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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Posts: 92
Location: Toledo, Ohio
PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:27 pm Reply with quote
As I understand it, this show is about to be released in the states. I haven't heard of it before, but upon watching the trailer and visiting Funimation's official Hell Girl site, I can't help but think that it looks good.
Has anyone here seen it? Please, share your opinions about it- I'd like to know more about the series before I decide to throw down the money for a DVD. Is it a quality show or is it just another forgettable title?
Discuss! Mr. Green
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Tony K.
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Joined: 18 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:07 pm Reply with quote
I made a thread for the series a while back during its fansub run. If you want to get a general idea of what the series is about, read the first few posts, but avoid the spoilers to save the self-discovery and surprise for later Wink.

Personally, I really like the concept. It reminds me of Hundred Stories mixed with a little Mushi-Shi. But the series is completely episodic, and falters here and there in terms of writing and continuity. HS is pretty good in that it creates a lot of bizarre, sometimes grotesque, stories using Japanese folklore and a lot of supernatural elements/beliefs. Mushi-Shi has a kind of dream-like quality and unique atmosphere in the way it presents itself though well-written narratives. Although, to be honest, Mushi-Shi is an entirely different beast on its own in terms of storytelling when compared to HS or HG. I was only referring to the sort of mystical quality it shares.

I'd like to buy the series eventually, but knowing what I know now about the series in terms of presentation and execution, it's not "an immediate collector's" kind of series, though I found it enjoyable, nonetheless.

It has great artwork, good music, some excellent drama and moral battles, and of course Mamiko Noto (Anime hyper). If you have any further questions, feel free to ask, and I'll try to remember as much as I can without spoiling much.
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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:27 pm Reply with quote
I see- so it feels a bit like Mushi-shi? I've been watching Mushi-Shi as of recent, and I've found it to be a charming series- perhaps one of the better ones among the various newer titles being released.
I'll have to look into your previous thread. Thanks for your input!
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Tony K.
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:32 pm Reply with quote
Just to make one more thing clear, my comparison between HG and Mushi-Shi is very minor. HG is actually quite dark and brooding. I simply threw in the Mushi-Shi reference as a parallel to the kind of narrative HG uses, in that there's kind of an underlying moral to each story/episode, only HG is real blatant about it, while Mushi-Shi is very subtle. You'll probably get the idea after reading my old thread.

HG takes place in a very urbanized setting with very urbanized people. It's pretty much like any present day anime you can look at, only HG possesses that supernatural aspect in spoiler[ taking revenge into your own hands and sending your source of affliction to Hell.] That's where I felt the series became repetitive, but it's still an interesting look at humanity and how our own nature can sometimes lead to the wrong decisions.
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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:15 pm Reply with quote
Ah, I understand.
You know, I think that I might actually check this one out.
On a totally seperate note, this 'Hundred Stories' you mentioned also sounds good. I looked into it and it's being released as "Requiem From the Darkness", correct?

Perhaps I should look into them both?
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Tony K.
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:31 pm Reply with quote
Yes. HS (or 100S) was renamed "Requiem blah blah" by Geneon, though I feel 100S is catchier, in that it's the literal translation and sounds better in an aesthetic sense. The plot summary should speak for itself of where the name comes from.

And yes, if you like Mushi-Shi, you'll really like 100S. It's yet another episodic series but is strictly horror in terms of genre. No happy endings or anything at all. However, it's not as complacent as Hell Girl either. If I had to call 100S something, I'd probably call it "out there," especially in the artwork. But it's a very interesting series if you like fantasy themes and random horror stories. A lot of the episodes also carry a similar narrative to both Mushi-Shi and Hell Girl with those underlying moral concepts. So I'm sure you'll like it as well if you like the first two.

