soul Eater (Volume, 1-13) - such a fun series. Got to see the beginning of it (and its English premier) at NY Anime Fest 2009. Though some of the characters can be grating, the energy is great, the animation distinctive and stylized, and the plot involving. Love the fight scenes, and it has a good sarcastic edge to it. LOVED meeting Excalibur (the most sarcastic sword ever -- FOOL!). Can't wait for the next volume to release later this month.
Crest of the Stars (Episodes 11-13) - got this from Netflix, finally got to finish the season. The voice acting is pretty stiff, but the character development is excellent and the plot is complex and subtle. It is science fiction/space opera fare, but truly intelligent. Looking forward to getting the next related series (the sequel Banner of the Stars).
The Wallflower (Episodes 9-13) - This is one of the most incredibly haywire shows I've ever seen. Take the normal bishōnen show and then mix in a healthy dose of occult via a female lead who is obsessed with the occult and is literally afraid of beautiful people. Put her in the house with the four gorgeous bishōnen guys and let the good times roll. Not advisable for guys, but really amusing.
READING CONQUESTS
Ouran High School Host Club (Volume 6) - finally getting some of the back story for Tamaki, which makes his character have more depth than would otherwise be apparent. Also start learning more about every one's family via a school festival (where parents come to the school). It is a fun series, with enough light hearted-ness cut with sarcasm to be enjoyable.
PURCHASED CONQUESTS
Evangelion 1.11: You Are Not Alone - on Blu-Ray, yay! But will definitely have to be in the mood for something this dark.
Ergo Proxy - finally own the series. Maybe if I re-watch it, it's convoluted, science fiction-themed plot will finally make sense. Either way, love the voice acting in this one and the animation brings across the post-apolcolyptic and brooding mood perfectly.
Full Metal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa (Blu-Ray) - will be fun to revisit the FMA universe.
Witchblade (Blu-Ray) - Will be good to see this series in Blu-Ray for the first time (not sure when I will have the leisure to do so, though). Be forewarned, though, first-time viewers -- the anatomy of the main female lead and a number of the supporting females is, in a word, impossible. Fanservice in the extreme. But still has great action sequences, so a good watch.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (volumes 3-6) - this fills out my complete collection of Moribito. Still haven't watched the last disk. But it does mean I can now lend out this series (it is so gorgeous and emotionally truthful, great fight scenes, just a class act all the way around). Looking forward to finally finishing it out.
Gunslinger Girl (Viridian Collection) - this show is amazing but very, very disturbing. The premise is a secret government agent that operates under the guise of taking care of orphans and other children who have catastrophic injuries. The truth is it takes such children - all little girls - and gives them advanced medical treatment, simultaneous repairing physical damage and augmenting their strength and physical power. They are then brainwashed and conditioned and finally trained as assassins. This is "girls with guns" at its essence, only done intelligently and with great artistry. Really only bought this version to have Troy Baker sign it (at A&G Ohio); will be getting the Blu-Ray in coming weeks and I'm sure it will be indescribably gorgeous in that medium.
Code Geass (Season 1 Part 1) - Ah, Lelouch. How I've missed you. An anti-hero to rival Light Yagami in Death Note. Some bits of camp, a lead who is arrogant, brilliant, sometimes misguided, and more than once gets his comeuppance from foes he underestimates, all combine for an enjoyable show. Though I admit I've taken a break from it in later episodes because I just wasn't in the mood for some of the moral issues it brings up (same deal with Death Note, actually). Will eventually revisit and finish it out, just not right now.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Day 2: A&G Ohio
One of the lovely things about being at a con is getting away from normal errands and responsibilities. This means that on Day 2, I got to sleep in. Late. Very late. So nice.
When I finally dragged myself out of bed and got dressed, I made it downstairs in time to go to the Q and A session with the voice actors. They answered questions from the audience about voicing video game characters, the worst animes they'd ever been involved in, con stories, etc. Troy answered questions about getting into voice acting. Chris discussed the music he likes. D.C. talked about doing film and TV and only recently getting into voice acting. All three explained how they realize at any point the acting jobs could dry up and what they might do if that happened (Troy would consider working in sound recording or teaching, Chris might be a counselor, and D.C. had been doing "day jobs" as recently as six years ago).
After lunch I made my first trip to the Dealer's Room. It was better equipped than I expected. There were tons of Japanese snacks (Pocky, beverages, gummi candies), key chains and patches, artwork, costumes, cosplay weapons, manga and DVDs. I gave in to temptation and bought the volumes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit that I was missing (so now I own the complete series), Gunslinger Girl (really just bought it so Troy Baker could sign it -- I should be getting the Blu-Ray edition in the next week, but it hasn't been released yet), and Code Geass: Season 1 Part 1. I also bought a couple of mementos to pass on to friends and family.
Got near the very front of the line for the second autograph session and happily got Chris Patton to sign Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, The Wallflower, Baccano!, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid and Princess Tutu. I then was lucky enough to get Troy Baker to sign my newly purchased Gunslinger Girl and Code Geass. Looked around for a bit - saw a guy cosplaying as Alex Louis Armstrong of FMA (this method of cosplaying has been passed down through the Armstrong family for generations!!!).
I headed upstairs and after lazing around in my room for a while - working on blog entries, watching some Soul Eater, getting in my daily workout - I ordered some room service, chowed down while watching some Golden Girls (I don't know why, but I love that show) and then got my stuff together to venture downstairs again.
I tried to make a bee line for the Dealer's Room but found it closed for the evening. This means I'll have to get my ass to bed early so I have time to get up in the morning, exercise, pack up, and make one more soujourn to the Dealer's Room to pick up a few more knickknacks and some Japanese goodies (for some co-workers who have been putting in long hours -- what could be better than Pocky and gummies?). And all that has to be done while losing an hour tonight (curse Daylight Savings Time).
With the Dealer's Room no longer on the evening's agenda I headed to the hotel's restaurant and sat down at the bar. D.C. Douglas was there talking to some of the (very patient, loving and amazing) mothers who had brought their teens to the con. I actually ordered a drink (first one of 2010), and nursed it for about an hour while talking to a very nice woman about anime. Ten o'clock rolled around and I headed to a panel led by Troy Baker. The panel was about gaming, so most of it went right over my head. But it was cool to hear Troy (who is incredibly articulate and has a knack for drawing conversation out of panel attendees) talk so animatedly and passionately about gaming -- and not just strategy, but quality of story, plot lines, character arcs, voice work, and graphics of gaming.
Panel was winding down when someone came in and instructed everyone to leave via the outside exit door - apparently some (incredibly immature, douche-bag-y) con-goer had pulled the fire alarm. There was a fire truck and an ambulance outside. After about 15 minutes in the chilly night air, with rain spitting down in fits and starts (OK, I was only outside for about 5 minutes, I spent the remaining 10 sitting in my car listening to a lecture about the Roman emperors -- I hate rain and I'm a nerd), the alarm was called off and everyone was allowed back in.
