This is some of the best news I've heard all week (and this is pre-E3 week, so that's saying something). Tohru Fujisawa is bringing back the character that made him famous for a 4th installment in the notoriously hilarious life of Onizuka.
Great Teacher Onizuka is one of my favorite mangas of all time. The perfect blend of comedy and character development coupled with one of the best characters of all time, Onizuka, makes GTO stand out quite a bit. I'll have a full post on it when the new Onizuka series gets closer to serialization. Look forward to it ;)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Air Gear
I've made it pretty clear that I absolutely love the standard shonen series. Well here's one I recently picked up that breaks normal conventions of the genre demographic as a whole. Out of the currently released 242 chapters, I have read up to 79 and I think I can already say this will become one of my favorite series of all time.
Air Gear takes place in a world where a fictional form of in-line skating known as "Air Trek" has taken the world by storm, and not just metaphorically. A.T. users are known as "storm riders".
The main character, Ikki, becomes a strom rider after seeing A.T.'s ability to grant those that wish it to fly. From that point on, Ikki enters a world of races, tricks, and of course, one on one fights. It isn't long before the "kings" (8 A class storm riders that stand at the top of their respective road) acknowledge Ikki as a prime candidate for the title of "sky king", one that can travel the wing road without fear of his wings getting clipped.
Air Gear is definitely not your typical shonen series (at least not a type I've seen often). There is a large amount of perverse humor, which I know isn't anything new, but the presentation and personality of the characters is not something you see often in an action oriented shonen series. To put it simply, the main group of characters are perverted assholes. While other shonen series incorporate a large amount of cheesiness and hold back on what characters of that age should be saying, the characters of Air Gear push the boundaries of what can and can't be shown for this demographic. They won't hesitate to give someone the middle finger or take a shit in public. The only other shonen series I can think of that pushes boundaries like that while maintaining an action setting is Flame of Recca.
The action is top notch. While it isn't a straight up fighting series, it does have one on one fights as a sub-group of the main form of battle. Of the fights I've read, the main group has one usually by unconventional means. The fight that stands out the most is Onigiri vs Gorgon Shell. Despite being completely outclassed, Onigiri eventually uses his body odor to cause Gorgon Shell to become delirious, taking off all her clothes and disqualifying herself in the process. However, the fights between Ikki and the arc antagonists have all been pretty standard, but that doesn't make it any less badass.
One huge problem I have is how completely outclassed Ikki is, yet always finds a way to win. Despite being F class, he has taken down enemies in the A class, even a former king (albeit with the help of another former king, but that's beside the point). There's a serious inconsistency in the power level discrepancy, and if A classes can be taken down so easily, who's to say someone will steal Ikki's thrown when he makes it that high? Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed everyone of his fights and few things are more gratifying than seeing the look on the enemy's face when they lose to a noob. It's just not really good from a story telling standpoint, despite being very entertaining.
Another problem is how much the enemies levels jump around. Ikki goes from fighting an E class match with an E class rider to a B class match with A class riders to a D class match with A class riders. It seems like Ikki has already jumped to a level that the main antagonist can be faced with.
To make matters worse, there have been some devices introduced to make Ikki even stronger than it seems. Early in the series, he is forced to wear very heavy weights around his whole body to prove to the former thorn queen that he should indeed be a storm rider. I had completely forgotten about that until it is reintroduced later to show Ikki blocking a punch from a man that can destroy steel with his bare hands. If he was doing crazy tricks and attacks while wearing that, he should've had no problem winning if he just took that shit off. He was fighting A class riders and still managed to win while wearing extremely heavy weights, something that seemed impossible the day of the match.
Despite the inconsistencies, this has been one hell of a ride. Ogure Ito is very talented. I should probably start reading Tenjo Tenge. Well, I guess I'll save that for another post. Now I'm off to completely catch up to Air Gear.
Air Gear takes place in a world where a fictional form of in-line skating known as "Air Trek" has taken the world by storm, and not just metaphorically. A.T. users are known as "storm riders".
The main character, Ikki, becomes a strom rider after seeing A.T.'s ability to grant those that wish it to fly. From that point on, Ikki enters a world of races, tricks, and of course, one on one fights. It isn't long before the "kings" (8 A class storm riders that stand at the top of their respective road) acknowledge Ikki as a prime candidate for the title of "sky king", one that can travel the wing road without fear of his wings getting clipped.
