Questions on some series

[Keropi]

Lately I've been wondering about some anime (especially their endings if anyone has seen them).

1. How is .hack//ROOTS doing. How was the later part of the series?

2. How did Simoun turn out?

3. Did anybody watch Hime-sama Goyojin? I think only the first episode got English fansubbed.

4. What did you think of the Disgaea series?

5. How was the Nana anime?

6. What did you think of the Nishi No Yoki Majo Astrea Testament (or "Good Witch of the West - Astrea Testament") series?

7. How was Honey and Clover II? My friend stopping watching it so I have no reports on how it was/went.

8. What do you think of Otogi Jushi Akazukin? I haven't seen any of it.

[darksuzaku]

Lets see:

1. How is .hack//ROOTS doing. How was the later part of the series?

I was bored with the first series and so i did with all the others -_-

2. How did Simoun turn out?

Well, Aeru and Neviril do the Emerald Remergion but nobody knows what exactly happens to them. The last episode happens several years later and tells about the new lifes of the Chor Tempest members.

4. What did you think of the Disgaea series?

Watched the first episode and that was enough. An insult to a great game

5. How was the Nana anime?

It has been fansubbed up to episode 21 or so, and seems that it has 50 or so episodes so it's still going on... i guess.... When i'm asked about a similar anime to this one, the closest i can think is Paradise Kiss

6. What did you think of the Nishi No Yoki Majo Astrea Testament (or "Good Witch of the West - Astrea Testament") series?

I think they wasted a promising story

7. How was Honey and Clover II? My friend stopping watching it so I have no reports on how it was/went.

The first series was too slow for my taste, didn't watch this one

8. What do you think of Otogi Jushi Akazukin? I haven't seen any of it.

If i don't remember bad it's a magical girl style anime. One episode was enough for me, but don't misunderstand me, there are a few magical girl series that i like, but not this one.

[kymaera]

1. I've only watched the first half of the series. I was enjoying it at the
start but the extremely slow pace made me lose a bit of interest. I still
intend to finish it, though.

2. So far, so good. I've only watched the first half, though.

3. I just watched the first episode, but thought it was decent enough that I'd
continue watching it.

4. I'm a big Disgaea fan, so I was disappointed by the series a bit. It was
good, but not near as good as it should've been. They hacked a lot of stuff
to bits and it didn't work near as well as it would have had they just followed
the plot of the game more closely. The only new material that I thought that
was up to quality was the Laharl's sister one.

5. Other than the fact that they seem to need to play the first meeting
sequence over and over again, it's a good show so far. I'm a bit behind
on this as well (sensing a theme?)

6. The first episode barely kept my interest enough to watch the second.
The second episode failed to keep me for the third.

7. I loved the first season, but haven't started the second yet.

8. I haven't either.

[birdie]

7. How was Honey and Clover II? My friend stopping watching it so I have no reports on how it was/went.

It all tied up very nicely. Sweet and touching. I don't know if you want me to spoil it for you.

[Keropi]

Lets see:

1. How is .hack//ROOTS doing. How was the later part of the series?

I was bored with the first series and so i did with all the others -_-

.hack//ROOTS seemed to have the slowest beginning though. It seemed like little happened in the first eight episodes.

4. What did you think of the Disgaea series?

Watched the first episode and that was enough. An insult to a great game

I see. So you played the game as well eh? (I haven't)

5. How was the Nana anime?

It has been fansubbed up to episode 21 or so, and seems that it has 50 or so episodes so it's still going on... i guess.... When i'm asked about a similar anime to this one, the closest i can think is Paradise Kiss

I didn't know the series was that long.

1. I've only watched the first half of the series. I was enjoying it at the
start but the extremely slow pace made me lose a bit of interest. I still
intend to finish it, though.

I'd be curious to know if the ending became more exciting.

3. I just watched the first episode, but thought it was decent enough that I'd
continue watching it.

I've forgotten what you said in the past. Did you like Tsuyokiss, Muteki Kanbanmusume, Tonagura? You're more open to comedies than I am. I wasn't able to get into the kind of humor of those shows.

4. I'm a big Disgaea fan, so I was disappointed by the series a bit. It was
good, but not near as good as it should've been. They hacked a lot of stuff to bits and it didn't work near as well as it would have had they just followed the plot of the game more closely. The only new material that I thought that was up to quality was the Laharl's sister one.

How much of the anime was "made up" and not in the game?

5. Other than the fact that they seem to need to play the first meeting
sequence over and over again, it's a good show so far. I'm a bit behind
on this as well (sensing a theme?)

How many shows are you watching right now?

It all tied up very nicely. Sweet and touching. I don't know if you want me to spoil it for you.

So the whole series is over now? (maybe that question a spoiler? ?^_^?)

I think it's better if you don't tell me. I still might decide to watch it in the future. There aren't too many older series that I go back to watch, but I won't say it's an impossibility that I won't try to see it someday.

[kymaera]

I've forgotten what you said in the past. Did you like Tsuyokiss, Muteki Kanbanmusume, Tonagura? You're more open to comedies than I am. I wasn't able to get into the kind of humor of those shows.