Day 2 was pretty low-key. Wish there were more anime-based panels, but I'm sure I'll get more than my fill of that at the three cons next month. Not feeling up to braving the 21+ party tonight -- hell, I'm almost 30 and can't keep up with these younger kids! Signing off for Day 2. . . .
When I finally dragged myself out of bed and got dressed, I made it downstairs in time to go to the Q and A session with the voice actors. They answered questions from the audience about voicing video game characters, the worst animes they'd ever been involved in, con stories, etc. Troy answered questions about getting into voice acting. Chris discussed the music he likes. D.C. talked about doing film and TV and only recently getting into voice acting. All three explained how they realize at any point the acting jobs could dry up and what they might do if that happened (Troy would consider working in sound recording or teaching, Chris might be a counselor, and D.C. had been doing "day jobs" as recently as six years ago).
After lunch I made my first trip to the Dealer's Room. It was better equipped than I expected. There were tons of Japanese snacks (Pocky, beverages, gummi candies), key chains and patches, artwork, costumes, cosplay weapons, manga and DVDs. I gave in to temptation and bought the volumes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit that I was missing (so now I own the complete series), Gunslinger Girl (really just bought it so Troy Baker could sign it -- I should be getting the Blu-Ray edition in the next week, but it hasn't been released yet), and Code Geass: Season 1 Part 1. I also bought a couple of mementos to pass on to friends and family.
Got near the very front of the line for the second autograph session and happily got Chris Patton to sign Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, The Wallflower, Baccano!, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid and Princess Tutu. I then was lucky enough to get Troy Baker to sign my newly purchased Gunslinger Girl and Code Geass. Looked around for a bit - saw a guy cosplaying as Alex Louis Armstrong of FMA (this method of cosplaying has been passed down through the Armstrong family for generations!!!).
I headed upstairs and after lazing around in my room for a while - working on blog entries, watching some Soul Eater, getting in my daily workout - I ordered some room service, chowed down while watching some Golden Girls (I don't know why, but I love that show) and then got my stuff together to venture downstairs again.
I tried to make a bee line for the Dealer's Room but found it closed for the evening. This means I'll have to get my ass to bed early so I have time to get up in the morning, exercise, pack up, and make one more soujourn to the Dealer's Room to pick up a few more knickknacks and some Japanese goodies (for some co-workers who have been putting in long hours -- what could be better than Pocky and gummies?). And all that has to be done while losing an hour tonight (curse Daylight Savings Time).
With the Dealer's Room no longer on the evening's agenda I headed to the hotel's restaurant and sat down at the bar. D.C. Douglas was there talking to some of the (very patient, loving and amazing) mothers who had brought their teens to the con. I actually ordered a drink (first one of 2010), and nursed it for about an hour while talking to a very nice woman about anime. Ten o'clock rolled around and I headed to a panel led by Troy Baker. The panel was about gaming, so most of it went right over my head. But it was cool to hear Troy (who is incredibly articulate and has a knack for drawing conversation out of panel attendees) talk so animatedly and passionately about gaming -- and not just strategy, but quality of story, plot lines, character arcs, voice work, and graphics of gaming.
Panel was winding down when someone came in and instructed everyone to leave via the outside exit door - apparently some (incredibly immature, douche-bag-y) con-goer had pulled the fire alarm. There was a fire truck and an ambulance outside. After about 15 minutes in the chilly night air, with rain spitting down in fits and starts (OK, I was only outside for about 5 minutes, I spent the remaining 10 sitting in my car listening to a lecture about the Roman emperors -- I hate rain and I'm a nerd), the alarm was called off and everyone was allowed back in.
Day 2 was pretty low-key. Wish there were more anime-based panels, but I'm sure I'll get more than my fill of that at the three cons next month. Not feeling up to braving the 21+ party tonight -- hell, I'm almost 30 and can't keep up with these younger kids! Signing off for Day 2. . . .
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Day 1: A&G Ohio
Made it to Cincinnati later than I planned to on Friday (day 1 of the con) - for some reason I can never seem to get myself out the door when I want to. Always one more thing to do, one more disk to pack, one more errand to run. . . . But I finally departed around 2:00 pm and had a fairly uneventful ride down to Cincinnati. I arrived just before 6:00 (after a gas/food stop), and just as a monster of a storm was blowing in.
Hotel is well-equipped, rooms are nice and so far the room is quiet (almost unheard of when you are staying at the hotel where the con is hosted). The hotel's restaurant is pretty decent, and there is a mall and tons of stores around here.
But, more importantly, the guests are AWESOME. Went to the first autograph signing, which featured Troy Baker and Chris Patton (both voice actors), and D. C. Douglas (actor). They were given a microphone and continually offered humorous asides (making random announcements to the crowd about someone with their lights on in the parking lot, and then repeating the message in a variety of langauges; asking autograph seekers for their name and hometown and then announcing such information to the crowd; just generally being silly).
I brought an obscene number of DVDs up to be signed, fully expecting to only be able to get some of them signed. I asked Troy what the limit was, and he was kind enough to say "For you, no limit." I immediately handed Troy Trinity Blood, Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, Darker Than BLACK, and Naruto Shippuden. Well, I think Chris Patton may have regretted Troy's "no limit' pronouncement because I promptly presented him with Welcome to the NHK, Full Metal Panic!, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, Ghost Stories, Peacemaker, RahXephon, and Peacemaker. And for tomorrow's signing, I plan on bringing down Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid, Princess Tutu, Fullmetal Alchemist, the Wallflower, Baccano!, and Soul Eater.
Last event I attended for the day was a panel, "Chris Patton Shares Too Much." Chris said the genesis of the panel was his idea to have a panel where he basically shares TMI. Apparently he often would just have things slip in regular panels and figured having an 18+, no-holds-barred panel would be a good idea. The whole panel had high energy, copious curse words, and topics not for the faint of heart. No questions were out of bounds, and the only questions he said he would not answer is anything that would require badmouthing any companies he worked for or other voice actors, and he refused to give out his room number (seemed a wise decision).
Within a few minutes of the panel starting, whenever anyone opened the door to see what the panel was about, Chris would loudly yell out "Come on in, bitches." Most came in, though at least one or two women left in quite a huff. He admitted and it was pretty obvious that he had consumed a good deal of Red Bull earlier in the evening. Something that many panel-attenders knew, and which would become clear to anyone in the panel, is that Chris is gay. Sorry, ladies - the voice of Sousuke Sagara will not be going home with you. At one point he made a comment about someone and said: "That's so retarded. Damn, I mean 'That's so special needs!'"
Many highly inappropriate questions were asked. For example;
Q: How big is your penis?
A: It isn't embarrassing or impressive, around 7 inches. But I don't know the circumference.
