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Shelf Life - Year in Reviews

But I like ANN, and isn't the whole point of that "discuss" button at the end of your article to, you know, "discuss" the article?

I wasn't saying anything against Air in particular; I've already stated that I haven't seen it, so I can't say for sure if it's as good as Mushishi. My comment about Mushishi was completely separate from my comments about moe.

I know of you from the Adult Swim message boards, so if I'm correct, I believe the only problem here is that we have very different taste. I don't really like loli or moe, but at the moment I'm not really trying to be too critical of them either. I was merely trying to state why some people have problems with moe. There's no need to be so strident.

It's rare feat for a video game to be successfully transformed into a fun and exciting anime series. Disgaea, unfortunately, is one of the failures, and ends up being something that alienates fans and non-fans alike with its lack of storyline and terrible narrative. I guarantee you that if you've never played the video game, you will have zero interest in the series.

It's like listening to a private conversation full of in-jokes that you're not privy to. The series vaguely follows the plot of the video game, throwing in the “I shall call you Mid-Boss!” jokes that delighted hordes of fans. Out of the context of the game, though, it's really not that engaging. Disgaea's storyline isn't interesting enough to truly be captivating, so what you have left is a madcap adventure with weird characters running around trying to be funny. Add the fact that they're all incredibly whiny and immature, and continually spout terrible “I'm afraid of your voluptuous breasts!!” jokes, and you've got a big stinking pile of Not Funny.

As someone who hasn't played the game, though, I can't really recommend this. By trying to cram a game into a 12-episode series, and trying to be funny while doing so, it's really made itself too inaccessible to non-fans.

I find it interesting how people are complaining that Air is on Bamboo's list, but no one has a problem with Rumbling Hearts. They were both based on H-games, they are both deeper than a simple "pick-a-girl-and-screw-her" plot (Rumbling Hearts gets bonus points for making the sex plot-related). I understand the generalization of Air's origins, but you're talking about an anime from a company that has always put it's "cut scenes" to the backburner, to the point of eventually having so much clout for their story-not-sex approach that they've been able to release their games without the 18+ content. For example anyone who calls Clannad an H-game has no idea what they are talking about.

Cowboy Cadenza wrote:

I wasn't saying anything against Air in particular; I've already stated that I haven't seen it, so I can't say for sure if it's as good as Mushishi. My comment about Mushishi was completely separate from my comments about moe. I know of you from the Adult Swim message boards, so if I'm correct, I believe the only problem here is that we have very different taste. I don't really like loli or moe, but at the moment I'm not really trying to be too critical of them either. I was merely trying to state why some people have problems with moe. There's no need to be so strident.

I thought I recognized that screen name... yes I'm one in the same and I agree that we should just disagree on the matter. I apologize of my replies to you came off as adamant. The whole "moe = subservience" claim just irks the heck out of me and I felt the need to speak my argument on such a claim. Again, we'll just agree to disagree.

Regarding the rest of this list, I'm surprised with Flag. Given the rather biting comments I read when it first came out in Japan, maybe I should give this a second look. I always like it when an anime comes along that separates itself from others in style and direction.

Bamboo, did you completely miss Ergo Proxy? I noticed that you didn't review any DVDs from this series.

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Well, it is something terrible. I mean, it's sending the message that moe is good, better than series like Mushi Shi, even. Moe is driving so much in Japan now, I'd hate to think the same would happen over here.

And it does detract from Bamboo's article, as does the aforementioned lack of Mushi Shi.

Moe is something that's just so repulsively insulting to human intelligence that even mild cases, like AIR, should not be promoted, really. I dislike moe, and all it's mindlessness, so much that I'll actively criticise it. I don't like most shojo, I don't like yuri - but I can see how other people like them, and that's fine. But with moe, I dislike it greatly, so much so that it irks me to see not one, but two examples of this pathetic excuse for 'entertainment' on a Best of 2007 list. And I'm perfectly entitled to that, thanks ^__^

DuelLadyS wrote:

Seriously though, it's just a bunch of opinions, and if the very idea of promoting a moe title is so offensive to you, by all means go find another website to read. I like both shows, but completely see how someone could easily hate one or the other (or both). It just so happens she liked Air enough to put it on the short list. It's not as if she hated Mushi-shi (it did get Shelf Worthy ratings as I recall.) So quit whining already.

But I like ANN, and isn't the whole point of that "discuss" button at the end of your article to, you know, "discuss" the article?

You seem simply more and more like a close minded bigot. Yes you are entitled to your opinions as we've all said but you keep preaching them as if they're a greater truth and simply the word and there is arguing it. It's also just a simple small list in one article and you're really overreacting to it. Chill out man

And you call trashing the article based on personal bias discussion? You keep going on and on about one silly title on it and not discussing the article yourself. So why don't you take a chill pill, relax, and quit whining over this. It's not that important yet you're treating this one small thing like some huge slap in the face to anime fandom. Get over it will ya.

The one title on her list that does not surprise me in the least is Beck. I can't remember a title I've heard as much priase and good things about then this show. There have been some very good shows too in recent years but I think Beck takes the cake as they say. It's moving and engaging in a way few shows can achieve. I also can't think of another show that the staff behind it were so enthusiastic about.

It always seems like it's guys that are going off on tangents about moe, and not the girls that it should be offending if your claim should hold any water.

"Bigot"? Aren't you the one taking this a little too seriously?

It is like a huge slap to the anime fandom, or at least to the ones who don't want moe taking over, as it has done in Japan. ANN is the biggest anime website in the West, y'know.

Is there going to be a manga "Best of 2007" list, too?

CitizenGeek wrote:

Is there going to be a manga "Best of 2007" list, too?

Likely not, but I want to point out that we also have an upcoming Best Of 2007 Academy Awards-style article written by two of our long form critics, Carl Kimlinger and Theron Martin, both of whom are nuts about Mushishi and I'd be shocked if it weren't on there.

Quote:

And you call trashing the article based on personal bias discussion? You keep going on and on about one silly title on it and not discussing the article yourself. So why don't you take a chill pill, relax, and quit whining over this. It's not that important yet you're treating this one small thing like some huge slap in the face to anime fandom. Get over it will ya.

It is like a huge slap to the anime fandom, or at least to the ones who don't want moe taking over, as it has done in Japan. ANN is the biggest anime website in the West, y'know.

As for this notion that I should just "get over it", well, why should I? I mean, aren't I as entitled to dislike this article as much as you are entitled to like it?

We went through all this the first time the review came up.

I see you have the same warped view of moe characteristics as most casual fans do. To be honest, there is no set definition for moe. It's more of an attuned response to certain character traits. Moe isn't so much about viewers wanting to rule over these character. It's more like they want to take care of them, like a paternal instinct one might say.

Much of moe is actually garnered from a sort of pity. Even with the rough tsundere-type, because they cannot express their feelings the way they want to, the viewer takes pity on them and becomes a "fan" so that to hope they can one day express their feelings clearly. Traits that many characters considered "moe" share are of the following: seriously, almost alienating, personality quirks, torturous pasts, and sincerity in everything they say or do to the point of being naive.

It is therefore misconstrued to say that moe is a matter of fans wanting cute girls to serve them.

Personally I'd love to see a staff favorites of 07 list. Maybe individual lists or a comprehensive staff list of what they thought the best titles of 07 were. I just think it would be interesting to see which titles the staff thought were the best of 07.