Philotic Web

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts ... 94ddb08825

Kadokawa USA announcements:

- H2O ~Footprints in the Sand~
- Junjou Romantica
- My Heartfelt Sympathy
- Ninomiya-kun
- Spice and Wolf
- Rental Magica
- Wagaya no Oinarisama

Yay! Spice and Wolf licensed.

Big news for fans of FMA. Apparently in the latest volume of the manga the author announced that a new FMA anime series is in production. I can't imagine what it will be about though. I thought that Ed and Al's story reached a satisfying conclusion in the movie, but it can't really be called "Fullmetal Alchemist" if it's not about Edward, can it?

In any case, FMA is one of my favourite anime series of all time, so I'm excited... and a bit worried that the new series can't be as good as the original.

Second season of Spice and Wolf green-lit. Hooray!

I've been watching Space Runaway Ideon recently. It's one of those old 80s animes, and it's very very "old 80s anime"-ish. But supposedly it has an ending that's even more Eva than Eva, so I will probably hold out.

I've been watching an anime called Mushi-shi all day. It has such an awesome and interesting premise. Has anyone seen it?

I just finished the third episode of a new series called Ga-Rei Zero. SPOILER: EVERYBODY DIES, in the first episode, no less. Fighting-supernaturals-with-random-powers seemed "eh" at first, but it seems to be done well.

I also saw a "demo episode" of the new Funi dub for Sgt. Frog. It has its funny moments in a Shin-chan-esque way, but apparently the original is much better?

Lately, I've been watching Azumanga Daioh.
Also, on hulu.com, they just put up Peach Girl. It's in english (Boo!!), but I used to read the manga religiously, so I'm watching the first episode now.

I just finished peach girl. I found a copy in japanese - FAR better. Though hulu.com is great. I love legal, free movies.
It was so kawaii!!! I'm also almost finished with both mushi-shi and azumanga diaoh, and avoiding the final episodes of either, lol. I'll probably finish Mushi-shi tonight though, seriously. Not sure what I'll watch after that.

It was so kawaii!!!

I know that word! it represents about half of my japanese vocabulary, kawaii and baka. for some odd reason I heard those a lot dating a japanese girl. To the point they've entered my english vocabulary, like Battle School slang.

So she thought you were cute and stupid?

I've picked up a handful of random Japanese words from anime, but not enough to actually form a sentence or anything.

Other words you may be interested in:
Wapanese
Weaboo/Weeaboo
Yellow Fever

And most important, specifically for locke and Valentine:
Japanglish

Joking, of course. But, "Many a truth is told in jest"...

So she thought you were cute and stupid?

wait what? and here all this time I thought one meant 'pat on the head' and the other meant 'whack on the head'.

That's about the sum of it, yeah. "Sooo cute! *pat on the head*" "Dummy! *whack on the head*"

Joking, of course. But, "Many a truth is told in jest"...

Hey, Wil, we agree on something. And you put it much better than I wanted to.

Other words you may be interested in:
Wapanese
Weaboo/Weeaboo
Yellow Fever

Ah, the mighty Weeaboo: able to bring many a man to anger, mostly because of his inability to admit his own Weeaboo-ness.

Lately, I've been watching Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni. It's VERY violent, so be warned before checking it out. It's also very interesting, though.

Manga that I've read (the list is pretty long, I'm still in the middle of reading some):

Dragonball Z/GT
Steel Angel Kurumi
Kagerou Nostalgia
Jinki- Extend
Louie the Ruin Soldier
Blue Inferior
ARIA
R2 [rise to the 2nd power]
Death Note (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Petshop of Horrors (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Gravitation/EX (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Othello
All the Gundam Series except Gundam Wing
Ceres
Prince of Tennis (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Whistle
Yu-gi-oh!
Knights of the Zodiac
Cardcaptor Sakura
Fulmetal Alchemist (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Chrono Crusade
Absolute Boyfriend
Tail of the Moon
Cowboy Bebop/ Shooting star
Steam Detectives
DN Angel
Forbidden Dance
Fruits Basket
Marmalade Boy
Cipher (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Train_man (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Marionette Generation (HILARIOUS)
Naruto (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Sailor Moon
Inu Yasha
Cutlass
Yu Yu Hakusho (I LOVE THIS ONE)
BLEACH
Rurouni Kenshin (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Kindaichi Files (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Dramacon
A Bird in a Dream
Kanpai!
Di Gi Charat
Bird in a Cage
No Need For Tenchi
Ranma 1/2 (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Guide of Love
Kekkaishi (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Zodiac P.I.
Dolls
Vampire Knight
Sekaino Owariga Furu Yorouni
Sympathetic Pins
Zeus
Issou Mou, Kudokitai!
Mangagedon
Ah! My Goddess
Haginokouji
Hana Shinobu no Koi
La Esperanca
Hikari no Machi
Ringo
Antique Bakery
Happy Play
Cafe Kichijouji
Colors
Heaven's Love
Seimaden
LOVELESS
Hydra (I LOVE THIS ONE)
Canteralla
Gorgeous Carat
Last Client
Koi wo Suru
Nocturne
Memai
Office
Private Magician
Unmei no Kiss
Only You
Love you only
Victory Ai wa Kabu
Retsujou
Secret Knife
Three Wolves' Mountain

