You might remember a gent I have mentioned a few times. A certain... Answerman. You might also remember my excitement at submitting a rant to his weekly column on www.animenewsnetwork.com. Some fine discourse there I thought, well why not give it a try? So I did, and immediately after Answerman read my email and trashed it (admittedly), he added a fifth rule to the submission rules which until that point had only numbered four...
5. If you send me something that's already been published on your blog or on another site, I'm just going to delete it. Likewise, requests that I link to your blog or another site if I print your rant will also result in your email being sent straight to the trash.
While it is true that my rant on the vile downloading ass-weasels of our beloved anime shows was actually posted here first, the above rule did not exist before I had submitted my rant. THEREFORE, my glorious rant should have been exempt, but of course we do not live in a perfect world. That's not to mention that I can take credit(technically) for the above rule, which will be posted in every Answerman column from now until whenever. Yet somehow I feel, unfulfilled? Am I missing my spiritual connection to the universe? Or could it be that someone had decided to preclude my work on the basis of a previously non-existent rule that was created specifically to disqualify it from consideration? Naw, couldn't be. Those of you who are my loyal readers, from Singapore and elsewhere, know that I would never ever take exception to something like that. We all know that Answerman had a perfectly rational reason for it, and that it only seems he's being totally unreasonable. I can't believe that I am even posting about it. What a gag. I am clearly overreacting. Have a nice day.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Answerman, THIRD STRIKE!
As all can see, Maguro is getting pretty good with the Microsoft Paint program. You can still see part of Howl's collar, but it's yellow so who cares. The image above is blunt, but effective I hope. This is as good a time as any to say that everyone's favorite angry space-elf has become my new masthead. Only the tragically warped Edmond Dantes can encompass my... warpedness? I'm not sure. Anyway as soon as I learn to tame blogger in the right way, you should be seeing more of Edmond around here.
Now the point of this post is that my Bittorrent rant has been retooled and cleaned up for the weekly Answerman column. The first time I submitted it my rant was full of cuss words, but now it is perfect. Without a doubt you should be seeing it featured on the Answerman column this week or next week.
As for reviewing stuff, we are in the middle of Kyo Kara Maoh and 2nd Gig. So no fresh meat there. What I really need is real stinker, a putrid lump of doo that I can eviscerate here on the altar of the interwub. Got something lurking in your collection that needs the special treatment? Contact me through my profile and we'll set something up. I'll even give you credit. Then you too can become an internet star in Singapore!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
GANKUTSUOU
Nothing warms ol' Maguro's heart-cockles like a revenge story. A good revenge story is one of the most complete forms of narrative available in human mentality. Another thing I like is a story that is self-contained, uncluttered and well constructed. Of course, good construction really depends largely on the two former traits, but you get my meaning. Anime that ends in confusing halfassed-nonsense, (see FMA below) are a blight upon the world. No worries here though, since were dealing with the grand-daddy of all revenge stories, "The Count of Monte Cristo", you can just taste the quality from a mile away. And after seeing it all I can say that this show is an un-mitigated triumph.
Starting with the imagery, Gankutsuou reminds me of Requiem from the Darkness since there is a similar disregard for convention here. Simply put it's absolutely unique. This future world of the immaculate Parisian aristocracy is stunningly rendered, making every frame look like some part of a larger painting. The negative space in many of the cast member's costumes are taken up with 2d textures that while jiggling around in their coat sleeves or pant legs, seem totally natural. This part of the design could have been a major eyesore, but instead it's fun to watch the patterns change along with the characters intentions and fortunes. In a way they really tell part of the story. The bright beauty is meant to contrast the darkness of the Count himself, and in the end the darkness hiding under Parisian society at large. Again like Requiem, the imagery becomes a metaphor for the story itself. It just makes you wonder why there is so much blandness in anime to start with. These people can draw anything they want to, right? Or is someone forcing them to create junk like Please Twins? For the sake of my sanity, let's just say it's the latter.
Now I can't claim to have read Dumas' original text, so I'm not sure what liberties were taken with the story outside of spaceships and the occasional robot duel. What I can surmise is that were I to read it I'd probably love that too. The story in Gankutsuou is so obviously not industry style in manufacture that it trumps the visuals as the most important part of the experience. At times it really doesn't feel like anime, but more like a miniseries or a drama on PBS. That's not to say that the events are whitewashed or handled off screen, Gankutsuou lets the viewer right into the madness and decadence of the era. The main character, Albert, is naive yet still likable somehow. The supporting roles are well done, showing us the fire and folly of youth in equal parts. Of course the Count is as delicious to watch as he is to listen to. His magnetism is conveyed perfectly, as without that trait his revenge would not be possible. One of the other things I noticed is that the Count's identity and his intentions are never really hidden from the viewer, but it does not detract from the enjoyment. We are allowed to see the Count's plans unfold from a multitude of omniscient viewpoints, allowing us to condemn or sympathize as we see fit. Yet, no matter whom we abide there are others that are simply despicable, and it will be a very satisfying tale for anyone who likes to see the wicked get their due.