You can buy the 100S DVDs cheap at Right Stuf for $10 a piece.
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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:39 pm Reply with quote
Only $10 each? Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind checking that one out for such a low price. Many thanks, mate- I appreciate all of your help! I think I'll be checking both of these out pretty soon.
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Ningensei



Joined: 06 Mar 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:39 pm Reply with quote
I guess I just add in that I also enjoyed the series. I kind of found it too be quite repetitive at first, but I really liked it when they brought in some recurring characters. I won't say anything about the series so I don't ruin it, but I really loved the ending and thought it finished strongly.

Tony K. wrote:
It has great artwork, good music, some excellent drama and moral battles, and of course Mamiko Noto


I absolutely love her. I am not really big into obsessing over voice actors, but I can't help but lover her voice and all of her performances. She is usually my favorite character/performance in whatever series she is in.
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Aylinn



Joined: 18 Nov 2006
Posts: 1684
PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:44 pm Reply with quote
In my opinion Jigoku Shoujo is boring. It was repetitive and too long. I heard that it get better at the end but I got tired to wait. It could be better if it had only 13 episodes.

Quote:
As I understand it, this show is about to be released in the states. I haven't heard of it before, but upon watching the trailer and visiting Funimation's official Hell Girl site, I can't help but think that it looks good.


You know when this series was coming out I thought like you but after seeing half of the series Confused I think now that this series prove that proverb one shouldn't judge a book by its cover is true and should be remembered.

I gave Requiem from the Darkness - Good and Mushi-Shi - Masterpiece


Last edited by Aylinn on Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:27 am; edited 1 time in total
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angel_lover



Joined: 22 Apr 2005
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Location: UK
PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:05 pm Reply with quote
I can't help wondering whether 26 episodes was overlong too. The basic plot idea is good, but maybe it got stretched too thin. I thought that the as-yet unlicensed follow-up series was quite a bit better as they learned how to take the idea and then twist it until it really hurt.
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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:21 pm Reply with quote
I'll admit that a good point was raised- 26 episodes may be a bit too long. While I haven't actually seen any of it yet, the premise of the show may not allow for such length.
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cool3865



Joined: 31 Aug 2006
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Location: Austin, TX
PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:07 am Reply with quote
so i saw the trailer, it looks good. will have to get the DVD's when it comes out, but yea according to what i have read about the story 26 episodes might be too long. will see what all they do with it.
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hentai4me



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 1313
Location: England. Robin is so Cute!
PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:21 pm Reply with quote
I drew sadistic pleasure from it, having the story/episode set up the characters and events and then allow me to imagine how I would knock them down if I were to enact the revenge.
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Bunchuu of Chouka



Joined: 16 Sep 2007
Posts: 92
Location: Toledo, Ohio
PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:17 pm Reply with quote
hentai4me wrote:
I drew sadistic pleasure from it, having the story/episode set up the characters and events and then allow me to imagine how I would knock them down if I were to enact the revenge.

Shocked That's terrifying.
Still, it seems like the kind of show where I could find myself doing the same thing, lol.
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NocturnalUX



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 448
Location: Portugal
PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:38 pm Reply with quote
I quite enjoyed Jigoku Shoujo as well as Futakomori even if it is true that both get quite repetitive. Then again the very premise makes them so, to some extent. One thing that I liked about the series is how almost uncompromisingly dark it is most of the times. During the first season, when spoiler[ Hajime is trying to put a stop to Ai's revenge scheme, it is not so much a matter of seeing whether he will suceed as much as it is of seein just what it is that makes people pull the red thread].
Some episodes really stand out: spoiler[the brother who crossdresses to steal his sister's boyfriends because he is in love with her is an example of utterly creepy. Same goes for the girl who ends up pulling the thread so that she can go to hell to be together with her dying friend with whom she has just patched up]

I agree that this is a series that gives a certain sadist tinge to its enjoyment. It reminded me a bit of Vampire Princess Miyu, Miyu's and Ai's fate is remarkable similar and both series are mostly episodic except for later episodes.
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