Anime that I've watched/ still watching:
Digimon
Pokemon
Sailor Moon
Dragonball Z/GT
Death Note
Petshop of Horrors
Gundam
Prince of Tennis
Naruto
BLEACH
Yu-gi-oh!
Beyblade
Knights of teh Zodiac
Fulmetal Alchemist
Cardcaptor Sakura
Cowboy Bebop
Nightwalker
Inu Yasha
Yu Yu Hakusho
Rurouni Kenshin
Gravitation/OVA
Ranma1/2
LOVELESS
Zatch Bell
Avatar (if you count it as an anime)
And some more, but I can't remember the names

XD that's a lot, I just realized. @__@

Big news for fans of FMA. Apparently in the latest volume of the manga the author announced that a new FMA anime series is in production. I can't imagine what it will be about though. I thought that Ed and Al's story reached a satisfying conclusion in the movie, but it can't really be called "Fullmetal Alchemist" if it's not about Edward, can it?

In any case, FMA is one of my favourite anime series of all time, so I'm excited... and a bit worried that the new series can't be as good as the original.

Update for any and all FMA fans out there:

There's definitely going to be a new FMA series starting in Japan in April. It's still a mystery what it will actually be about though. Teaser images show Ed and Al looking the way they did prior to the movie. As unnecessary as it sounds, I think it's going to be more of a remake than a continuation. I suspect that what they're planning to do is faithfully adapt the story of the manga (which is still ongoing), as the first anime diverged from it and told an alternate story.

Oh, if that's true, then I can't wait for it to start!
I think making a continuation of the previous anime series sounds like a good idea. And if what you said about it being closer to manga, then that that's even better!

Again, I can't wait!

I just finished Ga-rei Zero yesterday (took me awhile to resume watching it). It's mostly action and a little comical romance, with some really over-the-top yuri subtext at times. It also has the most badass character in a wheelchair I have ever seen (though you don't see why until near the end). Part of me wishes they would just make a series around that character, or something. If they make an anime about Ga-rei itself, I think I'd at last start watching it; Zero makes it look like it'd be interesting.

Another update for the "Fullmetal Alchemist" fans out there, as well as anime fans in general. The new FMA series that I mentioned before has started airing in Japan. The series is, as I originally speculated, a remake based more closely on the original manga. There's certainly redundancy in the opening episodes, but fans of the first series will quickly notice key differences in the story.

The really good news for those who aren't into downloading (technically illegal) fansubs is that if you just click This Link you can watch subtitled episodes offered legally through FUNimation's official site, uploaded within a week of airing in Japan. 1-4 are available now.

This thread is now about Western comics.

Good, new ones I've read/never mentioned:
-Fables
-DMZ
-Kick-Ass
-Deadpool
-Top 10
-Dresden Files (The comic as well as the book. Working my way through White Knight in novel-land.)
-Ultimate X-Men, The Ultimates, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Ultimate Spider-Man (All series that made me like characters I never thought I would. Still not sure about Ultimate Iron Man.)
-Ruins
-Marvel 1602
-Runaways


Whew. And those are only recent ones I've read.

Setting it back to something Eastern once again [hehe, doesn't have to *stay* that way by no means, you know], I think I really should finish reading DOGs: Bullets and Carnage, by Mika Shirow. The characters are for most part a bit of creepy, but on the other hand, I like the way she draws action scenes and the world she's building.

Particularly liking the relationship between story's protagonist [that is kind of cold and asocial, but not a kind of anti-hero like, say, Light from Death Note is] and a mysterious winged girl [that is kind of naive seeming and cute, despite having lived in harsh conditions]. Despite seeming it's not what could work as they both perceive the world in way too different ways and I didn't think he could feel for anyone much, much less her, something there clicks... It has one plus for me, still- it isn't the 'Ay, romance plot ahead!' as I keep seeing and all in all, it's a fine read.

Let's see...

Manga:

Pokemon Special
Naruto
Dragon Ball / DBZ

Anime:

Dragon Ball / DBZ
Pokemon (the first few seasons only, though)
Digimon (seasons 1, 2, and 5)
Any of the Miyazaki movies; Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle... Pongo is hitting US theatres in August, right? I wonder how that'll be.

