Forum - View topicNEWS: Hellboy anime
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Renaisance Otaku
 Posts: 469 Location: Modesto, CA |
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Ugh, I'm too tired to give this a proper response, but I know that if I don't respond I won't be able to sleep. This well be racking my brain anyway, but oh well. I've also been trying to come off as more polite on forums as I'm tired of being flamed for my admitedly unpopular opinions. I just got distracted by a post on another forum, so please take this with a grain of salt. I can't really cohere my thoughts in text at the moment. Yes Blue Sub Six did impact me a lot. I saw it on Cartoon Network(probably part of the problem) back when I just gotten into anime. I really can't remember it at all, other then feeling that the makers were showing off. The whole thing just screamed, "Hey, look what we can do! Doesn't this look so cool?!" Having never been impressed by digital things(thanks to my stupid grade school that valued computers over students, and my family, for raising me surrounded by VHS and audio cassettes, than rubbing in how CDs are "the wave of the future", when its their fault for me being an analogue purest), I just couldn't get into the show and that put a stigma on all things Gonzo very early on in my fandom. Of course, all the people telling me that I needed a bigscreen TV with surround to appreciate it didn't help matters. Yes, I'm tired of Gonzo being given praise. But aren't we all annoyed if something you're not big on is now the flavor of the moment? Is it underserved praise, IMO? No, I won't be so arrogant as to say that just because I hate their methods, you should too. But to have reviews saying all serious anime fans must watch this show and will love this show; and that just because it has a somewhat more distinct look and level of detail than most recent TV shows that its automatically, "spectacular" and "the best looking anime ever" is just plain overdoing it, IMO. I'm entusiastic like that to, say, "Gunbuster", but I don't think that if you haven't seen that, it instantly means you're not a true fan. Its not a visually impressive show, at least, not in what I deem to be the definition of the term. Again, I'm far more impressed by hand work than computer graphics. I grew up watching "Movie Magic" on the Discovery channel as a kid. Having heard how CGI and minatures are done, I can honestly say that model work is, by far, more interesting. Its more time consuming, and the results lay entirely with one's patience, skills, devotion, and talent. The same lays in animation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying those aren't required for CGI, but the PC does simplify matters a bit. Knowing in the original Star Wars that every realistic X-Wing was built from scratch, filmed seperately, than composited together seemlessly is amazing. It puts the shoddy CGI work in the Not-So-Special Editions to shame, as in that case it was a cut and paste job. Thats not the best example of Cg work, but its all I can think of. When I watch "Macross:DYRL", or "Gunbuster", or "Wings of Honneamise" and the like and realize that that was all done in the 80's with out any CG shortcuts, I'm impressed. I just don't get that with CG assisted animation. Its a different set of standards. Its like using a film camera and getting a wonderful shot vs. a digital one where you can keep taking it until you get it right. Both are great, but its just not the same. Now when I say the CG wasn't used well, I don't mean at all how it looks. The series is well designed and the CGI blends satisfactory enough that if I'm not in one of my "anti-digital" moods(for lack of a better term)  , that I don't really mind it. My problem is simple: why is it there? Now I've only paid attention to three episodes thus far(1,2,26) and I really can't see why half of that imagery is digital. I saw lumbering battleships moving in straight lines, Van ships done in a way that looks like they could have been done by hand. My stance is, if you're going to implyment something meant for live action in a format that lacks the very constraints that makes CG neccesary in LA, make good use of it and do something that would be too difficult, too epensive, or otherwise impractical by hand. My favorite uses of CGI in animation are often centered on camera work. A contently changing perspective is difficult and time consuming to do. A good example is the "Sanctuary" scene in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". The large, moving crowd along with the smoke effects and the camera as it follows Quasimoto was so complex, it nearly crashed the system. The scene in LA versions lack the depth this shot gave the moment. Macross Zero is good as the camera is, again, in a constant state of flux and when its not, the Valkyries are done by hand, if possible. As I've said, perhaps later in the series there are moments like what I've described where the CG speaks for itself. I just haven't seen it yet, perhaps. Its interesting that you mention Fox. They used CG to make a necklace in "Anastasia". That film stands as a monument to poor CG use.