Air Gear is definitely not your typical shonen series (at least not a type I've seen often). There is a large amount of perverse humor, which I know isn't anything new, but the presentation and personality of the characters is not something you see often in an action oriented shonen series. To put it simply, the main group of characters are perverted assholes. While other shonen series incorporate a large amount of cheesiness and hold back on what characters of that age should be saying, the characters of Air Gear push the boundaries of what can and can't be shown for this demographic. They won't hesitate to give someone the middle finger or take a shit in public. The only other shonen series I can think of that pushes boundaries like that while maintaining an action setting is Flame of Recca.
The action is top notch. While it isn't a straight up fighting series, it does have one on one fights as a sub-group of the main form of battle. Of the fights I've read, the main group has one usually by unconventional means. The fight that stands out the most is Onigiri vs Gorgon Shell. Despite being completely outclassed, Onigiri eventually uses his body odor to cause Gorgon Shell to become delirious, taking off all her clothes and disqualifying herself in the process. However, the fights between Ikki and the arc antagonists have all been pretty standard, but that doesn't make it any less badass.
One huge problem I have is how completely outclassed Ikki is, yet always finds a way to win. Despite being F class, he has taken down enemies in the A class, even a former king (albeit with the help of another former king, but that's beside the point). There's a serious inconsistency in the power level discrepancy, and if A classes can be taken down so easily, who's to say someone will steal Ikki's thrown when he makes it that high? Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed everyone of his fights and few things are more gratifying than seeing the look on the enemy's face when they lose to a noob. It's just not really good from a story telling standpoint, despite being very entertaining.
Another problem is how much the enemies levels jump around. Ikki goes from fighting an E class match with an E class rider to a B class match with A class riders to a D class match with A class riders. It seems like Ikki has already jumped to a level that the main antagonist can be faced with.
To make matters worse, there have been some devices introduced to make Ikki even stronger than it seems. Early in the series, he is forced to wear very heavy weights around his whole body to prove to the former thorn queen that he should indeed be a storm rider. I had completely forgotten about that until it is reintroduced later to show Ikki blocking a punch from a man that can destroy steel with his bare hands. If he was doing crazy tricks and attacks while wearing that, he should've had no problem winning if he just took that shit off. He was fighting A class riders and still managed to win while wearing extremely heavy weights, something that seemed impossible the day of the match.
Despite the inconsistencies, this has been one hell of a ride. Ogure Ito is very talented. I should probably start reading Tenjo Tenge. Well, I guess I'll save that for another post. Now I'm off to completely catch up to Air Gear.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Hero of the Week: Joseph Joestar
Oh shit, it's the first hero that's actually a main character. This week's hero is none other than the coolest Jojo and Indiana Jones look-alike, Joseph Joestar.
This British born American found himself right in the middle of a discovery like no other during the early 1900s. The so called "ultimate life forms" planned on destroying the very planet. The only way he stood a chance against those ridiculously strong opponents would be to master the "ripple", an incorparation a force similar to "ki" in fighting.
With his cocky attitude and habit of predicting what the opponent will say, Joseph's fights are definitely entertaining and badass. Even when things seemed hopeless, he would find a way to pull through. In a way, Joseph is the epitome of the shonen hero that just won't go down no matter how impossible the situation.
After his exploits in part 2, part 3 brings us a much older Joseph with a more serious (but still goofy and childish) attitude. Despite his age, it isn't difficult to relate to the man as he shows a strong interest in comic books and video games. Even people that save the world can be nerds. Maybe that's why his outfit is reminiscent of Indiana Jones ;)
Part 4 shows Joseph at the ripe old age of 79. While it is sad to see the man struggle as he walks and show signs of being senile, the hero is still in him as he saves the baby while proving himself to his bastard child, Josuke.
If Araki does decide to continue with the alternate universe of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure after Steel Ball Run is complete, maybe we'll be treated to the badassery of Joseph Joestar once again. I'm definitely looking forward to what Joey Joestar is gonna be like.
This British born American found himself right in the middle of a discovery like no other during the early 1900s. The so called "ultimate life forms" planned on destroying the very planet. The only way he stood a chance against those ridiculously strong opponents would be to master the "ripple", an incorparation a force similar to "ki" in fighting.
With his cocky attitude and habit of predicting what the opponent will say, Joseph's fights are definitely entertaining and badass. Even when things seemed hopeless, he would find a way to pull through. In a way, Joseph is the epitome of the shonen hero that just won't go down no matter how impossible the situation.
After his exploits in part 2, part 3 brings us a much older Joseph with a more serious (but still goofy and childish) attitude. Despite his age, it isn't difficult to relate to the man as he shows a strong interest in comic books and video games. Even people that save the world can be nerds. Maybe that's why his outfit is reminiscent of Indiana Jones ;)
Part 4 shows Joseph at the ripe old age of 79. While it is sad to see the man struggle as he walks and show signs of being senile, the hero is still in him as he saves the baby while proving himself to his bastard child, Josuke.
