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Hey, Answerman! [2009-02-27]


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fuuma_monou



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 1816
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:29 am Reply with quote
UtenaAnthy wrote:
I'm guessing the reason there aren't many hentai reviews on the site is

a) Lack of interest in reviewing material centered around (tentacle) rape.


Yeah, because there isn't any hentai without rape. Like how yaoi is just gay porn for women. Oh, wait.

sunflower wrote:
Maybe people could think of it this way. Yaoi is like romance novels. There are a lot of romance novel review sites right? But hentai is like Penthouse letters. Who reviews those?


Romance novels don't exactly have the greatest literary reputation.

Written porn gets reviewed too, not sure why you keep bringing up Letters to Penthouse. There's various year's best erotica anthologies.
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pparker



Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Posts: 1185
Location: Florida
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:49 am Reply with quote
Couple of nitpicks for Brian...

Quote:
Quote:
...is the diversity in the genre that Anime has. Anime has Romance, Horror, Comedy, Action...Hentai. As were American Cartoons (now days) seem to only be a childish comedy.

To begin with, I hate the term “genre” when it's applied to animation.

The first writer did not say that anime was a genre, even reading literally the awkward phrasing. S/he even listed the genres in the next sentence and then compared that to the single-genre (comedy) Western cartoons. I know you are manic on language, and I assume grammar. But it's okay occasionally to get the meaning from bad wording, especially when it's spelled out so clearly in details. Just sayin'...

Quote:
...it costs a fortune just to develop your average feature-length, 35mm film print. Around one-thousand dollars, to be exact. Multiply that by however many prints are needed for a theatrical run, plus the cost of shipping those 75 pound film reels all across the country...

There are some 6,500 digital screens in the U.S. Shipping of film cans may never happen again with anime movies, and didn't with the last one. The recent fairly broad distribution of Sword of the Stranger was done via satellite broadcast to digital screens (albeit with varying technical success). As to attendance, I haven't seen a follow-up revealing statistics, if available, but anecdotal evidence indicated a low turn-out. Most everyone who attended reported audiences of 20 to 40, with only one reporting a 90% filling of the theater.

The audiences simply aren't there for anime movies that aren't distributed by a major U.S. studio. Hopefully that will change. I was frankly surprised by that, and in fact bought my ticket online thinking it might sell out and having to drive half an hour to the theater (and then unfortunately not being able to attend--but at least they got my money).

Unless and until the anime audience broadens, or perhaps proper wider marketing is done for these films, they aren't going mainstream. I would have never known about it if ANN hadn't written the article. The schedule was bad for a lot of people, too, being one showing at 7:30 pm on a weeknight. If attendance had been good, then theaters would consider giving anime better time slots to increase attendance, or even multiple showings. As it was, they can't justify it. There's no real reason, including distribution cost, why anime movies couldn't have a consistent market in theaters except the current attendance numbers.


And otherwise... thank you, thank you, thank you to all those pointing out that Gankutsuou was set in a period of history where teenagers were expected to be adults. I've had way too many long conversations elsewhere recently on that point, that "childhood" lasting through age 18 is a very recent concept, and it seems to be a hard concept for some. We could do with going back a bit on that one, in fact.
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sunflower



Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 1080
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:00 pm Reply with quote
fuuma_monou wrote:
sunflower wrote:
Maybe people could think of it this way. Yaoi is like romance novels. There are a lot of romance novel review sites right? But hentai is like Penthouse letters. Who reviews those?


Romance novels don't exactly have the greatest literary reputation.

Written porn gets reviewed too, not sure why you keep bringing up Letters to Penthouse. There's various year's best erotica anthologies.


I'm not sure how you see me "keep bringing up Letters to Penthouse" either, since I've only mentioned them once. ;P


Romance novels don't have the greatest literary reputation. So what? That's perpetuated by a lot of snobs who've never read enough of the genre to know any better, people who think a story has to be depressing to have meaning, people who think illustration cannot be art, people who think manga is stuff for kids that only people who are too dumb to read novels would read. And yet we know otherwise, don't we?

Go to http://dearauthor.com/ if you want romance novel reviews that understand that they are literature and where they point out the ones that are great.

Yep, there are erotica reviews. I've written some. And you know what? While there are a few piece of hentai out there that qualify as erotica, most are not. Most are out and out porn, oneshot sex stories with only one purpose and nothing else to offer. They are on par with Penthouse Letters and the porn you can find on usenet, and honestly what can you say in a review of such? "It made me ***. A+" LOL.