I don't hate all CG. I love CGI films. I see it as a different artform from 2D and LA, with its own set of rules on whats impressive. My only complaint is when idiot companies use it as an excuse to usurp 2D. I really hate it that they feel it has to be one or the other. Why things can't co-exist and everyone must be pushed into the new medium is beyond me at times. Its sad really. People like Eisner have to wake up. Okay, my brains shutting down, and I'm not sure if I stated exactly what I wanted to or not. Basically, 2D animation and CG animation are two different artforms. When used properly, it can raise ashow to new heights. When misused, it can dilute the artistic integrety of something that would otherwise be grand. CG should be used sparingly, and only in the service of the rest of the show, not the focus . Gonzo fails on this, IMO, as they use CG because they can, not because its necessary. That is, at least, the impression I get. Are they a bad company for it? No, but who am I to say. I know they started as a PSX company and got dragged into this whole anime thing. Do they use/blend CGI well? IMO, not always. Vandread looked like two shows spliced together, though I think that's on my "hit" list of there works. They have yet to produce any blend that felt justified to me where others have. Your mileage my very, but I still feel they have a long why before the CG serves them, not vice-versa. Is "Last Exile" a "masterpiece"? No, nothing is. There's no such thing as a masterpiece in the sense we use the word in. One man's masterpiece is another man's garbage. Opinion is a harse mistress, as its often mistaken for fact or a "mightier than thou" attitude. LE and Gonzo fit your views on proper CGI use, and not mine. Neither opinion is wrong nor right. The problem lays in trends. A simple fad or vocal minority opinion can tip the scales and ruin the fun for all. A differing or otherwise unpopular notion often leads to brush wars and thing like, "what's wrong with you, such-and-such was awesome. Can't you see that". For now, I'll leave LE to the people who found it to their visual tastes, there's far more titles to watch while it cools off in the circles, allowing me to enjoy it as any other average anime. I'd rather not have to view it with the thought of how over-rated the hype has led it to be. Especially given the frustration that comes with the forced overdigitization of a lot of what I love. Analogue still superior, digitals just easier to develope, the lazy bums.   Last Exile is animation after all, and I love animation. Once I can watch it without the sour taste the Gonzo name emblazoned on it's cover leaves in my mouth, the sooner I'll be able to remember that. I'm much to tired, especially of explaining myself. Good night.
Last edited by Renaisance Otaku on Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GATSU
Posts: 16393 |
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Actually, I.G. is working on the Escape from New York spin-off.
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the_soultaker
 Posts: 685 |
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You are correct sir. Heat Guy J is produced by starlight (The guys responsible for escaflone.) And i own the DVDs. ah s#it!My bad. 
You mean the same guys that were responsible for ghost in the shell and sakura wars; the movie? Hell that's even better!!
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Shiki MSHTS
 Posts: 738 Location: NoVA |
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I like how this turned somewhat into a anti/pro-gonzo post. =/
Well, really, it does go back down to preferences. There is no way within reality that you can get everyone to think one same thing. I personally really do like Last Exile, but I think people are hyping it up way too much. I bought it completely based off of one trailer, basically because i though the trailer was beautiful. I am a fan of their cg/anime mixing, mainly because they do it better than almost any other company i can think of. I think the two art forms can well co-exist, and if Gonzo feels like using a lot of CG, power to them. They can do it to their hearts content, and the people will either love or hate them for it. I like their use of CG, and I believe it's just the right amount. I have faith that this could potentially go well. Besides, as I stated before, there is more pressure on them than normal. =P |
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Coral Skipper
Posts: 223 |
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Personally I don't care who does the Hellboy anime. The comics are excellent, and as long as they stay pretty close to the source material they should be fine. Personally I think Hellboy has short OAVs written all over it. Most of the stories are self contained in the graphic novels, and I feel that the OAV format would definatly increase the chances of an anime being good.
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Fandrez
 Posts: 178 Location: Uh... can I get back to you on that? |
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Hellboy anime..... Eh, I don't really care who makes the anime or what does what. All I care about is if the anime looks good and is good. (Sorry if I sound like a pr**k)
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animaniac
 Posts: 246 Location: Idaho |
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I like some of gonzo' s work and madhouse as well I'd probably prefer madhouse though as well. Not a hellboy fan though I gave the comics a look and the movie just looks lame. Bleh
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