If Araki does decide to continue with the alternate universe of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure after Steel Ball Run is complete, maybe we'll be treated to the badassery of Joseph Joestar once again. I'm definitely looking forward to what Joey Joestar is gonna be like.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Time for a Meme: Caramelldansen
If you're a fan of the internet along with anime and manga, there's a good chance you've heard of Caramelldansen. By speeding up a Swedish song and putting it as the track for a looping animation from the Popotan anime, the simple dance would become a phenomenon.
The video that started it all
Both the dance and song faced immense popularity in Japan, even making its way to the top of the charts for a few weeks. The popularity even spread internationally as the dance and song was recreated in other languages.
The English version
The internet has been flooded with videos of characters doing the dance. From Master Chief to presidential candidates, the meme has definitely become one of the more significant internet memes in recent memory.
So what is it that draws people to Caramelldansen? Perhaps it's the alluring yet simple dance, or maybe the catchy (albeit cheesy) song. It might even be the sillyness that comes from otherwise serious characters happily dancing to a bubblegum pop song. I say all of the above.
While the popularity of the fad has pretty much peaked, there is no shortage of videos displaying the out of character dance from some of our favorite heroes and villains. There are even live action and 3D videos of the infamous dance.
Danny Choo takes Japan by storm
So if you're ever feeling down, just do the Caramelldansen. It definitely cheers me up.
The video that started it all
Both the dance and song faced immense popularity in Japan, even making its way to the top of the charts for a few weeks. The popularity even spread internationally as the dance and song was recreated in other languages.
The English version
The internet has been flooded with videos of characters doing the dance. From Master Chief to presidential candidates, the meme has definitely become one of the more significant internet memes in recent memory.
So what is it that draws people to Caramelldansen? Perhaps it's the alluring yet simple dance, or maybe the catchy (albeit cheesy) song. It might even be the sillyness that comes from otherwise serious characters happily dancing to a bubblegum pop song. I say all of the above.
While the popularity of the fad has pretty much peaked, there is no shortage of videos displaying the out of character dance from some of our favorite heroes and villains. There are even live action and 3D videos of the infamous dance.
Danny Choo takes Japan by storm
So if you're ever feeling down, just do the Caramelldansen. It definitely cheers me up.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Shonen Formula Part 3: Transformations!!
Often times in shonen series, the main characters will find themselves overwhelmed by the enemy. After all, if your opponent can destroy buildings and the most you can destroy is a car, you might be in trouble. Fortunately, there's one method that can put you on par with the villain if not past them. It's the transformation!!!
Usually brought on by a strong emotional outburst, transformations can turn a one-sided fight completely around. Anger is usually the conduit for the transformation, but other emotions and/or mindsets could bring about a transformation. Sadness, determination, fear, sometimes even happiness or embarrassment.
While it definitely existed before it, the Dragonball franchise popularized the transformation in shonen. Gaining an unimaginable amount of power, the transformation in Dragonball Z lead to fights far past the level of human capability. I'm talking of course about the Super Saiyan.
Since then, several transformations within the demographic have shown up. Some drastically change the appearance of the transforming character while some are as simple as a character getting a much more noticeable aura. The first time the transformation is shown, it is often unintentional.
Naruto and Sasuke transform
In most series, the transformation is limited to a select few. Perhaps only one character in the whole series can transform.
Luffy greatly increases his speed and strength by doing something only a rubber man is capable of
Of course there are also those series where every character and their mother has a transformation. The most influential one would have to be Bleach.
Bankai is the the 2nd level in a sword's transformation, achievable only by a few
The arrancar transformations are more noticeable as it includes more than just the sword
The espada releases are (for the most part) much cooler than the numeros
Not only are transformations a staple of the shonen demographic; they are also a necessity in any standard fighting series. Human limits get in the way otherwise. The message in most series is that human limits don't exist, a fact driven home by the constant level climbing displayed by the main characters (and sometimes enemies). Transformations will never die!
Usually brought on by a strong emotional outburst, transformations can turn a one-sided fight completely around. Anger is usually the conduit for the transformation, but other emotions and/or mindsets could bring about a transformation. Sadness, determination, fear, sometimes even happiness or embarrassment.
While it definitely existed before it, the Dragonball franchise popularized the transformation in shonen. Gaining an unimaginable amount of power, the transformation in Dragonball Z lead to fights far past the level of human capability. I'm talking of course about the Super Saiyan.
Since then, several transformations within the demographic have shown up. Some drastically change the appearance of the transforming character while some are as simple as a character getting a much more noticeable aura. The first time the transformation is shown, it is often unintentional.