There. I've mentioned P.L. twice. Now you can say I keep bringing it up. Smile
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Tofusensei



Joined: 15 Feb 2008
Posts: 365
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:03 pm Reply with quote
pparker wrote:
Most everyone who attended reported audiences of 20 to 40, with only one reporting a 90% filling of the theater.


And the 90% was Times Square in Manhattan, unsurprisingly.

-Tofu
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LordRedhand



Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Posts: 1472
Location: Middle of Nowhere, Indiana
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:47 pm Reply with quote
I'd be concerned if the remake of Full Metal Alchemist was the year's break out hit. Mainly because I assume break out hit to be something that did unexpectedly well, which the remake doesn't have that connotation (i.e it wouldn't be surprising or shocking for it to be successful). But also what it implies about the industry and the market, I mean really? A remake of a series is going to be the best this year, unexpectedly so? That would imply a "battening down the hatches" even more, basing "new" anime series on proven/existing properties thus more sequels and remakes as oppossed to something new.
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Greed1914



Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4410
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:01 pm Reply with quote
tempest wrote:
eely225 wrote:
Why does the article say that it was written by Zac?

Zac wrote:

I'd go into the admin side process here but it's boring so I'll just say it's an easy mistake to make on my part. Fixed, though, so thanks for pointing that out.


It's a conspiracy!


I thought the NHK was in on it! They're always out to get people. Smile
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thecritter



Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Posts: 65
Location: Northwest GA
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:19 pm Reply with quote
littlegreenwolf wrote:
Quote:
CowsAteMyElbows starts us off:

Even the decent smoochy final scene couldn't redeem the idiocy of the dork prince. I didn't feel betrayed, just terribly disappointed.

Jeez, it was painful. A decent character design would not have sounded such a false note. A less flat-footed, ham-handed explanation, just a couple of more minutes, could have saved the end. Maybe a little foreshadowing, hint of mystery left. Maybe even a stray Totoro or Kodama. Some of the old Miyazaki magic. Just not the Dork Prince leaving on his magical pogo stick.


Oi! As one of Diana Wynne Jones' biggest fans, I will not have you give Mr. Turniphead such disrespect because you do not understand what Howl's Moving Castle is! Howl's Moving Castle was an adaption of a very popular western fantasy book by author Diana Wynne Jones, reknown in the UK, and slowly but steadily making a name here in the US. But Howl's Moving Castle is also a tribute to a great many fairytales and western story telling traditions. Miyazaki took her book and pretty much butchered it, but fans of the book can still enjoy the movie for the characters they love, and that includes Mr. Turniphead!

Mr. Turniphead actually has a very detailed backstory in the book Miyazaki never got to tell involving finding your body parts, being from another world, being a courtly wizard, going up against an evil witch to a tragic end, and much more. Mr. Turniphead is a wonderful character whose roots go deep down into the form of classical story telling that we know as Fairy Tales, and it's a genre Diana is a master at and I love any nod.

Mr. Turniphead bouncing along on his stick kicks butt, scarring the crap out of Old Crone Sophie among other things, and I loved the ending of the movie! It was one of the only things that didn't stray TOO far from the book.


I liked the book, too. And I did not criticize the character, but Miyazaki's (or some nameless assistant's) handling of him, the dorky animated character design, and the offhand, truncated ending.

The only thing that I thought was superior to the book in the movie was the design of the castle; I thought the changes from the description in the book were worthwhile.
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pparker



Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Posts: 1185
Location: Florida
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:21 pm Reply with quote
LordRedhand wrote:
I'd be concerned if the remake of Full Metal Alchemist was the year's break out hit.

I agree with you there, for the same reasons. But also, I don't assume it will be on par with other big money break-outs, or even par with the first series here. While a lot of fans are expecting an "improved" version, there's no reason to assume it will have as broad or broader appeal than the first anime. Making it more appealing to fans of the manga, for instance, doesn't translate directly into more anime fans. On the other hand, if it were a continuation and not a remake, it might have a better chance. We're pretty certain from hints so far that it's a remake, not a "second season".

I haven't seen a Code Geass or Death Note come out recently (I don't know if they are considered break-outs, but they aired on TV anyway). Only having watched a couple episodes of Soul Eater because I'm a marathon kind of guy, those episodes certainly held promise, and it is targeted at a younger, wider audience. It's the only candidate I could bet on right now.
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konkonsn



Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 172
Location: Illinois
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:39 pm Reply with quote
sunflower wrote:
Romance novels don't have the greatest literary reputation. So what? That's perpetuated by a lot of snobs who've never read enough of the genre to know any better, people who think a story has to be depressing to have meaning, people who think illustration cannot be art, people who think manga is stuff for kids that only people who are too dumb to read novels would read. And yet we know otherwise, don't we?