I didn't like Tsuyokiss. Enjoyed Muteki Kanban Musume and am enjoying
Tonagura. Neither were great, but solidly amusing.

How much of the anime was "made up" and not in the game?

Hmm...well, it's hard to say because they made up some stuff and altered
others. The couple episodes at the end were pure game stuff (and some
of the best). But others were altered to bring in characters sooner. For
example, Laharl was revived by Etna, not Flonne. Flonne comes in later.
Gordon, Jennifer and Friday wouldn't have appeared until after the middle
of the series if they had followed the game. The whole book that they
were trying to find was made up.

How many shows are you watching right now?

Right now? None. I'm posting here instead

Hmm...let's see what came out this year that I'm still watching...
- Black Blood Brothers
- Chocotto Sister
- Tonagura
- Coyote Ragtime Show
- Honey & Clover II
- Demonbane
- Kamisama Kazoku
- Witchblade
- Himawari
- Saiunkoku Monogatari
- AMG: Sorezore no Tsubasa
- XXXholic
- .hack//Roots
- Inukami
- Nana
- Renkin Sankyuu Magical Pokaan
- Air Gear
- Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni
- SImoun
- Utawarerumono
- Kyou no Go no Ni
- Hellsing Ultimate
Of course, that doesn't include stuff that came out before this year that's
still ongoing or hasn't been fully released on subs yet.

[Keropi]

Heh...your watch list is still half like mine.

I thought Witchblade got to be real good in the second half. It's only that final episode that I became a bit disappointed in it. But they built up the story to such a high degree that it would have been very difficult for me not to be a little disppointed in the ending.

You mean you're not watching Zegapain or NHK either? ?^_^?

Zegapain ended up being my favorite anime from the April 2006 season (out of the series I got to see anyway). It was very enjoyable.

[redwolf]

2. How did Simoun turn out?

Beautiful, but I am still pretty biased (It's only been 1.5 weeks since I finished). I think it is important to note that this is character-driven, not plot based...many viewers get lost very early in the alien nature of the new world and the complex-seeming plot. If you take it as plot-based, the "climax" occurs way too early, and the end seems drawn out with too many questions left unanswered. Some people were comparing it thematically with Haibane Renmei, which I could see to a certain extent (it's impossible for things to stay the same...things change and life moves on) and given the feelings both shows left me with. Simoun might end up as one of my all time favorites...I'm going to throttle myself for a long time for missing some July and August genga auctions, unless something else comes along...

5. How was the Nana anime?
7. How was Honey and Clover II?

I would have to get back to you on both of these...They are part of my own overwhelming list...

Just Finished (subjective rating/10)
Simoun (9/10) See above.
Strawberry Panic (5/10) I watched for Shizuma, Yaya, Chikaru, and the cool second OP.
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora (6/10) Fun 1st ep, nice ending, but a lot of things didn't mesh for me.
Jigoku Shoujo (7/10) Beautiful, but has plot troubles.

Following/-Way behind on:
-Mahou Shoujo Tai
-Mushishi
-NANA
-Ouran High School Host Club
-School Rumble 2nd Term
Eyeshield 21 (Saizen subs)
-Aria (first season, heh)
Ah! Megami-sama: Sorezore no Tsubasa (#18 )
One Piece (Kaizoku subs)
-Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
-Magikano
-Ergo Proxy

Downloaded, but haven't watched:
**Hatchimitsu to Clover II
Victorian Romance Emma
Shinigami no Ballad

Just bought (haven't seen before):
Last Exile
Strawberry Eggs
Adventures of the Mini Goddess

Starting from the new season:
Negima (SHAFT)
Kanon (2006)
Jigoku Shoujo (2nd season, live action)
Galaxy Ange-lune
Pumpkin Scissors
???

Indefinitely paused:
Shakugan no Shana (#10-12)
Blood (#6)
Bleach (#70ish)
Basilisk (#10ish)
Violinist of Hameln
Paradise Kiss
Witchblade (subs stopped at #8, though this post prompted me to start DLing the raws before it is too late)

Interested in watching?
Bokura ga Ita
Black Lagoon
???

And there's plenty more I missed or dropped after the first episode (like Zegapain that you mentioned) that would probably be worth the watch as well.

Edit: I'm upping Strawberry Panic to a 6/10. Yes, there's nothing original. Yes, the story is painfully bad at times. But there's something inexplicably enjoyable about the show that kept me coming back for more. A few of the episodes, I could watch dozens of times and still enjoy. That's more than worth an extra point.

I'm also dropping Simoun to 8/10. It hits very close to my heart on a number of issues, but it does have its faults plotwise, and it is a tough series for most people to get into. The 9/10 was the fumes from the "just finished, awesome ending" vibe. I've never otherwise encountered a series I consider 9/10, and I'll never ever give a 10/10.

[Keropi]

I'm going to throttle myself for a long time for missing some July and August genga auctions, unless something else comes along...

Ah...don't you hate that.

Strawberry Panic (5/10) I watched for Shizuma, Yaya, Chikaru, and the cool second OP.

Who was Chikaru? ?^_^?