Naruto and Sasuke transform
In most series, the transformation is limited to a select few. Perhaps only one character in the whole series can transform.
Luffy greatly increases his speed and strength by doing something only a rubber man is capable of
Of course there are also those series where every character and their mother has a transformation. The most influential one would have to be Bleach.
Bankai is the the 2nd level in a sword's transformation, achievable only by a few
The arrancar transformations are more noticeable as it includes more than just the sword
The espada releases are (for the most part) much cooler than the numeros
Not only are transformations a staple of the shonen demographic; they are also a necessity in any standard fighting series. Human limits get in the way otherwise. The message in most series is that human limits don't exist, a fact driven home by the constant level climbing displayed by the main characters (and sometimes enemies). Transformations will never die!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Togashi-ism
While his popularity doesn't compare to that of the Shonen Trinity (especially in the west), Yoshihiro Togashi is a very influential man at Shonen Jump. Yu Yu Hakusho was a hit, as is his current manga, Hunter X Hunter.
Unfortunately, his health has most likely taken a turn for the worse. The reason I say most likely is due to Japan's infamous vagueness when dealing with a famous person's health. Toagshi could be dying of cancer or he could have a splinter in his finger for all we know.
Because of the supposed special treatment Togashi receives, many conspiracy theories have come and gone. The most common one is that he's just lazy. It is very suspicious that a man can draw so well despite his apparently unhealthy condition. Yes, I know the individual chapters look horrible, but collected into volumes, they look great.
I don't even like Hunter X Hunter that much (at least where it is now) but I would love for him to stop with these seasonal hiatuses. The chimera ant arc is boring as hell to me and I want to move onto better things like what the remainder of the Genei Ryodan has been up to. I would say stop lazing around and get off your ass Togashi, but I'd feel really bad if he was indeed very sick, so I'll just wait patiently hoping something actually happens the next time he decided to release a batch of chapters.
Unfortunately, his health has most likely taken a turn for the worse. The reason I say most likely is due to Japan's infamous vagueness when dealing with a famous person's health. Toagshi could be dying of cancer or he could have a splinter in his finger for all we know.
Because of the supposed special treatment Togashi receives, many conspiracy theories have come and gone. The most common one is that he's just lazy. It is very suspicious that a man can draw so well despite his apparently unhealthy condition. Yes, I know the individual chapters look horrible, but collected into volumes, they look great.
I don't even like Hunter X Hunter that much (at least where it is now) but I would love for him to stop with these seasonal hiatuses. The chimera ant arc is boring as hell to me and I want to move onto better things like what the remainder of the Genei Ryodan has been up to. I would say stop lazing around and get off your ass Togashi, but I'd feel really bad if he was indeed very sick, so I'll just wait patiently hoping something actually happens the next time he decided to release a batch of chapters.
Hero of the Week: Jiraiya
This week's hero is none other than the coolest and possibly most powerful of the legendary sannin. That's right, it's the best character in Naruto, Jiraiya!
Not only is Jiraiya one of the most powerful in the series but also one of the funniest (if not the funniest). Being the sannin equivalent of Naruto, he gets into a lot of hillarious situations. The perverted old man archetype may be played out, but he pulls off the role perfectly, using the excuse that he is writing a novel to "research" women bathing.
Despite his perverted attitude, he cares quite a lot about Naruto and the next generation. He cares so much that he "willed" himself back to life so he can pass on the key Naruto needs to unlock his full strength. Anyone that can will themselves back to life is a caring for someone is both a caring and badass individual.
Speaking of badass, Jiraiya's fights are possibly the most badass in the series. The battle with Tsunade against Orochimaru shows that Jiraiya is on a completely different level than most of the characters in the series. His little skirmish with Itachi (possibly the most threatening antagonist at the time) proves that no enemy will get away without getting seriously messed up (though it does add to the confusion of Jiraiya>Itachi>Orochimaru>Jiraiya). Despite the hopelessness of the Pain fight, Jiraiya displayed an amazing amount of effort and even had a chance of taking out Pain altogether.
Konoha lost a great man with his death. His legacy has been passed on, but many feel the series has gotten much worse since his death. He definitely added some light hearted fun to the otherwise dark story. Fortunately, we are already starting to see a little bit of Jiraiya in Naruto. Hopefully he can be just like the perverted sage by the end of the series.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friggin Awesome Lupin AMV
I thought you guys should see this. Rarely does an AMV display this level of professionalism. I'm not a big fan of the music, but it perfectly blends with the action.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Chaos;Head (AKA Biggest Mind Fuck Ever)
Since I don't play many visual novels, I can't exactly say if the anime based off them are good adaptations. Despite this, a large amount have been adapted and there are some undeniably popular ones (Fate/Stay Night and Higurashi No Naku quickly spring to mine). Amongst the wave of visual novel adaptations comes an 11 episode series that can only be described in one phrase; mind fuck.