This line of questioning went on for a bit. We heard con stories (fans camping out outside his room, fangirls rubbing their naughty bits on him at anime con dance parties, cosplay outfits that shouldn't have seen the light of day). We heard about fans from his Facebook page who also joined Facebook pages opposing gay marriage and gay rights (Chris' response: Really? I mean, really? Why are you a fan of mine, then?). He told stories of growing up Catholic, with a Jesuit priest for an uncle (who apparently was wonderful to him and very supportive of who he is), dating girls in high school, his mother doing an occult banishing spell to get a harmful influence out of his life, and when he "dated" a guy who believed himself to be a vampire (they broke up when the dude tried to bite Chris' neck). Also, he has dated both men and women, but (in his words): "Women are crazy and guys are stupid. I can deal with stupid. But I can't handle crazy." (or something very close to that). He also enumerated his general dislike for butt sex ("dookie comes out of there!"). All in all, definitely not safe for those under the age of 18.
Upon request, he did Sasame's voice from Pretear and did a Word's Gate segment (Pretear is a somewhat mediocre series, but with some great voice actors, and Sasame is a character who's power lies in sound, his day job is as a radio personality). Something along the lines of: "This is Sasame's Word Gate. This is for all the ladies out there. And by that, I mean this is for the guys trying to get some pussy. If you are at a con and want to get some taco, it's better not to smell like taco. I'm talking about con-funk. I want to introduce you to a wonderful modern invention. It's called soap....." And so on.
Chris was great for the hour panel. He was forthcoming and funny, demonstrating quick wit, an irreverent sense of humor, and a great level of energy. From telling us what city had the most attractive con-goers (apparently it is hands down Toronto, Canada), that he enjoys Lady Gaga, is techno fan in music, and that he suffers from agoraphobia (which made doing Welcome to the NHK a rather introspective project). Definitely still a huge fan of his work and meeting and hearing him talk about himself and his work only makes that work seem better.
Hotel is well-equipped, rooms are nice and so far the room is quiet (almost unheard of when you are staying at the hotel where the con is hosted). The hotel's restaurant is pretty decent, and there is a mall and tons of stores around here.
But, more importantly, the guests are AWESOME. Went to the first autograph signing, which featured Troy Baker and Chris Patton (both voice actors), and D. C. Douglas (actor). They were given a microphone and continually offered humorous asides (making random announcements to the crowd about someone with their lights on in the parking lot, and then repeating the message in a variety of langauges; asking autograph seekers for their name and hometown and then announcing such information to the crowd; just generally being silly).
I brought an obscene number of DVDs up to be signed, fully expecting to only be able to get some of them signed. I asked Troy what the limit was, and he was kind enough to say "For you, no limit." I immediately handed Troy Trinity Blood, Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, Darker Than BLACK, and Naruto Shippuden. Well, I think Chris Patton may have regretted Troy's "no limit' pronouncement because I promptly presented him with Welcome to the NHK, Full Metal Panic!, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, Ghost Stories, Peacemaker, RahXephon, and Peacemaker. And for tomorrow's signing, I plan on bringing down Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid, Princess Tutu, Fullmetal Alchemist, the Wallflower, Baccano!, and Soul Eater.
Last event I attended for the day was a panel, "Chris Patton Shares Too Much." Chris said the genesis of the panel was his idea to have a panel where he basically shares TMI. Apparently he often would just have things slip in regular panels and figured having an 18+, no-holds-barred panel would be a good idea. The whole panel had high energy, copious curse words, and topics not for the faint of heart. No questions were out of bounds, and the only questions he said he would not answer is anything that would require badmouthing any companies he worked for or other voice actors, and he refused to give out his room number (seemed a wise decision).
Within a few minutes of the panel starting, whenever anyone opened the door to see what the panel was about, Chris would loudly yell out "Come on in, bitches." Most came in, though at least one or two women left in quite a huff. He admitted and it was pretty obvious that he had consumed a good deal of Red Bull earlier in the evening. Something that many panel-attenders knew, and which would become clear to anyone in the panel, is that Chris is gay. Sorry, ladies - the voice of Sousuke Sagara will not be going home with you. At one point he made a comment about someone and said: "That's so retarded. Damn, I mean 'That's so special needs!'"
Many highly inappropriate questions were asked. For example;
Q: How big is your penis?
A: It isn't embarrassing or impressive, around 7 inches. But I don't know the circumference.
This line of questioning went on for a bit. We heard con stories (fans camping out outside his room, fangirls rubbing their naughty bits on him at anime con dance parties, cosplay outfits that shouldn't have seen the light of day). We heard about fans from his Facebook page who also joined Facebook pages opposing gay marriage and gay rights (Chris' response: Really? I mean, really? Why are you a fan of mine, then?). He told stories of growing up Catholic, with a Jesuit priest for an uncle (who apparently was wonderful to him and very supportive of who he is), dating girls in high school, his mother doing an occult banishing spell to get a harmful influence out of his life, and when he "dated" a guy who believed himself to be a vampire (they broke up when the dude tried to bite Chris' neck). Also, he has dated both men and women, but (in his words): "Women are crazy and guys are stupid. I can deal with stupid. But I can't handle crazy." (or something very close to that). He also enumerated his general dislike for butt sex ("dookie comes out of there!"). All in all, definitely not safe for those under the age of 18.
Upon request, he did Sasame's voice from Pretear and did a Word's Gate segment (Pretear is a somewhat mediocre series, but with some great voice actors, and Sasame is a character who's power lies in sound, his day job is as a radio personality). Something along the lines of: "This is Sasame's Word Gate. This is for all the ladies out there. And by that, I mean this is for the guys trying to get some pussy. If you are at a con and want to get some taco, it's better not to smell like taco. I'm talking about con-funk. I want to introduce you to a wonderful modern invention. It's called soap....." And so on.
Chris was great for the hour panel. He was forthcoming and funny, demonstrating quick wit, an irreverent sense of humor, and a great level of energy. From telling us what city had the most attractive con-goers (apparently it is hands down Toronto, Canada), that he enjoys Lady Gaga, is techno fan in music, and that he suffers from agoraphobia (which made doing Welcome to the NHK a rather introspective project). Definitely still a huge fan of his work and meeting and hearing him talk about himself and his work only makes that work seem better.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
DESTINATION: A&G Ohio 2010
This Thursday finds me packing my suitcase with workout gear, my tote bag with various DVDs, and my car with a steady supply of caffeine, snacks and books on CD. I'm getting ready to head down to Cincinnati, Ohio, for an anime convention - namely, A&G Ohio (stands for Animation and Gaming Ohio). As I just started attending conventions (or "cons") during October 2009, all my upcoming con trips are inaugural ones.