Another update for the "Fullmetal Alchemist" fans out there, as well as anime fans in general. The new FMA series that I mentioned before has started airing in Japan. The series is, as I originally speculated, a remake based more closely on the original manga. There's certainly redundancy in the opening episodes, but fans of the first series will quickly notice key differences in the story.

The really good news for those who aren't into downloading (technically illegal) fansubs is that if you just click This Link you can watch subtitled episodes offered legally through FUNimation's official site, uploaded within a week of airing in Japan. 1-4 are available now.

Now that they're up to episode 6 (7 airing today), I can honestly say (as an FMA fan) that this series ain't half bad- it might even be better than the original series, since I've always lodged to see the differences between the Manga and the Anime versions of FMA, but never had time (or money) to read the manga.

Also: Episode 4- don't watch if you're vulnerable to crying. This one still sits in my nightmares. (And I bet you can guess what it's about, now, heh)

Yes, I can probably guess what episode 4 was...

I just started reading FMA and it's awesome, thanks to my friend and this forum for recommending it. I can't get off the computer because of that manga (and pweb and other sites... but that's besides the point.)

Yes, I can probably guess what episode 4 was...

I just started reading FMA and it's awesome, thanks to my friend and this forum for recommending it. I can't get off the computer because of that manga (and pweb and other sites... but that's besides the point.)

At least they made it easier in this series than in the first, where they gave the story- if I recall correctly- 3 episodes? more time to bond with the characters before the secret is found.

Also, you should definitely watch the first series (as the second series is currently airing, while the first one is finished)- while it derives greatly from the manga, it derives in an interesting and intriguing way, and in the beginning it and the manga are the same. (Also, it was dubbed into English, so it will probably be easier finding- and, the dubbed version isn't that bad, and stays loyal to the original version, possibly with less blood but still good)

Oh, I just watched FMA Brotherhood episode 1.
I heard that the original Anime changed a lot from the manga, so I don't want to touch that one.
So far, Brotherhood rocks!!

I may be in the minority, but I think that the original anime's story is actually better than the manga's. You should definitely give it a try and see for yourself. Brotherhood is good too though.

I just finished the original Fullmetal anime (plus movie) yesterday. It was awesome. Haven't dared touch the new one though...

Have I mentioned that Death Note is one of the best anime series I've ever seen, even though I'm not even half way through it yet? It's one of those anime series that's not just a good anime, it's a good television show... period. If it was live-action and made in America I could see it as a prime time hit. The premise, the psychology, the suspense, the plot twists, the never ending battle of wits between two geniuses, and a very thin line between good and evil... I just love it. I look forward to seeing the next episode each week soooo much. Even non-anime fans should give this series a chance.

I totally agree.

Anyone seen FLCL? It's really good for the amount of episodes it has. But, then again, am I the only one who sees a correlation between the amount of episodes in an anime, and the worse it becomes?
As more seasons add on and on, they all seem to get worse.

And anyone watch Samurai CHamploo?

Death Notes good, but I've never seen the Anime. I'm not sure I'd want to, though. It's so dark...

But, then again, am I the only one who sees a correlation between the amount of episodes in an anime, and the worse it becomes?
As more seasons add on and on, they all seem to get worse.

Sometimes, sometimes, this is because an anime is tracking a manga, and it overtakes it. They run out of manga material because it hasn't been created yet, and come up with filler, which is usually crap.

There are exceptions when this happens, of course; I'm told FMA diverged from the manga and did it well. My view might be a bit distorted since I've been pissed that it happened to Rurouni Kenshin, and prevented the best damn story arc in the series from ever airing.

And I've seen FLCL; it was interesting, but not one of my favorites. I've seen like half an episode of Champloo... I probably won't ever watch it, as I'm not really a Watanabe fan.

First FMA anime diverged from the manga at a certain point, and did it well; Second FMA anime apparently stays loyal to the manga, which has run for a LONG time so there's lots of manga material for the anime.

I just finished watching Cowboy Bebop again. That show always brings me near tears. And I kind of love Spike a lot.

Everyone's favorite economics anime Spice and Wolf (Ookami to Koushinryou) season 2 started Thursday. Pretty much the same stuff as before, which gets no complaints from me. Horo's overreactions may be getting a bit exaggerated/focused on more (slightly annoying and seemingly more stereotypical-anime-y), though, but it may just be my imagination.

And there was an OVA that was out before Thursday! I am rather annoyed with myself that I didn't know it existed, since I waited until Thursday to even look for stuff, and could have gotten it before then.