Chaos;Head stars Takumi Nishijo, a shut-in student that tries his hardest to avoid human communication, shackling himself to the world of anime/manga and online video games. If you think you're socially inept, you should just see this guy. He can't speak clearly at all, avoiding eye contact most of the time. It's almost sickening that he has so many girls after him...OR DOES HE?
Delusions engulf Takumi's world, constantly requiring the viewer to question if what is happening on the screen is "actually" happening. A friendly classmate might be seen nailing a corpse to a wall with oddly shaped crosses. That is the norm for Takumi as he struggles to retain his quite life of solitude.
There are several twists and mind fucks (I really like that phrase) throughout the series. There's also a bunch of made up scientific shit that sounds like it could be real (something about the number of people in one area increases the frequency of something to cause delusions or something like that).
Eventually, the psychological thriller descends into the realm of fantasy fights when imaginary swords start materializing that can supposedly "break" reality. While fighting isn't the focus of the series, there are a few significant ones. Fortunately, they are enjoyable, so I'm not complaining.
It's next to impossible to accurately explain Chaos;Head. Some might even say the plot is too convoluted to make any sense of in the first place. I guess the only thing I can really say is watch it if you like mind fucks and/or a little bit of gore. It's definitly worth it for fans of psychological thrillers.
Chaos;Head stars Takumi Nishijo, a shut-in student that tries his hardest to avoid human communication, shackling himself to the world of anime/manga and online video games. If you think you're socially inept, you should just see this guy. He can't speak clearly at all, avoiding eye contact most of the time. It's almost sickening that he has so many girls after him...OR DOES HE?
Delusions engulf Takumi's world, constantly requiring the viewer to question if what is happening on the screen is "actually" happening. A friendly classmate might be seen nailing a corpse to a wall with oddly shaped crosses. That is the norm for Takumi as he struggles to retain his quite life of solitude.
There are several twists and mind fucks (I really like that phrase) throughout the series. There's also a bunch of made up scientific shit that sounds like it could be real (something about the number of people in one area increases the frequency of something to cause delusions or something like that).
Eventually, the psychological thriller descends into the realm of fantasy fights when imaginary swords start materializing that can supposedly "break" reality. While fighting isn't the focus of the series, there are a few significant ones. Fortunately, they are enjoyable, so I'm not complaining.
It's next to impossible to accurately explain Chaos;Head. Some might even say the plot is too convoluted to make any sense of in the first place. I guess the only thing I can really say is watch it if you like mind fucks and/or a little bit of gore. It's definitly worth it for fans of psychological thrillers.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Hero of the Week: Franky
This week's hero brings us everyone's favorite speedo wearing cyborg. That's right, it's Franky from One Piece!
The man that would eventually become the Strawhat Pirate's shipwright was actually taught and taken care of by the man that built the Pirate King's ship. Formerly known as Cutty Flam, Franky has everything it takes to maintain the ship of the man that will soon become the new Pirate King.
Hillarious, goofy, sensitive, and downright entertaining, it's hard to find any faults in this character. When I first started watching/reading One Piece, we were in the middle of the Water 7 arc in the anime and the sea train arc in the manga. I was lucky enough to catch the fight between Franky and Nero as it was going on. Every single thing this guy did either had me cracking up or caused my mouth to drop at the pure badassery. I mean come on, a backwards cyborg Centaur? Check out the fight.
Franky's fighting style is pretty ridiculous. His reliance on cola is very original. That added with the many (dys)functions of his cyborg body make his fights some of the most entertaining (if not THE most entertaining) in the series. I expect great things from him after the Strawhats reunite.
The man that would eventually become the Strawhat Pirate's shipwright was actually taught and taken care of by the man that built the Pirate King's ship. Formerly known as Cutty Flam, Franky has everything it takes to maintain the ship of the man that will soon become the new Pirate King.
Hillarious, goofy, sensitive, and downright entertaining, it's hard to find any faults in this character. When I first started watching/reading One Piece, we were in the middle of the Water 7 arc in the anime and the sea train arc in the manga. I was lucky enough to catch the fight between Franky and Nero as it was going on. Every single thing this guy did either had me cracking up or caused my mouth to drop at the pure badassery. I mean come on, a backwards cyborg Centaur? Check out the fight.