The other three cons I've attended (New York Anime Festival 2009, Youmacon 2009 and Ohayocon 2010) have been pretty large affairs. NY Anime Fest takes place in the massive Jacob Javits Center and boasts something in the vicinity of 20,000 + guests (there is some controversy as to actual count due to the way they tally guests - but suffice it to say there are multiple thousands of people there). Youmacon takes place around Halloween in Dearborn, Michigan (though it will be moving to Detroit for 2010), and it had an impressive draw of 6,000+ attendees. Most recently, Ohayocon (out of Columbus, Ohio), is the largest winter season con, and there were 10,000+ attendees this year. All three boasted numerous guests, and at minimum 7 voice actors.
In contrast, A&G Ohio appears to be smaller in scale. There are only two anime voice actors scheduled as guests -- but this is no problem as the guests are Troy Baker (who played Abel Nightroad in Trinity Blood, as well as major characters in some great series, including Bleach, Gunslinger Girl, Darker than BLACK, various Dragonball Z movies, and Naruto Shippuden) and the most excellent Chris Patton (Sousuke Sagara in the Full Metal Panic series, Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist, Ayato in RahXephon, Sato in Welcome to the NHK, and major roles in countless other fabulous series). The website http://www.animecons.com/ (which to my knowledge is the best site to do initial con research) estimates that it gets about 850 paid attendees. With this in mind, I'm rather looking forward to a con whose numbers are less overwhelming. Though all cons I've been to had some gaming component, this con looks like at least 50% of the focus of the con is on gaming. As I am no gamer, this weekend will be a good chance to see two great voice actors, listen to their panels, but still have plenty of time to wander around, people watch, check out the dealer's room (which has people selling various anime merchandise), and veg out a bit.
The con's website is: http://www.aandgohio.com/index1.html . You can check out guest bios, event descriptions and the schedule. You'll have to wait and see if I feel brave enough to witness cosplay wrestling (cosplay, for the uninitiated, is costume playing where people dress up as their favorite characters) or the cosplay musical.
I will try to find time between con-going and catching up on some work (have to pay the bills to be able to keep up my anime habit) to post some updates about the con. So stay tuned!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
"When words leave off, music begins." (Heinrich Heine)
Last week I was sitting in my office, attempting to do some work, and listening to my iPod. I have so much music on the thing that I am constantly overwhelmed by the sheer number of options open to me for my listening pleasure. As a result, I will sometimes play by genre and try to re-discover some of the denizens of my iPod.
So I was listening to the Alternative genre and this song comes on. I lift my head in surprise - this is the closing theme to Ergo Proxy! I think I must have accidentally put on my anime playlist (and, yes .... I do have an anime playlist -- would you expect any less?). I examine the screen of my iPod and find that, no, this isn't my anime playlist. It is Radiohead's "Paranoid Android."
Now I'm sure that most people in America (and perhaps most people in Japan, as well) would have thought of the song primarily as an amazing Radiohead track, and secondarily (should they be familiar with anime) as an apt closing theme song for a science fiction-based, adult-oriented dark series with main characters and a future world inhabited by both humans and androids (called AutoReivs). But for me, the song had failed to make an impression on its own until I had connected it with a show I had found fascinating.
This got me to thinking about the various shows I had watched in the past two years where the soundtrack had made a big impression. As anyone knows, a well crafted soundtrack, with carefully selected songs and instrumentation, can make or break a show. A show that might otherwise be pedestrian or mundane can become interesting. A show that would be merely good can become great.
So here are my top seven (so far) series in which the music was so thoughtfully integrated that the show would not be anywhere near as impressive without it. In fact, a number of these series would literally have become pointless without their music.
7. Last Exile
For those unfamiliar with it, this show is set in an alternate reality along a steampunk technological line. The show is gorgeous - the animation is top notch, amazing voice acting cast, complex plot lines and characters. The trailers for this show often utilize the opening title sequence, and for good reason. That sequence has stunning aerial combat maneuvers between opposing airborne battleships, dramatic shots of the main characters, hints at what is to come ... all playing out to the sound of an alternative theme infused with some techno rhythms and scottish bagpipes (trust me, it works). Other portions of the show boast lush mixes of grand orchestral melodies with a soaring choral accompaniment. The music always matches mood and helps in highlighting the emotions, the political intrigue, and the general mood of the show. It never distracts from, and always enhances the viewing experience.
6. Mushi-Shi
This series is ethereal. For all intents and purposes, this show has only one recurring character. Ginko has the rare ability to see mushi, which are creatures that are neither plant nor animal, but not exactly spirit. The show often has a dreamlike quality, its action is not typically the loud or bombastic sort. It has a quiet energy, but is fascinating and intelligent. The soundtrack highlights the mysticism, mystery, and introspective nature of the show. In a cast and director commentary on the final disk, Travis Willingham (voice actor portraying Ginko) notes that the music often sounds as if they were at a Mushi-Shi day spa. This is rather accurate - the music tends to have that kind of soothing impact. But it does not put you to sleep, instead it seems to focus your attention. Beyond this, the opening title theme has a folksy flavor and is sung beautifully in English. Though much of the music is "mood music," without it the show just would not be the same.
5. Samurai Champloo
From the great Shinichirō Watanabe (creator of Cowboy Bebop) came a series veritably bursting with action. It is colorful, sharp, witty, and the music plays a major role. Trailers from this show led one at first to suspect a classic samurai/ronin tale of the Edo period. But, in a tongue-in-cheek way, the trailer then surprisingly lets you know that even though it was a time of samurai, it was also a time of hip-hop. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ANvMgx76SI). And there you have it. Fantastically choreographed fight scenes, punctuated by an incredibly fun hip-hop score. And it is all done by Japanese artists. The juxtaposition of such idiosyncratic memes (the classic, 1600s-1800s time period of samurai and ronin placed hand-in-hand with the decidedly 20th/21st century stylings of hip-hop) makes for an unforgettable ride.
4. RahXephon
This show hinges on music - the near future world, in which the majority of humans are at odds with an alien race, tells the story of how someone will actually change the world with music. With music acting as such an overarching theme, it should be unsurprising that the soundtrack to the show (in fact, there are three original soundtracks from the show and another from a movie version of the show) greatly impacts and is central to a viewer's experience. The music is modern and mostly instrumental, it is not easy music to listen to. It has dissonance and a certain alien-ness (probably on purpose, considering that it is not meant to be the music of humans).
3. Princess Tutu
The show's characters attend and the plots all unfurl in the general vicinity of a ballet academy. Unlike many of the other shows on this list, this show mostly utilizes pre-existing music. The score includes sublime excerpts from Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty), Mussorgsky (Pictures at an Exhibition), and Saint-Saëns (Carnival of the Animals), among many others (excerpts from various famous ballets play a part). Each character has a different classical theme, and Princess Tutu derives her own power from her dancing - music here has consciously been made another (and very important) character.
2. BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad
BECK is a wonderful coming of age story. The main character's journey toward adulthood is spurred by his introduction to world of music (specifically, rock). The music in this show couldn't be much more different than the music in the prior entry. As his story is told through his initial musical fumblings, his growing proficiency, and his eventual mastery of the guitar, music had to be integral to every single episode. And that doesn't even include the fact that he must learn to be confident enough to stand in front of others and sing. The show's soundtrack is amazing - the irony of it is that it cannot be released in the US by the English vocal cast (due to licensing issues), which is really a huge shame. This is a soundtrack that I'd listen to even if I hadn't seen the show; the fact is, every time I do hear one of the songs I can not only appreciate it on its own merits, but it also reminds me of one of the very best shows I've ever watched (anime or otherwise).
1. Cowboy Bebop
Could this list really end in any other way???? Bebop definitely ranks in my top 5 anime ever watched. This show is the undeniable masterpiece of Shinichirō Watanabe's career (it pre-dated his Samurai Champloo), and a big part of its appeal and ascendancy is the music it employs in telling its story. The musical score was composed by Yoko Kanno (amazing in her own right, also involved with countless other shows from Wolf's Rain and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, to the more recent Darker than Black).
From the show's title, to each episode's theme, music was inextricable from the storytelling. Each episode (actually, called "sessions" - so appropriate) was entitled in such a way that it alluded to (whether obviously or subtly) a musical genre. The session/episode would then be infused with that musical genre's characteristics. The themed episodes and their music were amazing. Early sessions include "Asteroid Blues," "Stray Dog Strut" and "Honkeytonk Woman." This show gave rise to no less than four separate soundtracks, and there are other soundtracks remixing songs from the first four or reordering them. Though all are worth listening to, the soundtrack Blue should not be missed. The show itself oozed cool, and the music was a big part of that attitude, as well as its critical success and enduring popularity .
Honorable Mentions (and worth picking up to listen to):
Witch Hunter Robin
Samurai 7
Darker Than Black
Wolf's Rain
Ergo Proxy
So I was listening to the Alternative genre and this song comes on. I lift my head in surprise - this is the closing theme to Ergo Proxy! I think I must have accidentally put on my anime playlist (and, yes .... I do have an anime playlist -- would you expect any less?). I examine the screen of my iPod and find that, no, this isn't my anime playlist. It is Radiohead's "Paranoid Android."
Now I'm sure that most people in America (and perhaps most people in Japan, as well) would have thought of the song primarily as an amazing Radiohead track, and secondarily (should they be familiar with anime) as an apt closing theme song for a science fiction-based, adult-oriented dark series with main characters and a future world inhabited by both humans and androids (called AutoReivs). But for me, the song had failed to make an impression on its own until I had connected it with a show I had found fascinating.
This got me to thinking about the various shows I had watched in the past two years where the soundtrack had made a big impression. As anyone knows, a well crafted soundtrack, with carefully selected songs and instrumentation, can make or break a show. A show that might otherwise be pedestrian or mundane can become interesting. A show that would be merely good can become great.
So here are my top seven (so far) series in which the music was so thoughtfully integrated that the show would not be anywhere near as impressive without it. In fact, a number of these series would literally have become pointless without their music.
7. Last Exile
For those unfamiliar with it, this show is set in an alternate reality along a steampunk technological line. The show is gorgeous - the animation is top notch, amazing voice acting cast, complex plot lines and characters. The trailers for this show often utilize the opening title sequence, and for good reason. That sequence has stunning aerial combat maneuvers between opposing airborne battleships, dramatic shots of the main characters, hints at what is to come ... all playing out to the sound of an alternative theme infused with some techno rhythms and scottish bagpipes (trust me, it works). Other portions of the show boast lush mixes of grand orchestral melodies with a soaring choral accompaniment. The music always matches mood and helps in highlighting the emotions, the political intrigue, and the general mood of the show. It never distracts from, and always enhances the viewing experience.
6. Mushi-Shi
This series is ethereal. For all intents and purposes, this show has only one recurring character. Ginko has the rare ability to see mushi, which are creatures that are neither plant nor animal, but not exactly spirit. The show often has a dreamlike quality, its action is not typically the loud or bombastic sort. It has a quiet energy, but is fascinating and intelligent. The soundtrack highlights the mysticism, mystery, and introspective nature of the show. In a cast and director commentary on the final disk, Travis Willingham (voice actor portraying Ginko) notes that the music often sounds as if they were at a Mushi-Shi day spa. This is rather accurate - the music tends to have that kind of soothing impact. But it does not put you to sleep, instead it seems to focus your attention. Beyond this, the opening title theme has a folksy flavor and is sung beautifully in English. Though much of the music is "mood music," without it the show just would not be the same.
5. Samurai Champloo
From the great Shinichirō Watanabe (creator of Cowboy Bebop) came a series veritably bursting with action. It is colorful, sharp, witty, and the music plays a major role. Trailers from this show led one at first to suspect a classic samurai/ronin tale of the Edo period. But, in a tongue-in-cheek way, the trailer then surprisingly lets you know that even though it was a time of samurai, it was also a time of hip-hop. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ANvMgx76SI). And there you have it. Fantastically choreographed fight scenes, punctuated by an incredibly fun hip-hop score. And it is all done by Japanese artists. The juxtaposition of such idiosyncratic memes (the classic, 1600s-1800s time period of samurai and ronin placed hand-in-hand with the decidedly 20th/21st century stylings of hip-hop) makes for an unforgettable ride.
4. RahXephon
This show hinges on music - the near future world, in which the majority of humans are at odds with an alien race, tells the story of how someone will actually change the world with music. With music acting as such an overarching theme, it should be unsurprising that the soundtrack to the show (in fact, there are three original soundtracks from the show and another from a movie version of the show) greatly impacts and is central to a viewer's experience. The music is modern and mostly instrumental, it is not easy music to listen to. It has dissonance and a certain alien-ness (probably on purpose, considering that it is not meant to be the music of humans).
3. Princess Tutu
The show's characters attend and the plots all unfurl in the general vicinity of a ballet academy. Unlike many of the other shows on this list, this show mostly utilizes pre-existing music. The score includes sublime excerpts from Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty), Mussorgsky (Pictures at an Exhibition), and Saint-Saëns (Carnival of the Animals), among many others (excerpts from various famous ballets play a part). Each character has a different classical theme, and Princess Tutu derives her own power from her dancing - music here has consciously been made another (and very important) character.
2. BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad
BECK is a wonderful coming of age story. The main character's journey toward adulthood is spurred by his introduction to world of music (specifically, rock). The music in this show couldn't be much more different than the music in the prior entry. As his story is told through his initial musical fumblings, his growing proficiency, and his eventual mastery of the guitar, music had to be integral to every single episode. And that doesn't even include the fact that he must learn to be confident enough to stand in front of others and sing. The show's soundtrack is amazing - the irony of it is that it cannot be released in the US by the English vocal cast (due to licensing issues), which is really a huge shame. This is a soundtrack that I'd listen to even if I hadn't seen the show; the fact is, every time I do hear one of the songs I can not only appreciate it on its own merits, but it also reminds me of one of the very best shows I've ever watched (anime or otherwise).
