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Deltakiral



Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 3338
Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK)
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 2:48 am Reply with quote
Recently I was spoking around the Encyclopedia (Under the Anime Section) and came across something called X, After reading a little bit I was intrigue by the show. One thing I am a little lost on is X/1999 or something to that nature, is that a sequel? Also it's a movie/series correct, which would you recomend? And does it matter what order you watch X or X/1999? I mean anyone can watch Star Wars: A New Hope IV without seeing one frame of Phatom Menace, so does it matter or yes is what I am getting at. OH and by the way, a happy holidays to all no matter what you are celebrating. Very Happy
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Nagisa
Moderator


Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 6128
Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:05 am Reply with quote
X, X/1999, & X TV are all alternate retellings of the same story. None of them are sequels or prequels, they're all just different takes on one idea.

The original (and best) is the manga, which goes into much more depth and does the best overall job at fleshing out the characters. The only problem is that it's unfinished, and the artists are on some sort of ridiculous hiatus from it. The movie was the first anime adaptation of it (well...there was a music video, but I don't think that counts), and sadly many people find it very disappointing; it's extremely condensed and lacks almost any plot & character development. Personally, I enjoyed it, but I still recommend it least of the three versions. The TV series is only about two years old, but is the most faithful animated adaptation of the manga to date. Not quite as grim, but it does manage a great deal of character development and gets most of the facts straight. Personally, it's one of my overall favourite anime, and I highly recommend it over the movie.

So basically, in terms of telling the same story, the manga's the best option, followed by the TV series, and the movie last. Hope that helped.
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Jimmy Balls-O-Steel



Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 60
Location: The Great White North
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:32 am Reply with quote
The reason for the manga being called X/1999 instead of X is because Dark Horse already had a comic book series out called X. To avoid legal troubles, Viz had to change X to X/1999. Fair enough, as far as I'm concerned. And really, it makes perfect sense, given how in the manga they say the the "Promised Day" is in 1999.

The movie X is all action and blood with very little plot and character development. And the animation is absolutely amazing, especially given the lack of any noticeable(sp?) help from computers. (CGI may look like crap on its own, but it can look absolutely amazing if melded with ink-and-cell animation correctly.)

The series X all drama and character development with not as much focus and action (there's some, but not a lot when compared to the movie). Very well done animation, though it is quite subtle. And it looked like they had some level of computer enhancement for the animation.

The manga is basically a mix of the two, though it did start first. There's lots plot and very deep characters, and there's also a lot of action and blood (though this doesn't really start to kick up until around volume 9, or so -- but when it's bloody, it's bloody). And being a manga by CLAMP, the artwork is absolutely amazing, in just about every aspect imaginable.

I'd also suggest the manga. There are 16 volumes currently released in North America. And I've been told that CLAMP has been picking up on X, lately.
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Tetsaiga



Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 100
Location: BC, Canada
PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:15 am Reply with quote
I was thinking of watching this one too, what order should you watch them in?
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Godaistudios



Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 2075
Location: Albuquerque, NM (the land of entrapment)
PostPosted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:25 am Reply with quote
Since there are no real continuity issues, there really is no timeline when it comes to experiencing all the different formats... however the general consensus seems to suggest that the X movie isn't that great. I'd personally start with the worst of the bunch and work my way up the ladder of quality.

X movie
X TV series
X manga.

Take my suggestion for what it's worth...
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Nani?



Joined: 20 Jul 2003
Posts: 632
PostPosted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 9:23 am Reply with quote
Godaistudios wrote:
I'd personally start with the worst of the bunch and work my way up the ladder of quality.

X movie
X TV series
X manga.

Take my suggestion for what it's worth...


I would say skip the movie because it's quality not nearly at the same level at the others and it might have the unfortnate effect of turning you off to an some Anime and Manga. If you want more evidence, click on the user ratings in the enclopedia.