Franky's fighting style is pretty ridiculous. His reliance on cola is very original. That added with the many (dys)functions of his cyborg body make his fights some of the most entertaining (if not THE most entertaining) in the series. I expect great things from him after the Strawhats reunite.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Shonen Formula Part 2: Idiot Protagonists
Main character's come in all types, but one type will always stand above the rest when dealing with shonen. They're funny, irrational, optimistic, and just plain dumb. You know you love them. They're the idiot protagonists!
As shonen is more often than not centered around fighting, having a main character that isn't too bright is almost expected. Geniuses in battle, but don't seem to have much knowledge outside of battle. Their lack of intelligence usually results in hilarious scenes or entertaining shenanigans. In a way, the idiot protagonist archetype is a win/win part of the formula. If the viewer/reader isn't that smart, the protagonist is easy to relate to, and if the viewer/reader is in fact very intelligent, they can appreciate the entertaining things the character does (as long as they have a sense of humor of course).
While lacking book smarts, the lack of rationality and common sense may actually give these characters an advantage. A common trait is that they will just rush into battle, whether it be because they enjoy it or are just there to save a friend. The stories are usually set up so that a "wait and see" approach will not work at all, and someone quick to attack is necessary.
These lovable oafs are also able to see what is really important, something that those rational beings might have forgotten. Friendship is (usually) placed above all else, causing those characters to come up with inspiring speeches that an intellectual could never think of. Someone like Luffy doesn't give a shit if you are considered one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. If you're a friend, he'll risk his life to save your ass. Naruto couldn't give two shits about the strength of his opponent. If someone close to him is in danger, he'll rush right into battle no matter how hopeless it seems. Goku won't think twice if someone is in dange. He doesn't care that the enemy has the power to destroy planets in an instant, he'll fight to the death to prevent more destruction.
While there are some glaring exceptions to the rule in terms of book smarts, the irrationality and impulsiveness almost always remains. Edward Elric is a genius, but he's still a kid that lets his emotions get the better of him. Allen Walker will allow himself to get stabbed by his own weapon just to save a friend. Ichigo Kurosaki will rush right into a den of arrancar just to save one girl (though his intelligence is questionable in the first place).
While some people are sick of this archetype, I can't get enough of it. I'd much rather have a happy idiot than a whiny emo genius. Cheesy and cliche, but the idiot protagonist is effective and more often than not pulls the audience in quickly. As long as shonen exists, so will the idiot protagonist, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
As shonen is more often than not centered around fighting, having a main character that isn't too bright is almost expected. Geniuses in battle, but don't seem to have much knowledge outside of battle. Their lack of intelligence usually results in hilarious scenes or entertaining shenanigans. In a way, the idiot protagonist archetype is a win/win part of the formula. If the viewer/reader isn't that smart, the protagonist is easy to relate to, and if the viewer/reader is in fact very intelligent, they can appreciate the entertaining things the character does (as long as they have a sense of humor of course).
While lacking book smarts, the lack of rationality and common sense may actually give these characters an advantage. A common trait is that they will just rush into battle, whether it be because they enjoy it or are just there to save a friend. The stories are usually set up so that a "wait and see" approach will not work at all, and someone quick to attack is necessary.
These lovable oafs are also able to see what is really important, something that those rational beings might have forgotten. Friendship is (usually) placed above all else, causing those characters to come up with inspiring speeches that an intellectual could never think of. Someone like Luffy doesn't give a shit if you are considered one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. If you're a friend, he'll risk his life to save your ass. Naruto couldn't give two shits about the strength of his opponent. If someone close to him is in danger, he'll rush right into battle no matter how hopeless it seems. Goku won't think twice if someone is in dange. He doesn't care that the enemy has the power to destroy planets in an instant, he'll fight to the death to prevent more destruction.
While there are some glaring exceptions to the rule in terms of book smarts, the irrationality and impulsiveness almost always remains. Edward Elric is a genius, but he's still a kid that lets his emotions get the better of him. Allen Walker will allow himself to get stabbed by his own weapon just to save a friend. Ichigo Kurosaki will rush right into a den of arrancar just to save one girl (though his intelligence is questionable in the first place).
While some people are sick of this archetype, I can't get enough of it. I'd much rather have a happy idiot than a whiny emo genius. Cheesy and cliche, but the idiot protagonist is effective and more often than not pulls the audience in quickly. As long as shonen exists, so will the idiot protagonist, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
MiXim 11
Nobuyuki Anzai has always been a favorite of mine. While MÄR wasn't that good, Flame of Recca is one of my favorite shonen series of all time. The action was perfect and the characters were original. It had that "cool" style that seperated itself from other series by showing how badass students can get without being cheesy at all. Being one of the few mangaka that can pull off the "highschool students with powers" scenario, I was excited to find out he had already started on another series in that vain.