1. Cowboy Bebop
Could this list really end in any other way???? Bebop definitely ranks in my top 5 anime ever watched. This show is the undeniable masterpiece of Shinichirō Watanabe's career (it pre-dated his Samurai Champloo), and a big part of its appeal and ascendancy is the music it employs in telling its story. The musical score was composed by Yoko Kanno (amazing in her own right, also involved with countless other shows from Wolf's Rain and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, to the more recent Darker than Black).
From the show's title, to each episode's theme, music was inextricable from the storytelling. Each episode (actually, called "sessions" - so appropriate) was entitled in such a way that it alluded to (whether obviously or subtly) a musical genre. The session/episode would then be infused with that musical genre's characteristics. The themed episodes and their music were amazing. Early sessions include "Asteroid Blues," "Stray Dog Strut" and "Honkeytonk Woman." This show gave rise to no less than four separate soundtracks, and there are other soundtracks remixing songs from the first four or reordering them. Though all are worth listening to, the soundtrack Blue should not be missed. The show itself oozed cool, and the music was a big part of that attitude, as well as its critical success and enduring popularity .
Honorable Mentions (and worth picking up to listen to):
Witch Hunter Robin
Samurai 7
Darker Than Black
Wolf's Rain
Ergo Proxy
Friday, March 5, 2010
Conquests - Week of February 28th
As with many hobbies, part of the fun of anime for me is racking up viewing hours (hopefully high quality viewing), tearing through a few more manga volumes, and expanding my personal library of anime.
Sadly, this week found work infringing on my normal evening anime viewings (alas, one must work if one wants to continue to purchase large amounts of anime). So my viewing and reading conquests were few this week; but are more than balanced out by my out of control purchase conquests . . . .
VIEWING CONQUESTS
Ponyo - directed by the most incredible Hayao Miyazaki; as with other recent Studio Ghibli productions, this was released by Disney in the US. It's a creative retelling of the little mermaid. Family friendly, classic Miyazaki - meaning poignant emotion, never overbearing, very authentic. Gets an A- from me.
Pani Poni Dash! (disk 3) - madcap series. Definitely an acquired taste. Extensive and amusing extras. B+ (higher if you have an oddball sense of humor).
Big Windup! (disk 2, episodes 7-12) - FINALLY arrived from Netflix. This is the first series I've been able to get my father to watch; if you enjoy baseball, this is the anime to watch. The humor is well balanced, the characters are engaging (even if the main protagonist, Mihashi, gets aggravating at times). Makes me long for baseball season to start . . . . B+ (but only if you like baseball; and it doesn't hurt to be a huge Greg Ayres fan as he voices Abe the catcher and plays a large role).
Spice & Wolf (disk 1, episodes 1-7) - this is an odd series. Main characters are a traveling peddler and a wolf god (or goddess, named Holo). There is a lot of economics (yes, that's right, I said economics) being discussed, so if you are inclined to be interested in questions of currency valuing, trading, bargaining, etc., this is something to watch. The human interest is very engrossing, though; I really like the main characters and their interaction. Very mature. Will definitely get the next disk. A-.
Pretear (disk 1) - from the library. Pure junk food. Reasonably tasty, but nothing nourishing (some evil force will attack the world, good spirited but somewhat clumsy heroine is destined to be the only one capable of saving that world with the help of a handful of trusty and attractive knights). Honestly, the only thing that makes this worth watching is if you like the voice actors involved. It doesn't hurt to hear the voice of Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion in a completely different role (you know, one where he isn't constantly exhibiting psychological issues, screaming, or being mentally abused by his father and fellow pilots). C+.
READING CONQUESTS
Monster (volume 1) - Wow. Really, just wow. I'm going to try to read the manga of this while watching the anime. I'm thinking I'll read the volume first and then watch the corresponding episodes. This is definitely for adults only. What do you do if you're a neurosurgeon and you save a life that perhaps shouldn't be saved? I'm not sure what is going to happen, but this is shaping up to be one suspenseful psychological thriller. I've seen the first episode of this show and having Liam O'Brien as the neurosurgeon is really wonderful (he is probably best known for being Gaara in Naruto and/or for being Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy).
PURCHASE CONQUESTS
N.B. This is a mega, year-to-date version; except as otherwise noted, I've watched the entire series which I purchased. I'm thinking I might do a conquests column every week or two, so this is just to catch up with what I've gotten this year. Partially its to tell everyone what I've purchased and am excited about - but it is also to inform those of you who live nearby and who I see regularly of what I have in my library available to loan (hint, hint - ask! I want to share so that I have people to talk about these series with!!!).
Sadly, this week found work infringing on my normal evening anime viewings (alas, one must work if one wants to continue to purchase large amounts of anime). So my viewing and reading conquests were few this week; but are more than balanced out by my out of control purchase conquests . . . .
VIEWING CONQUESTS
Ponyo - directed by the most incredible Hayao Miyazaki; as with other recent Studio Ghibli productions, this was released by Disney in the US. It's a creative retelling of the little mermaid. Family friendly, classic Miyazaki - meaning poignant emotion, never overbearing, very authentic. Gets an A- from me.
Pani Poni Dash! (disk 3) - madcap series. Definitely an acquired taste. Extensive and amusing extras. B+ (higher if you have an oddball sense of humor).
Big Windup! (disk 2, episodes 7-12) - FINALLY arrived from Netflix. This is the first series I've been able to get my father to watch; if you enjoy baseball, this is the anime to watch. The humor is well balanced, the characters are engaging (even if the main protagonist, Mihashi, gets aggravating at times). Makes me long for baseball season to start . . . . B+ (but only if you like baseball; and it doesn't hurt to be a huge Greg Ayres fan as he voices Abe the catcher and plays a large role).
Spice & Wolf (disk 1, episodes 1-7) - this is an odd series. Main characters are a traveling peddler and a wolf god (or goddess, named Holo). There is a lot of economics (yes, that's right, I said economics) being discussed, so if you are inclined to be interested in questions of currency valuing, trading, bargaining, etc., this is something to watch. The human interest is very engrossing, though; I really like the main characters and their interaction. Very mature. Will definitely get the next disk. A-.
Pretear (disk 1) - from the library. Pure junk food. Reasonably tasty, but nothing nourishing (some evil force will attack the world, good spirited but somewhat clumsy heroine is destined to be the only one capable of saving that world with the help of a handful of trusty and attractive knights). Honestly, the only thing that makes this worth watching is if you like the voice actors involved. It doesn't hurt to hear the voice of Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion in a completely different role (you know, one where he isn't constantly exhibiting psychological issues, screaming, or being mentally abused by his father and fellow pilots). C+.