All the best,

Nani?
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:02 am Reply with quote
Tetsaiga wrote:
I was thinking of watching this one too, what order should you watch them in?


The Series is great, watch that. Only watch the film if you feel masochistic, it's terrible. Sure the annimation looks great but the plot is extremely rushed and compressed, and the character devolopment mostly non-existant.
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jfrog



Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 925
Location: Seattle
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:51 am Reply with quote
I'm in the minority here, but I think that the movie is the only one worth watching. I read the manga and completely hated it, but I thought the movie was somewhat enjoyable. Mainly because I hated all the characters, so I actually liked it that they weren't developed. The movie has some of the most inexpressive character animation I've ever seen (a problem with anything CLAMP-related), but Rin Taro is still able to get some great visuals out of it despite the terrible script. Which is, unfortunately, the way he usually seems to operate.
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:19 am Reply with quote
Yeah, I hated the characters as well, spoiler[they are just cannon fodder in the film.] Unfortunately in a good movie it works better if the viewer likes the characters and actually cares about them, unless it's the creator's intention for you to do otherwise, which is usually only done with antagonists. The series does a much better job of fleshing out the characters, both the Dragons of Heaven and Earth, and providing them with motivations spoiler[other than the general spoutings of fate or destined events. Although they still remain as mostly cannon fodeder, but to a somewhat lesser extent and smaller death toll] Something a lot of them lacked in the film. After seeing the movie first, I almost gave up on trying to watch the series, however it turned out to be pretty good, and I had a much impoved opinion of these incarnations of the characters. Can't say I care for much else CLAMP puts out though.
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jfrog



Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 925
Location: Seattle
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:59 am Reply with quote
Yeah, but I read the manga before I saw the movie. I guess they do have more motivations in that, but pretty much all they do is brood. I don't have much tolerance for the whole angsty goth prettyboy thing. I'm not saying the movie is great or even good, just that it's the only incarnation of X that I can stand.
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benbboy



Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 66
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:21 am Reply with quote
I just saw episodes 0-12...got for Christmas...and about to order the rest...cause i have to say that was my personal favorite anime yet......not that i have a huge collection....but i loved the variety of chars.....great artwork....and a smart plot that was by no means easy to figure out. I'd recommend it...but compared to the manga i dunno.....all i know is that the movie is something to waste your cash on
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Jimmy Balls-O-Steel



Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 60
Location: The Great White North
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:52 am Reply with quote
Kruszer wrote:
Can't say I care for much else CLAMP puts out though.


In regards to CLAMP anime, I'd have to agree with you. I don't exactly know why, but their manga never seems to translate to anime that well. Just look at Chobits. (Though Tokyo Babylon translates better than most people give it credit for, but that's only haven't had the cahnce to read the manga first.)

Always keep in mind that CLAMP is essentially a manga team, and manga is what they do best
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:05 pm Reply with quote
...and a mostly female manga team at that who frequently does well...lets just say a lot of titles that appeal mostly to women rather than to men. *coughYahoicough*

jfrog wrote:
Yeah, but I read the manga before I saw the movie. I guess they do have more motivations in that, but pretty much all they do is brood. I don't have much tolerance for the whole angsty goth prettyboy thing. I'm not saying the movie is great or even good, just that it's the only incarnation of X that I can stand.


So you've read the manga and seen the film? How about the 24 episode television series? That's really the only incarnation I liked.
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jfrog



Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 925
Location: Seattle
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:33 pm Reply with quote
Don't see any real need to watch it. Rin Taro's visual style was the only thing that made the film watchable, and I generally don't go for those kinds of stories anymore - my tastes these days are more for experimental weirdness for weirdnesses sake or realistic slice of life stories (Takahata-style, not Azumanga Daioh-style).
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 8016
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:19 pm Reply with quote
Fair enough, I find myself sticking mostly to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Action stuff myself. Although I do enjoy the acasuonal drama, mystery, or comedy.
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