Anime Taster Session (Week 1 2011/12)

[KingJ]

This year's anime taster was a combination of very popular series and also some silly ones (blame our Social Secretary Will!)

The lineup was;

• Kino's Journey (Episode 3)
• Spice and Wolf (Episode 1)
• Cowboy Bebop (Episode 1)
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Episode 1)
• Haibane Renmei (Episode 1)
• Death Note (Episode 1)
• Angel Beats! (Episode 1)
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Episode 00 or 25 depending on numbering scheme...)

What did everyone like? Spice and Wolf, Madoka and Angel Beats are in my top 3 so it was certainly great to be able to see them again.

[otherside92]

Thank you!

For me, my favourites were:

• Spice and Wolf
• Angel Beats!
• Haibane Renmei
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica

I would add The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya to the list but I enjoyed it for other reasons; the shear hilarity and randomness that seemed to surround it!

[fireextinquisher]

Kinda wish I'd gone now...but I couldn't find what'd be shown, so I decided it wasn't worth risking Dx

[Haruhiist]

Oh woooow, I really enjoyed it ^_^

Lets see, in rough order of enjoyment...

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is amazing! I've seen the whole series and it's my second favourite anime series (right behind The Twelve Kingdoms, which admittedly I haven't seen in years and I hope holds up to how I remember it...). Just everything about it...the music, variety of art styles, the way it deconstructs the genre so intelligently, the emotion, the concepts....squuueeeeee!

Death Note. Heh, I've actually watched the first episode twice now and yet haven't seen any of the others yet O.O This must be fixed soon! I've read the manga and ADORED it. I don't really have an addictive personality, but that stuff is addictive! And so intelligently done, the way Light and his descent in to madness is portrayed and the way he manipulates people and plan things out puts the similar case of Lelouch in Code Geass to shame.

Forgot how funny The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Episode 00 actually is The cat! Completely forgot about that bit and it caught me so off guard

Actually watching through Kino's Journey at the moment. It's brilliant so far, a friend described it as being philosophical without being cloying which I agree with completely.

Wanna check out Haibane Renmei now! I'd only heard of it before, but really liked the first episode.

Spice and Wolf I've seen before (it was possibly my favourite series that was screened at Sci-Fi last year). I'm not sure why I don't love it more, but I do really like it and am looking forward to finishing season 2.

Angel Beats!...I used to really love it. I've seen the series twice now and its flaws get to me more and more. Everything about it feels so contrived just for the sake of making things more emotional, and it's so frustrating how the humour seems to almost undermine the emotional moments. But I can't deny that the emotional moments absolutely destroy me, and I love the themes it explores.

Cowboy Bebop...eh. I'm about 10 episodes in to watching it now and...it's fine. I guess this sort of episodic actiony stuff just isn't for me. The first episode is one of the better ones I've seen so far though.

Cool lineup

[Lisey]

Death Note... that stuff is addictive! And so intelligently done, the way Light and his descent in to madness is portrayed and the way he manipulates people and plan things out puts the similar case of Lelouch in Code Geass to shame.

Yes, yes it is O.O Cannot describe how addictive and awesome this series is. It was the first series I watched independently and have seen it so, so many times since >.< I still love Geass, but not as highly due to the stupid school episodes (grrrrrr so annoying! give me more politics and madness!) but the way similar themes are portrayed in Death Note is done in a more intelligent way. Instead of just getting what he wants, Light is forced to carefully and thoroughly analyse his every move, because unlike in Geass, there is Someone very intelligent after him. And the way he manipulates people! Forget just telling them what to do: this doe-eyed bundle of fluff actually psychologically bends them to his will: brilliant! Admittedly, there are some annoying characters (Misa -.-) but even they aren't stoopid or in any way extras to the plot. I know certain people berate it for some things: Lights ''epic writing scenes'' for example. But they actually don't detract from the plot. At all. Even the potato chip line. It isn't actually that funny -.-
Similarly after THAT point, I honestly think it was his time to go, and a natural and refreshing shift in the dynamic: instead of one, very similar to Light, we have two, very different characters, and one epic (and sad) conclusion. And there. Hope my love of Death Note wasn't too much for you

Actually watching through Kino's Journey at the moment. It's brilliant so far, a friend described it as being philosophical without being cloying which I agree with completely.

yeas ^_^ I like that word It actually has a taste/ texture when you say it: ''Cloying'' :S

Angel Beats!...I used to really love it. I've seen the series twice now and its flaws get to me more and more. Everything about it feels so contrived just for the sake of making things more emotional, and it's so frustrating how the humour seems to almost undermine the emotional moments. But I can't deny that the emotional moments absolutely destroy me, and I love the themes it explores.

I know, I know. ''100 strikes'' thing grated a little :S Love the art style though: so many pretty colours!

Cowboy Bebop...eh. I'm about 10 episodes in to watching it now and...it's fine. I guess this sort of episodic actiony stuff just isn't for me. The first episode is one of the better ones I've seen so far though.

The opening music is soooo cooool! but yeah... we should finish it!


oh: edit sorry

My favourite were
Death Note (Episode 1)
Spice and Wolf (Episode 1)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Episode 1)

[HighSkies]

Waa~ T.T Can't believe I missed this... But thought I'd say I've heard a lot of good things about Puella Magi Madoka Magica- its apparently one of the popular animes right now. So many people were cosplaying characters from it at Ayacon. Maybe one day I'll get round to watching it ^^; Sounds like a good taster session!

[ChainsawMao]

But the all important question... what avatar and rank will Kingsley pick with so many choices in 1 night?

currently betting on Kyuubey with the "Make a Contract with me and become a magical girl"

[Lisey]

That's a point.... Spice an Wolf methinks? Or you could do Madoka one ^_^ but who woul-


oh. wait.


I think I know....

[KingJ]

Matt and Alice win... sort of. It would have been Kyubey but I couldn't do it in time before the next screening.

Actually... I can't find a good avatar for Howl's/5cm that isn't already taken. Kyubey it is!

[Lisey]

Adorable :3 but deadly O.O