MiXim 11 is both similar and very different from Anzai's previous works. The 3 main characters are all bishonen (I think?) outcasts that can't get a girl. This is because they are all from Polaris and one of them has a spell cast on them that prevents girls from liking them. That is except for the girls that represent a certain constellation.
Sounds like a romance so far, right? Well it isn't (at least not fully). Yeah it starts out all cute and all with the main female characters showing interest in the main characters, but the series quickly descends into awesome fights with strange powers.
Like Mar, the main character, Ichimatsu, get's a very unconventional weapon; finger puppets! Each puppet has a different power, but they must be woken up first. Only 2 have awakened. The first one gives Ichimatsu super strength and the second transforms anything into a weapon.
The other 2 main characters are Takezo and Koume. Takezo can bring stuff out from the game he's playing on the PSP (like the main character of an action RPG). Koume gets a dog suit that lets him run fast. Koume can't really fight yet but it seems like he'll get a power up very soon.
Since Mixim is still in its early stages (not even a year yet), it's hard to make an accurate judgement. Right now, the series is showing a lot of promise and could easily end up as Anzai's best work. By this time next year, we should be at a decent place in the story. I'll have an update then.
MiXim 11 is both similar and very different from Anzai's previous works. The 3 main characters are all bishonen (I think?) outcasts that can't get a girl. This is because they are all from Polaris and one of them has a spell cast on them that prevents girls from liking them. That is except for the girls that represent a certain constellation.
Sounds like a romance so far, right? Well it isn't (at least not fully). Yeah it starts out all cute and all with the main female characters showing interest in the main characters, but the series quickly descends into awesome fights with strange powers.
Like Mar, the main character, Ichimatsu, get's a very unconventional weapon; finger puppets! Each puppet has a different power, but they must be woken up first. Only 2 have awakened. The first one gives Ichimatsu super strength and the second transforms anything into a weapon.
The other 2 main characters are Takezo and Koume. Takezo can bring stuff out from the game he's playing on the PSP (like the main character of an action RPG). Koume gets a dog suit that lets him run fast. Koume can't really fight yet but it seems like he'll get a power up very soon.
Since Mixim is still in its early stages (not even a year yet), it's hard to make an accurate judgement. Right now, the series is showing a lot of promise and could easily end up as Anzai's best work. By this time next year, we should be at a decent place in the story. I'll have an update then.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Hero of the Week: Zaraki Kenpachi
Now this is a character you don't want to mess with. That's right, it's the captain of the 11th squad of the Gotei 13, Zaraki Kenpachi
If I had to pick my favorite anime character archetype, it would have to be the insane battle hungry characters with the determined eyes that don't show a shred of humanity. Zaraki is the epitome of this. Watching his battles is one of the highest points of Bleach. The ridiculous nature of the series is pushed even further during his fights. There are many characters that enjoy themselves during battle, but Zarakii takes this to a whole nother level. Even when things look bad, he is having just as much fun regardless of whether he's winning or losing. Just take a look at the extent he'll go to have fun.
Zaraki's enjoyment is transferred into the reader/viewer. With him having so much fun, it's hard to not find his fights entertaining. It's easy to see why he is one of the favorites in the series. I do hope he gets developed a bit more, but for now, he is by far the most badass character in the series.
If I had to pick my favorite anime character archetype, it would have to be the insane battle hungry characters with the determined eyes that don't show a shred of humanity. Zaraki is the epitome of this. Watching his battles is one of the highest points of Bleach. The ridiculous nature of the series is pushed even further during his fights. There are many characters that enjoy themselves during battle, but Zarakii takes this to a whole nother level. Even when things look bad, he is having just as much fun regardless of whether he's winning or losing. Just take a look at the extent he'll go to have fun.
Zaraki's enjoyment is transferred into the reader/viewer. With him having so much fun, it's hard to not find his fights entertaining. It's easy to see why he is one of the favorites in the series. I do hope he gets developed a bit more, but for now, he is by far the most badass character in the series.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Age Old Debate: Anime vs Manga
Since the introduction of visual media, there has been a battle for the majority between what can be read and what can be watched. Out of all the mediums that exist, none are more directly related than anime and manga.
And from that stems the question; which one is better? Obviously this is all based on opinon but the general consensus of people that enjoy both tend to side with manga. I find this interesting for a number of reasons. In this age of short attention spans, you would think a fully visual medium would overtake one that lies in between the world of books and television. I, for example, am not a reader. I cannot stand reading novels and anything that doesn't have pictures bores me. Call me close minded or imagination impaired (weird since I'm a writer) but books are not my thing.