Here is a good blog to read on the Witchblade anime if you're not so knowledgeable on Japanese (like me):
http://wrexgrafix.com/anime/blog/?cat=4&paged=4

Here's what I was trying to watch before the October season began. Copying and pasting again (gomen). This is what my ratings averaged out to:

April 2006 season:

1. School Rumble second term 19 of 26 (okay/decent - 5.47)
2. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 9 of 26 (okay/decent - 5.46) - Didn't like the 1st episode, but I liked it after that. I was waiting for the series to finish first.
3. Ouran High School Host Club 20 of 26 (okay - 5.42)
4. The Third 14 of 24 (okay - 5.41) - It became more interesting after the fourth episode.
5. Strawberry Panic 20 of 26 (okay - 5.37) - It got better after I started liking the characters somewhat.

June 26th - finished Soul Link. Overall grade: (fair - 5.16).
July 4th - finished Black Lagoon. Overall grade: (okay/decent - 5.47).
July 10th - finished Himawari. Overall grade: (okay/fair - 5.20)
July 20th - finished Sasami ~ Mahou Shoujo Club (only read blog of episode 12)(okay/decent - 5.46)
Aug 18th - finished Demonbane. Overall grade: (okay - 5.35)
Sept 6th - finished Suzumiya Haruhi no Yutsu Overall grade: (decent - 5.55)
Sept 20th - finished Witchblade. Overall grade: (okay/decent - 5.50).
Sept. 25th - finished Utawarerumono. Overall grade: (decent - 5.57).
Sept. 27th - finished Inukami! Overall grade: (okay - 5.40).
Sept. 28th - finished Zegapain. Overall grade: (decent - 5.58 )

July 2006 season:

1. Welcome to the NHK! 12 of 24 (okay/decent - 5.53)
2. Bokura ga Ita 4 of 26 (okay - 5.42)
3. Night Head Genesis 4 of 24 (okay - 5.42)
4. Innocent Venus 7 of 12 (okay - 5.37):
5. Project BLUE Chikyuu SOS 1 of 6 (okay - 5.33):
6. Chevalier 1 of 24 (okay - 5.30):
7. Chokotto Sister 2 of 24 (okay - 5.29):

Aug. 14th, 2006: Dropped - "Muteki Kanban Musume".
Aug. 14th, 2006: Dropped - "Not Tsuyokiss" (Random School-life anime)
Sept. 4th, 2006: Dropped - "Tonagura!"
Sept. 23rd, 2006 - finished Coyote Ragtime Show. Overall grade: (okay - 5.33)
Sept. 23rd, 2006: Dropped - "Binbou Shimai Monogatari".
Sept. 24th, 2006 - finished Zero no Tsukaima. Overall grade: (okay - 5.43)

[redwolf]

Ah...don't you hate that.

Yup, but that's what I get for falling inexcusably behind.

Who was Chikaru? ?^_^?

How dare you forget me!
Lilim StuCo President, Henshin Club, Mystery Club, Carmen in the school play, and the go-to pillow for students who are feeling upset by their girlfriends' problems. Thanks for inadvertently helping me find my new avatar.

Looking at your finished list, I might eventually give Utawarerumono and Zegapain a second chance.

Thanks for the Witchblade link; my Japanese remains poor, so it should be very useful.

[Zag]

4. What did you think of the Disgaea series?

Well, considering I've yet to get my greedy little hands on the first game, my opinion may be skewed.

I liked it. It was horribly predictable, and the characters were overplayed, but I laughed several times. Plus, I like Etna.

[kymaera]

Plus, I like Etna.

That's Etna-sama to you, but I'll let it slide this time.
Hallejuah! We have another convert!

[Keropi]

Who was Chikaru? ?^_^?

Lilim StuCo President, Henshin Club, Mystery Club, Carmen in the school play, and the go-to pillow for students who are feeling upset by their girlfriends' problems.

Oh...Chikaru! Yeah I like Chikaru too. She's fun and pretty easy going to boot. She serves a good purpose.

Looking at your finished list, I might eventually give Utawarerumono and Zegapain a second chance.

I found the high parts of Witchblade and Zegapain to be much stronger than the highs of Utawarerumono. Utawarerumono I liked just about all the way through, but Utawarerumono's ending disappointed me the most out of all the anime I listed above. I don't think Utawarerumono had a bad ending, but I was hoping for something stronger. I was hoping for something that would match the emotional power of my favorite scenes from Witchblade and Zegapain.

I think much of my disappointment with Utawarerumono was because I had already seen so many "WTF", "Oh no!" and poignant moments in W and Z and I was hoping that Utawarerumono would give me more of those. I liked the themes of Witchblade and Zegapain. They were both about the human condition (I won't get more specific than that).

And Utawarerumono's theme was what? It's much harder for me to try to figure out. Utawarerumono felt more like an ancient legend.

I guess it all depends on what you want to get from your anime.

[RoboFlonne]

FLONNE!!

[RoboFlonne]

I really think that it makes more sense for Flonne to wake Laharl!

Because If Etna thought she killed him 2 years ago.... why is Etna still killing him 2 years later?

What do you think?