READING CONQUESTS
Monster (volume 1) - Wow. Really, just wow. I'm going to try to read the manga of this while watching the anime. I'm thinking I'll read the volume first and then watch the corresponding episodes. This is definitely for adults only. What do you do if you're a neurosurgeon and you save a life that perhaps shouldn't be saved? I'm not sure what is going to happen, but this is shaping up to be one suspenseful psychological thriller. I've seen the first episode of this show and having Liam O'Brien as the neurosurgeon is really wonderful (he is probably best known for being Gaara in Naruto and/or for being Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy).
PURCHASE CONQUESTS
N.B. This is a mega, year-to-date version; except as otherwise noted, I've watched the entire series which I purchased. I'm thinking I might do a conquests column every week or two, so this is just to catch up with what I've gotten this year. Partially its to tell everyone what I've purchased and am excited about - but it is also to inform those of you who live nearby and who I see regularly of what I have in my library available to loan (hint, hint - ask! I want to share so that I have people to talk about these series with!!!).
Saiyuki (complete series) - Fun. Liked the interplay among characters, but it isn't a masterpiece. A 52 episode journey (that doesn't really get resolved). Deals in Chinese mythology (actually, a Chinese novel called Journey to the West). There are demons and wayward monks, gods and sarcastic/witty repartee. Not a bad way to pass some time. Gets a B.
Cromartie High School - Freddie Mercury and a Gorilla attend this high school, along with an assortment of juvenile delinquents. It has an aesthetic that randomly reminds me of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (but not for any reason I can explain). I really like it, but I'm not sure how that reflects on my sense of humor. It is . . . . well, very odd. That said, I would give it a B+ if for no other reason than it made me laugh out loud.
Samurai Champloo (Blu-Ray) - awesome on so many levels. Samurai, ronin and hip hop. Voice of Spike form Bebop. Really, just a study in badassery. Grade A.
Baccano! - alchemy, mafia, prohibition, and two criminals who I wish would come and rob me (Isaac and Miria - seriously, one of the best anime pairings I've ever seen). Violent and funny, beautifully animated. And completely confusing (but in a good way). Definitely gets an A.
Lucky Star (volumes 1 and 2) - others have (accurately) described it as Seinfeld re-imagined as anime, with little girls and a concentration on being anime/manga otaku. Fantastic for anyone who is really, REALLY into anime. B+.
When They Cry - only seen the first two disks. Japan knows how to do horror. I had to stop watching because it was freaking me out. Take a bunch of very cute middle-schoolers, add in the occult and a lot of blood, and you have a truly disturbing show. Will eventually finish - but only during the day, with all the lights on, and someone else in the house with me. A-.
Monster - as mentioned in the manga section above, this show has gotten amazing reviews and I am waiting to get engrossed in it. I have the feeling this show is going to require a balls to the wall style of viewing. Am excited (and nervous) to see where it goes. Only see an episode, so too early to grade.
Paradise Kiss - seen all but the final disk. From the same creators who made BECK - basically another coming of age story, but replace the lead with a girl and have the concentration be on fashion instead of rock. Really well done. And, like BECK, I haven't been able to bring myself to finish it yet. Grade A- having watched 2/3 of the story.
Flag (volume 1) - this is a unique show. It covers an imaginary country and war from the vantage point of a photo journalist. The animation and POV is really interesting and well done - most of the animation is seen as if you are viewing it through a camera lens, looking at pictures, or watching a hand held video camera. Very cool. Only seen volume 1, but the subject matter and execution are quite mature. Female lead (the photo journalist in question) is the same lady who played Kaoru in Rurouni Kenshin (and I only know that from having looked her up, as she sounds completely different). Volume 1 gets an A for animation, and a B (so far) for story.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi - have only watched 2/3 of the show, but it is very funny. More so if you enjoy spoofs and satire. Each episode has the two main characters jumping from one parallel dimension to another, and each dimension plays up a certain anime or film genre. I especially liked the one that hearkens back to Bruce Lee movies. Good stuff. B+
Gasaraki - haven't seen any of this. But it has good reviews on mania.com and animenewsnetwork.com, so took the chance (OK, Chris Patton and Monica Rial play the main characters in this and I ADORE them, so that didn't hurt its chances of being purchased). It apparently has to do with mecha and I'm sure I'll report on how it is in coming weeks.
Princess Tutu - I'm one disk from the end. As the title suggests, this has to do with ballet. But it throws in a Brothers Grimm inspired theme (German fairy tales, and the dark version -- not the bastardized Disney version). Lots of fun, imaginative, fantastic extras (explaining classical music, ballet, and showing the voice actors in the studio working -- oh, and some very funny cast commentary and bloopers), and a sublime classical score. If you can get over the fact that there are tutus, tights and point shoes, it is really a lovely series. A.
Naruto Shippuden (volume 1 ... first three disks) - have only seen the first episode. The time skip seems to have served the series well. Am not ready to start watching because I have the feeling I'll become overly engrossed and don't have the time right now to start tearing through another 200 episode series.
Trinity Blood - such a fun series, I like any series where the Vatican employees battle android priests. Oh, and where other priests are actually vampires (OK, one priest is a vampire, but really, how many would you need). Was a bit bummed by the end of the series (turns out the author of the manga it was based on planned this to be a trilogy of stories, but passed away having only written one). Still, the animation is good and there is good action. Not a masterpiece. B-.
Darker Than Black (volumes 1 and 4) - I am so upset that they are releasing a box set. I had already bought volume 1 in a collector box and had it signed by various actors from the show. So I can't get rid of it. Anyway, the series is really good SF. Interesting, well animated, great soundtrack. And it has a sequel currently being dubbed -- SO stoked. Can't think of any reason someone shouldn't watch this series. A-.
Soul Eater (volume 1) - I've seen most of the first disk when I was at New York Anime Festival 2009 (it premiered there with most of the cast present). It was fun. Looks like a better version of D.Gray-man. I liked the characters and their quirks, the ideas that these shinigami pair up with human versions of their weapons (these characters turn into weapons when need be, but are otherwise in human form). From what I recall, I'd give it a B (and hope for better things in the future).
Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight Young Lovers (Blu-Ray) - just received this. Will clearly have to finally finish watching the Eureka Seven series so I can watch the movie. *sigh* my procrastination is kicking me in the ass.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OVA Collection - I hate to say this, but, eh. Didn't love it. Somewhat amusing, but only about 45 minutes of material. And it was funny, but only because of inside jokes. Did like the last short, where we sort of see what happened to Ed in our world following the evens of FMA: Conqueror of Shamballa. But really, it's only for die hard fans. C+.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (disks 1, 2, 7 and 8) - bought the first volume with the collector case, and the last two volumes so I can eventually actually finish this amazing series. It is fantastic. I unreservedly suggest that everyone watch it. Really. A+.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
All Good Things . . .