Not quite true. There are quite a few elistist types who won't read anything the New Yorker hasn't recommended and think only true art hangs on walls in pretty rooms, but the literary world is a lot more accepting than you think. Graphic novels are in (as long as they're artsy and humanistic, but it gives me hope), and Stephen King gets nods from scholars despite his formulaic and genre-based writing.

Romance is, by far, the largest genre of writing, so it's easy to make fun of because there are so many turds to get past to find anything good.
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pachy_boy



Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 1323
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:40 pm Reply with quote
(If someone already said these two comments, I'll apologize, but I didn't feel like reading through 70 comments)

Considering I liked Origin, even though some others didn't, I'd still be interested in seeing Brave Story. I read the book which was great, and even if the movie may not be as good as the book, I'd still like to see Gonzo's treatment. Since it doesn't seem like Funimation will license it anytime soon, I'm considering the UK import.

I'm both a little surprised and unsurprised that there was a Death Note fan who actually wanted Light to win, such as Mue90000. I for one would've felt very empty if the story had ended with the psychopath getting away with everything he did.
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Teriyaki Terrier



Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 5689
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:53 pm Reply with quote
tempest wrote:
eely225 wrote:
Why does the article say that it was written by Zac?

Zac wrote:

I'd go into the admin side process here but it's boring so I'll just say it's an easy mistake to make on my part. Fixed, though, so thanks for pointing that out.


It's a conspiracy!


Does it involve chihulahula's? If so, my chihulahua would like to comment on that.
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Agent355



Joined: 12 Dec 2008
Posts: 5113
Location: Crackberry in hand, thumbs at the ready...
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:25 pm Reply with quote
I really wish that animation would break out as an acceptable medium for all kinds of stories in the U.S. There are a lot of plots (science fiction and fantasy, from novels and comics) aimed at adults that would do very well if animated, if only animated shows for adults were more accepted. Not everything does well when converted to a live-action movie, and some of those things might do better as as an animated feature or show.

For example, I'm quite frustrated at the speculations of a live-action trilogy for the comic Y: The Last Man. Wouldn't a 60+ issue comic book with multiple arcs and sci-fi elements be better served if re imagined as a animated series rather than some live action movies? I want to see Pia Guerra's art move, not a screen actor's interpretation of said art.

Anyway, I'm surprised out how little recognition or love Gargoyles gets from anime fans. It was the first major animated drama with a complicated plot line I ever got into as a kid, and it was animated by Disney, which is pretty shocking in and of itself.
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skaly



Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 148
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:27 pm Reply with quote
Agent355 wrote:
Anyway, I'm surprised out how little recognition or love Gargoyles gets from anime fans. It was the first major animated drama with a complicated plot line I ever got into as a kid, and it was animated by Disney, which is pretty shocking in and of itself.


Gargoyles was the show that got me into anime. It made me hungry for more complex characterizations and storylines.
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infinitebeauty



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 75
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:25 pm Reply with quote
ikillchicken wrote:

I think this is sort of the underlying problem with American animation. Anime has that pre-made fan base built right in. Even with anime not based on manga, there's still that connection between the fan groups. American animation just doesn't have that. It's a shame too because I think there's plenty of great source material to be found in US comics.


The thing is, there is a stigma about grown people watching cartoons, and that, combined with the fact that comics have got a lot darker over the past 20 years, makes adapting current storylines a tad more difficult. There has to be a balance of making the cartoon acceptable for children to watch, while not dumbing it down. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini managed it, and the team for Avatar managed it, but I very much doubt that we're going to see an animated adaptation of Civil War or Infinite Crisis.

Batman: Brave and the Bold is a pretty badass series though. If they turned another Johnny DC comic into a cartoon (say, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade) then I'd watch that.
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littlegreenwolf



Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 4796
Location: Seattle, WA
PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:36 pm Reply with quote
Agent355 wrote:
For example, I'm quite frustrated at the speculations of a live-action trilogy for the comic Y: The Last Man. Wouldn't a 60+ issue comic book with multiple arcs and sci-fi elements be better served if re imagined as a animated series rather than some live action movies? I want to see Pia Guerra's art move, not a screen actor's interpretation of said art.


I share your sentiments there, especially since I'm a big fan of her art (Yay for her Doctor Who: Forgotten series).

But I think in mainstream it's slowly starting to change, especially when comic based films get nominated for academy awards. Persepolis was just such a treat, and I was so delighted to see that they kept to the original comic book style pretty much, and it felt like the comic literally just started moving in front of you. It was a gorgeous film, and I hope to see more like it in the future.
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