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[phubans]

Yeah, I definitely plan on reading the Berserk manga... But oddly enough I was just talking to cactus tonight and he said "don't"... I trust his taste and judgement, which is why I was surprised he advised against it... But he basically said it was because the manga lacks continuity and it's just like watching the first episode on repeat in terms of content

Other than that, I've only heard good things about the manga, so I'm currently in the process of acquiring it... The only thing is it feels awkward to read manga in Windows image viewer... I did a quick search to reveal that there are manga reading apps for this, but I think I'd much rather read it on a Kindle (if possible) or iPad (which I don't have and can't afford).

[Aik]

The Golden Age arc is good (up to volume ... 13 or so?). The rest just goes on and on and on without ever getting anywhere interesting, and looks set to continue in that fashion until the end of days.

I think it's time for me to go catch up with the weekly animu for this season - so far only Moretsu Pirates isn't shit from what I've been watching though.

[Derek]

Berserk's plot develops slowly, but I like that about it. I could see people getting tired of it maybe... obviously if watching a supremely powerful and heavily-armed dude cut down increasingly fucked up and crazy monsters sounds tiresome then pass on it. For me it will never get old, and maybe that's why I enjoy so many video games, too.

I also really like the story and characters, though, as well as how it handles all of the simple themes and philosophical questions that run throughout: friendship, ambition, purpose, regret, love, hate, fear, etc. It feels to me like a classic mythological story or epic poem, but with fantastic artwork. And as kYn pointed out (spoilers) in the "good character" thread, the length of the story really lets you see Guts develop, from the first scar he gets on the bridge of his nose to his last (whatever that may be). He's an awesome character and he and Griffith make a great pair.

Yeah, the character designs are really good. I'll give you an example: Father Mozgus, the religious fanatic:



A religious fanatic could have been depicted in any number of ways, but I love how Miura did it. His face is this perfectly-smooth, blank mask with little, piercing eyes... at least until he gets mad (read the book or spoil yourself if you're curious what that looks like)! I find this design to be so bizarre and yet so perfect for his personality and role in the book. He also has this gaggle of hideous henchmen that kind of represent his dual nature (the benevolence and cruelty of the God he worships, basically) - they each have weird and fun designs, too.

Anyway, Berserk is truly epic and very dark. I think about it all the time.

[Hangedman]

I don't think it's great that Nihei has ended up doing a harem love comedy with school kids piloting mechs, but it's pretty good. The love comedy stuff is sort of redeemed by the photosynthesis gags and the No.1 harem member being a hermaphrodite.

BTW, you seem to be implying people can't die in Gundam, but the creator of Gundam wasn't known as Kill 'Em All Tomino for no reason. People dying was a pretty important part of Universal Century Gundam, Zeta and Victory in particular. The current OVA series, Unicorn, is a return to the UC setting and has really nice production values.

I think it's an interesting departure from his other work, while still maintaining his style. I always like a fresh take, and it's basically a fresh take on the stereotypical anime genres, in the same way that Norrland is cactus' take on Metroidvanias. It's a subversion, which I like, like the wonderful colony ship that has saved humanity but everyone on it can be smeared across the landscape in a second if the gravity gets messed up (And then it does, instead of being an empty threat for immersion's sake)

And I'm referring mostly to the later Gundam serieses I grew up on where lots of things explode with people in them but not a whole lot of people with faces die unless it's plot relevant and incredibly dramatic

Berserk is a thing I have heard just about every opinion about
So I should get on that.

ALSO
Can someone recommend some cyberpunk-ish stuff that isn't incredibly watered down soft science? I've been on a binge lately burning through spec fiction authors. Someone mentioned Ergo Proxy, any others?

[Manuel Magalhães]

I don't see anime very often, but the last I saw saw Full Metal Alchimist: Brotherhood and it was pretty good, even better than the original. The first episodes were kinda a copy of the original series, so they were kinda "meh", but half-way through it gets really good.

[Kramlack]

Ughh... The amount of CG shortcuts in that clip is stomach-turning; and if you are actually a Berserk fan it's like having a knife twisted in your gut.

I agree... the CG in that clip looked really stilted and unnatural, especially during swordplay.

I'm in full agreement as well, I was already unhappy with the amount of CG in the trailers, didn't know it would be used this much. I did notice a lot of stuttering in the video and while I think that's mostly just from it being a preview/recording, that still doesn't really excuse how much CG they used. Especially for how seemingly long this has been in development. If they can pump out those sexy Evangelion movies in 2 years, then why can't they do the same with Berserk?

@Derek: Did you get a chance to try out the PlayStation 2 Berserk game? I tried it and thought it was pretty funny, definitely worth a try for Berserk fans, despite the language differences.

[ink.inc]

Someone mentioned Ergo Proxy, any others?

Ergo Proxy is okay, but not great. I mean, it looks really good, but I have a bit of difficulty recommending it as it is a TALKING anime that spends most of its time on PHILOSOPHY, even though the main character has a shotgun. But if you're okay with that...

[ham and brie]

ALSO
Can someone recommend some cyberpunk-ish stuff that isn't incredibly watered down soft science? I've been on a binge lately burning through spec fiction authors. Someone mentioned Ergo Proxy, any others?

I'd suggest giving Real Drive a chance. I think it's one of the most overlooked anime in recent years. The concept is from Masamune Shirow, with a near future* setting quite similar to Ghost in the Shell in terms of the level of cybernetics technology it features, but it has quite a bright and optimistic mood. An example of what I think makes it good as SF is that it implies that the ideal in their time of what's normal and attractive for a woman isn't being thin.

* 2061 - which isn't the only Space Odyssey reference it makes

[Fission Mailed]

Serial Experiments Lain could be described as cyberpunk. Other than that I can't really think of anything except for the GITS series.

[baconman]

Now that's a face only a spelunker could love, huh?

First impression of Ping Pong Club: seems like a decent spiritual predecessor to GTO. Also:

DON'T WATCH AN ANIME CALLED BOKU!!

[BlueSweatshirt]

REEEEEEEEEEEEDLIIIIIIIIIIIIINEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

It was amazing. 
Superb.
Delicious


That hair, that perspective

[Conker534]

Redline was sick.

[Sakar]

I love love love Redline

[ink.inc]

i done TOLE you kids

[Conker534]

I got a book shelf today :D

[phubans]

You better watch out dude... This is how anime otakus start... It might seem innocent enough now but pretty soon that^ will turn into this:

[Conker534]

Its pretty 

How the hell does someone afford all that? Figurines are expensive.

[---]

Its pretty 

How the hell does someone afford all that? Figurines are expensive.

 

[Conker534]

[Falsen]

Redline was great. I hadn't even heard of it until I clicked on this thread.

I recommend the currently air Persona 4 anime. I'm enjoying it quite a bit despite knowing everything that happens.