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Shelf Life - The Idolmeister

I was a little disappointed starting with episode 12, when a bikini babe is introduced as a regular character. She's tough too, but the bikini doesn't leave much to the imagination… unless you're imagining how physics manage to keep that thing on during sword fights. Maybe Blue Exorcist was falling in the reader surveys the week she was introduced.

Keichitsu0305 wrote:

I have two questions about Mr. Dijkstra's collection. 1. Did he buy the Rightstuf version of Utena because of new content (since he already has the Central Park release)?

While I can't speak for him, the Rightstuf versions of Utena are so much better than the Central Park releases that it's totally worth double dipping, just on the quality of the video alone. It's not a matter of new content, but rather it looks so much nicer.

I'm curious though, how many pictures is one allowed to send for Shelf Life? I ask because I'm slowly getting my collection organized, and it's a pretty sizable one so if I take a lot of close up shots, it'll get to be a lot of pictures.

As for Idol and Prince... well, the same garbage for the same target demographic, but different gender...

I actually really like Idolm@ster as well. (In the Summer preview, I gave it a freakishly high review.) I think it's a lot better than the other Million Girls In One Show shows out there, simply because it does show things from the girls' perspectives. To me, there's something a little sad and sinister about the way they describe their days and work schedules, and it speaks volumes about the current state of the idol industry.

For instance, instead of just having a stupid catchphrase, you see the characters actively try to remember to say it, or you see them consciously slip into their pre-designated persona whenever they're in public. They know that they have to pander to fans in order to stay in the biz.

Am I the only one that sees the series this way? It makes the girls more human, I think.

Is that a Bakuman reference? My hat's off to Erin in case. And if it's not, too.

Sailor S wrote:

Keichitsu0305 wrote: I have two questions about Mr. Dijkstra's collection. 1. Did he buy the Rightstuf version of Utena because of new content (since he already has the Central Park release)? While I can't speak for him, the Rightstuf versions of Utena are so much better than the Central Park releases that it's totally worth double dipping, just on the quality of the video alone. It's not a matter of new content, but rather it looks so much nicer.

Thanks for answering my question on his behalf! I asked because I've been wanting to buy Utena but I wasn't sure if I should buy the original (for 'nostalgia' reasons) or get the Rightstuf re-releases.

I field-tested this Utena re-release with a fangirl who owned the previous Central Park Media DVDs to see if you, the reader, ought to buy this again. My test subject drooled over the included color booklet, filled with production art and lengthy interviews, then she raved that the new DVDs have much brighter colors, so she would have to buy them. The results of this experiment lead me to conclude that this should be a re-buy.

While reading Erin's review, it sort of seems that one of the problems is the view of what an idol is supposed to be.

I actually really like Idolm@ster as well. (In the Summer preview, I gave it a freakishly high review.) I think it's a lot better than the other Million Girls In One Show shows out there, simply because it does show things from the girls' perspectives. To me, there's something a little sad and sinister about the way they describe their days and work schedules, and it speaks volumes about the current state of the idol industry.

That's really interesting because I know you absolutely hate Hetalia, Erin. So the second I saw that comment I knew where the review was going!

The existence of Uta no Prince-sama and its ilk is potent proof that Databases exist for female fans every bit as much as for male ones (as she looks at the Samurai Girls ad covering her screen). There are certain "types" that female consumers want, and studios regurgitate them on a regular basis. And if it's not the kind of thing you're into, you'll inevitably find it more annoying than amusing.

On the plus side, this allows the existence of Ouran High School Host Club (just as the male version allowed for Higurashi), so I'm really not complaining all that much.

Awww... you guys didn't read my review?

I actually really like Idolm@ster as well. (In the Summer preview, I gave it a freakishly high review.) I think it's a lot better than the other Million Girls In One Show shows out there, simply because it does show things from the girls' perspectives. To me, there's something a little sad and sinister about the way they describe their days and work schedules, and it speaks volumes about the current state of the idol industry.

For instance, instead of just having a stupid catchphrase, you see the characters actively try to remember to say it, or you see them consciously slip into their pre-designated persona whenever they're in public. They know that they have to pander to fans in order to stay in the biz.

Am I the only one that sees the series this way? It makes the girls more human, I think.