In the technical department... it's a Geneon disc, what do you think I'm going to say? Ok I'll say it anyway. The quality is A+ as always. That's not even to mention that these guys can really pick em'. Sure they have some money releases, but their catalog is a level above of the rest of the pack. That's just how it is. Sonically the english dub was very good, the Count's deep tones alternating from smooth to bestial without missing a beat. The intro is one of the most intriguing bits in anime at the present time. Honestly, it was hard to take at first but listen to it a few times. It's sarcastic moan grew on me. As for negatives? Ummmmm. Did I mention this anime was really good? I guess you could say there's a detractor for people who have already absorbed the story of the Man in the Iron Mask in one way or another... but is it really? No, I guess it's not. The quality of the work here is so great that it's seriously difficult to find issue with Gankutsuou. For an Anime Snob I guess that is a real problem.
This basically is the kind of anime I've been praying for in my heart of hearts. It takes the medium forward in a mature and thoughtful direction even as it looks backward to Dumas' literature. Standing wholly outside of the anime mainstream, Gankutsuou is a beacon, and an amazing gauntlet thrown at the feet of the industry. We can't possibly imagine that there is anyone brave enough to pick up that challenge, but that is why we are all the more obligated to appreciate it now for what it is.
My Suggestion: There's no boxset in the future for this one, kids. Buy it today.
Starting with the imagery, Gankutsuou reminds me of Requiem from the Darkness since there is a similar disregard for convention here. Simply put it's absolutely unique. This future world of the immaculate Parisian aristocracy is stunningly rendered, making every frame look like some part of a larger painting. The negative space in many of the cast member's costumes are taken up with 2d textures that while jiggling around in their coat sleeves or pant legs, seem totally natural. This part of the design could have been a major eyesore, but instead it's fun to watch the patterns change along with the characters intentions and fortunes. In a way they really tell part of the story. The bright beauty is meant to contrast the darkness of the Count himself, and in the end the darkness hiding under Parisian society at large. Again like Requiem, the imagery becomes a metaphor for the story itself. It just makes you wonder why there is so much blandness in anime to start with. These people can draw anything they want to, right? Or is someone forcing them to create junk like Please Twins? For the sake of my sanity, let's just say it's the latter.
Now I can't claim to have read Dumas' original text, so I'm not sure what liberties were taken with the story outside of spaceships and the occasional robot duel. What I can surmise is that were I to read it I'd probably love that too. The story in Gankutsuou is so obviously not industry style in manufacture that it trumps the visuals as the most important part of the experience. At times it really doesn't feel like anime, but more like a miniseries or a drama on PBS. That's not to say that the events are whitewashed or handled off screen, Gankutsuou lets the viewer right into the madness and decadence of the era. The main character, Albert, is naive yet still likable somehow. The supporting roles are well done, showing us the fire and folly of youth in equal parts. Of course the Count is as delicious to watch as he is to listen to. His magnetism is conveyed perfectly, as without that trait his revenge would not be possible. One of the other things I noticed is that the Count's identity and his intentions are never really hidden from the viewer, but it does not detract from the enjoyment. We are allowed to see the Count's plans unfold from a multitude of omniscient viewpoints, allowing us to condemn or sympathize as we see fit. Yet, no matter whom we abide there are others that are simply despicable, and it will be a very satisfying tale for anyone who likes to see the wicked get their due.
In the technical department... it's a Geneon disc, what do you think I'm going to say? Ok I'll say it anyway. The quality is A+ as always. That's not even to mention that these guys can really pick em'. Sure they have some money releases, but their catalog is a level above of the rest of the pack. That's just how it is. Sonically the english dub was very good, the Count's deep tones alternating from smooth to bestial without missing a beat. The intro is one of the most intriguing bits in anime at the present time. Honestly, it was hard to take at first but listen to it a few times. It's sarcastic moan grew on me. As for negatives? Ummmmm. Did I mention this anime was really good? I guess you could say there's a detractor for people who have already absorbed the story of the Man in the Iron Mask in one way or another... but is it really? No, I guess it's not. The quality of the work here is so great that it's seriously difficult to find issue with Gankutsuou. For an Anime Snob I guess that is a real problem.
This basically is the kind of anime I've been praying for in my heart of hearts. It takes the medium forward in a mature and thoughtful direction even as it looks backward to Dumas' literature. Standing wholly outside of the anime mainstream, Gankutsuou is a beacon, and an amazing gauntlet thrown at the feet of the industry. We can't possibly imagine that there is anyone brave enough to pick up that challenge, but that is why we are all the more obligated to appreciate it now for what it is.
My Suggestion: There's no boxset in the future for this one, kids. Buy it today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)