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Ms. Answerman
Pacifist Punch!

by Rebecca Bundy,



After a massive game of “chase the crumpled up balls of paper”, Answercat and Answercat Jr. finally took a break and started chewing on their favorites. Esmeralda's idea tasted the best, but both thought that Shinotaku14's would've tasted just right if he had added a pinch of salt (don't worry Shino, I'll still be using yours for next week). The kicker, they said, was the fact that her email signature quoted Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Thanks go to everyone though for sending and posting ideas.

"Dear Ms. Answerman,
I think you should entitle next week's column "Pacifist Punch!". I know it's stupid, but it's probably my favorite ever quote from Slayers. Amelia's dad has problems...
Thank you for allowing me to waste your time! ^^;
~Esmeralda Turbine

======================
I thought what I'd do was,
I'd pretend I was one of those
deaf-mutes. Or should I?
======================"

 


Are there any mecha anime that could be considered 'hard' science fiction, in the 60's sense of using technology that could possibly actually work, as opposed to the Robotech/Gundam approach of 'just pull a couple levers, and the robot will do the rest'. Gasaraki could be considered one such, with their tech teams monitoring and adjusting hydraulic oil pressures, etc.
Scott

One of the first things I noticed (and liked) when I first saw Escaflowne was the fact that their mecha moved slowly, heavily, and awkwardly, making it very clear that these things were hard to control and fight with. Full Metal Panic uses mecha in a more militaristic way but the techno-bable is still rampant, as are little things such as running out of bullets. In Evangelion, the Eva units are constantly under maintenance. Most of the mecha titles that come to mind have at least some realistic aspect to them, even if it's something as simple as the presence of technicians.
I'm hardly an expert when it comes to mecha titles in general, but I was under the impression that titles like Robotech and Gundam were the titles generally credited with bringing reality to the mecha genre, unlike the previous shows from the 60's. It's very likely though that one person's take on “reality” (emphasis on the actual process of moving the mecha) is simply different from what another person thinks is “real” (consequences and repairs after a fight and bulkier looks).



Hey Ms. Answerman!
Three questions.
1. Any chance of more Maria-sama ga Miteru anime? Or an American
licensing of it? I really dig that hard-core, glorified angst of life.
2. One of the reasons I like Bleach is because it has a huge variety
of unashamedly weird characters, who come from very different
settings, and are involved in equally many weird subplots. What other
anime shows that have this kind of style?
3. Is "D.C. ~Da Capo~" a harem show?
Thanks, yo.

1. Considering how well shoujo manga titles have been doing, I figured that Maria-sama would've been a solid pick and that anime companies would've tried scooping the rights up as soon as they could. Sadly enough, either no one is interested, the rights for the show are too expensive or complicated, or someone is working on/has the rights to the show and hasn't announced it yet. I'd guess that the last option is the least likely, unless of course someone is holding out for a big announcement at Otakon. Personally I loved the show, but I can't give you any good news about it.
2. Naruto comes to mind, especially since they take (or waste, depending on who you're talking to) a lot of time to make sure that all of the characters, major and minor, are developed. There are plenty of subplots, various types of relationships, and lots of politics mixed in with all the wacky ninja action. Monster also has a huge and rich cast of “normal” characters who get wrapped up in an extra-ordinary story and the series makes sure that every unique face has a unique history. If you're interested in a manga/game, Suikoden III has so many characters that it requires BOTH the manga and the game to get the most out of the title, but it doesn't slow down (unlike the previous two titles) in order to emphasize what makes the characters unique.
3. Mm, yes.



when is Fushigi Yugi going to be in Anime Network on demand ................I want to watch is so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is it going to happen please answer me.............

Attack of the Punctuation! (Hey, that would make a pretty nifty title)
Fushigi Yuugi used to air on the International Channel, but they stopped airing the TV series at the end of 2003. I'm not really sure if this is one of those “I think you're The Anime Network, please show THIS title” emails or not, but either way I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this title doesn't have much of a chance. It already made its run on the International Channel, so there's really no point in it also being on The Anime Network when they could make other titles available.



This has been bugging me for a while... Can you tell me how Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D are related again? I only have a faint memory of them being connected somehow. The same with Grave of the Fireflies and Hayao Miyazaki, if at all.
Thanks.
_Bijou


Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D share an Executive Producer (Yutaka Takahashi), a production company (MOVIC). If you're referriing to Bloodlust, both it and Ninja Scroll were directed by Ypshiaki Kawajiri and animated at Madhouse.
Grave of the Fireflies was animated by Studio Ghibli, the studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and was released in Japanese theatres as a double feature alongside My Neighbor Totoro, which was directed by Miyazaki.



Why do so many space-based giant robots have legs?

1. How else are they supposed to kick an enemy? Especially if it's one that isn't expecting a space-based robot to have legs!
2. It might need to move around in an environment where gravity is an issue, such as on a space craft or on land if they have to fight in many different situations.
3. Many designers (I'm guessing) feel that it's easier for a pilot to relate and control a giant robot when it looks/moves like them. It's possible they think that humans, if put in sticky situations, would respond better when controlling something that's familiar.
4. Lack of creativity or a desire to go with what people are comfortable with, especially since there are a lot of people who think that mecha should look like giant machines with arms and legs. Truthfully I'd like to see robots that resemble aquatic life since they would be able to move better in space, but those designs are generally reserved for the aliens. Could you imagine if the humans piloted fish robots and the aliens piloted human shaped robots? Actually, that would be fun to see...


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