I would personally side with anime. Seeing something in motion is much cooler than seeing it stationary. Not only that but sometimes scenes can be confusing when not seen in motion. I can't count how many times I've had to re-read a page just because I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. When the scene is animated, I have a much easier time figuring things out and it doesn't break the mood like it does in manga. Then of course we got voice acting and color and the unmoving scene comes to life. Yes, I'd say anime is infinitely better than manga.
If only it were that simple. Anime adaptations rarely stay true to the source material, which causes inconsistencies and maybe even a premature ending. Outside of the big series, an anime will almost always end before the manga finishes, giving us an incomplete story. This is very annoying and forces the person to seek out the manga. To this day, there are many scenes I dream of being animated. The way I see it, if the anime is just going to be cancelled, don't show it in the first place. No reason to give everyone blue balls.
Then of course we have filler. When an anime gets too close to the manga, they have to stall so the manga can get further ahead. For long running series like those that exist in shonen, fillers are pretty much guaranteed. While I will say that not all filler is bad, most of it is. After all, the animation studio has to make stuff up with no direction from the actual mangaka (except in rare cases). Sometimes plot holes will arise that just end up being ignored later.
As the original medium, manga will always have an advantage. With almost all anime being adaptations of manga, manga will always be the dominant one, requiring the anime to abide by its will. While there are some VERY GOOD exceptions that started out as anime (Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop), it is still too early to say anime can get by without manga.
What I really want is a long running anime series that is not based on a manga. I mean one that ends up being like shonen length. Something that goes on for multiple years. When something like that happens, I think we can safely say anime can hold its own against manga (if this has already happened, someone tell me so I don't look like a total tool).
And from that stems the question; which one is better? Obviously this is all based on opinon but the general consensus of people that enjoy both tend to side with manga. I find this interesting for a number of reasons. In this age of short attention spans, you would think a fully visual medium would overtake one that lies in between the world of books and television. I, for example, am not a reader. I cannot stand reading novels and anything that doesn't have pictures bores me. Call me close minded or imagination impaired (weird since I'm a writer) but books are not my thing.
I would personally side with anime. Seeing something in motion is much cooler than seeing it stationary. Not only that but sometimes scenes can be confusing when not seen in motion. I can't count how many times I've had to re-read a page just because I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. When the scene is animated, I have a much easier time figuring things out and it doesn't break the mood like it does in manga. Then of course we got voice acting and color and the unmoving scene comes to life. Yes, I'd say anime is infinitely better than manga.
If only it were that simple. Anime adaptations rarely stay true to the source material, which causes inconsistencies and maybe even a premature ending. Outside of the big series, an anime will almost always end before the manga finishes, giving us an incomplete story. This is very annoying and forces the person to seek out the manga. To this day, there are many scenes I dream of being animated. The way I see it, if the anime is just going to be cancelled, don't show it in the first place. No reason to give everyone blue balls.
Then of course we have filler. When an anime gets too close to the manga, they have to stall so the manga can get further ahead. For long running series like those that exist in shonen, fillers are pretty much guaranteed. While I will say that not all filler is bad, most of it is. After all, the animation studio has to make stuff up with no direction from the actual mangaka (except in rare cases). Sometimes plot holes will arise that just end up being ignored later.
As the original medium, manga will always have an advantage. With almost all anime being adaptations of manga, manga will always be the dominant one, requiring the anime to abide by its will. While there are some VERY GOOD exceptions that started out as anime (Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop), it is still too early to say anime can get by without manga.
What I really want is a long running anime series that is not based on a manga. I mean one that ends up being like shonen length. Something that goes on for multiple years. When something like that happens, I think we can safely say anime can hold its own against manga (if this has already happened, someone tell me so I don't look like a total tool).
Friday, May 1, 2009
Death Note Hollywood is Go
A while ago, there was talk of Death Note being made into a live action Hollywood movie. Whether it be a remake of the Japanese movies or an adaptation of the manga/anime was up in the air but the lack of information didn't really help to build hype. Well now, it looks like Warner Bros just got the rights.
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. I wish I had more live action American anime adaptations to give me a good idea of how many would play out but all I have is Dragonball: Evolution (horrible apparently), Speed Racer (good?), and Transformers to a lesser extent (great). Anime/manga adaptations are still new and might need a bit of time before they reach the level of comic bood adaptations.
I'll have more information when we get closer to release. Let's hope it doesn't suck ;)
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. I wish I had more live action American anime adaptations to give me a good idea of how many would play out but all I have is Dragonball: Evolution (horrible apparently), Speed Racer (good?), and Transformers to a lesser extent (great). Anime/manga adaptations are still new and might need a bit of time before they reach the level of comic bood adaptations.
I'll have more information when we get closer to release. Let's hope it doesn't suck ;)
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