. . . must come to an end. I know as well as anyone that every show I watch will (eventually) come to an end. Sure, there are those shows that seem like they might never resolve themselves (not to point any fingers, but Inuyasha, One Piece, Naruto, Case Closed . . . I'm looking in your general direction).
But what about the good shows? The really, really good shows?
What about those shows that, as you are watching them, you know you'll never see anything quite as transcendent again? What about those shows that have you anxiously watching your Netflix queue, or your library wait list, or your mailbox -- just beside yourself in anticipation of what new twists and turns await you?
Well, with such shows one of two things will happen. I might plough through the entire show - never coming up for air, unable to resist watching disks back-to-back-to-back-to-back . . . . Then, after a whirlwind romance, the show is over.
But there are also the amazing shows which I begin at a breakneck pace and then . . . well, I start to feel a bit melancholy. I know that the span of 13, or 24, or 26, or 52 episodes is coming to an end. And I desperately wish that the final episode will never arrive.
So I devised my own little ad hoc solution. If I am in the midst of a show that I wish would never end, I have the habit of not watching the final disks.
OK, calling it a solution is a misnomer -- because all I'm really doing is postponing the inevitable. The inevitable and bittersweet feeling that accompanies the end of the viewing experience. Sure, you can always watch whatever series you had been so smitten with again (and again, and again); but future watching will never match that maiden viewing. Of course, you will begin to notice and appreciate nuances that you missed in the heady early days of your relationship with the show, and the foreknowledge of what is to come can deepen your appreciation of the series. Maybe there are characters whose actions now have a poetic meaning to them; perhaps there are inside jokes that all the richer; perchance being freed of having to closely follow the narrative, you will discover anew the artistry in the animation itself.
Still, nothing quite compares to the exhilaration of discovering a series for the first time.
For weeks I could not bring myself to watch the final disk of Cowboy Bebop. How does one allow such a sublime mix of music, art and oh-so-cool characters to finish out their 26 episode (and one film) run? And when I did finish it and watched that final episode (which left almost everything unresolved - and really, how else could it have possibly ended?), I knew I would never again be able to experience it for the first time.
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, disks one through five, took only a few weeks to complete. But that final disk sat next to my television for upwards of six months. I only completed that show because: (1) I was going to Ohayocon to meet Greg Ayres and would have felt abashed to know I hadn't finished Koyuki's journey before meeting the (most exquisite) voice of Koyuki; and (2) I was lending the series to a good friend and he wanted to watch the final disk (and in my rather convoluted thought process, I found it silly to lend it to someone not having finished it myself).
I have been holding out on watching the final three episodes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, for at least two months. And Eureka Seven (gorgeously animated, exactingly written, and gloriously balanced between emotion and action) has been waiting for nearly four months to be completed. Both involve main characters on journeys of discovery, where the results of their journeys will impact the lives of all those in their world. Well, not only their world, but mine as well. And I just have not been ready for them to reach their dénouements.
Will this weekend find me finally allowing Chagum to face La Lunga and Balsa to complete her duties as a bodyguard in Moribito? Will my desire to see the resolution of the challenges facing Eureka and Renton drive me to extract the final two disks from Eureka Seven and watch them in all their glory?
Perhaps. I might be ready to allow the exhilaration of my first expedition into these (all too few) episodes end, and then begin a more leisurely sojourn through their now familiar faces, motivations, environments and music.
And who knows, maybe the second (and third and fourth . . .) viewings will imbue these series with a different, and greater, magic.
But what about the good shows? The really, really good shows?
What about those shows that, as you are watching them, you know you'll never see anything quite as transcendent again? What about those shows that have you anxiously watching your Netflix queue, or your library wait list, or your mailbox -- just beside yourself in anticipation of what new twists and turns await you?
Well, with such shows one of two things will happen. I might plough through the entire show - never coming up for air, unable to resist watching disks back-to-back-to-back-to-back . . . . Then, after a whirlwind romance, the show is over.
But there are also the amazing shows which I begin at a breakneck pace and then . . . well, I start to feel a bit melancholy. I know that the span of 13, or 24, or 26, or 52 episodes is coming to an end. And I desperately wish that the final episode will never arrive.
So I devised my own little ad hoc solution. If I am in the midst of a show that I wish would never end, I have the habit of not watching the final disks.
OK, calling it a solution is a misnomer -- because all I'm really doing is postponing the inevitable. The inevitable and bittersweet feeling that accompanies the end of the viewing experience. Sure, you can always watch whatever series you had been so smitten with again (and again, and again); but future watching will never match that maiden viewing. Of course, you will begin to notice and appreciate nuances that you missed in the heady early days of your relationship with the show, and the foreknowledge of what is to come can deepen your appreciation of the series. Maybe there are characters whose actions now have a poetic meaning to them; perhaps there are inside jokes that all the richer; perchance being freed of having to closely follow the narrative, you will discover anew the artistry in the animation itself.
Still, nothing quite compares to the exhilaration of discovering a series for the first time.
For weeks I could not bring myself to watch the final disk of Cowboy Bebop. How does one allow such a sublime mix of music, art and oh-so-cool characters to finish out their 26 episode (and one film) run? And when I did finish it and watched that final episode (which left almost everything unresolved - and really, how else could it have possibly ended?), I knew I would never again be able to experience it for the first time.
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, disks one through five, took only a few weeks to complete. But that final disk sat next to my television for upwards of six months. I only completed that show because: (1) I was going to Ohayocon to meet Greg Ayres and would have felt abashed to know I hadn't finished Koyuki's journey before meeting the (most exquisite) voice of Koyuki; and (2) I was lending the series to a good friend and he wanted to watch the final disk (and in my rather convoluted thought process, I found it silly to lend it to someone not having finished it myself).
I have been holding out on watching the final three episodes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, for at least two months. And Eureka Seven (gorgeously animated, exactingly written, and gloriously balanced between emotion and action) has been waiting for nearly four months to be completed. Both involve main characters on journeys of discovery, where the results of their journeys will impact the lives of all those in their world. Well, not only their world, but mine as well. And I just have not been ready for them to reach their dénouements.
Will this weekend find me finally allowing Chagum to face La Lunga and Balsa to complete her duties as a bodyguard in Moribito? Will my desire to see the resolution of the challenges facing Eureka and Renton drive me to extract the final two disks from Eureka Seven and watch them in all their glory?
Perhaps. I might be ready to allow the exhilaration of my first expedition into these (all too few) episodes end, and then begin a more leisurely sojourn through their now familiar faces, motivations, environments and music.
And who knows, maybe the second (and third and fourth . . .) viewings will imbue these series with a different, and greater, magic.
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