Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

[Mezlo]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

nor are british in some cities!

oh polywog dont get yer knickers in a bunch! get back to yer tea n crumpets!

[Feba]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

So I've been watching Outlaw Star for the first time in probably a decade. Still as cool as I remember, although it definitely doesn't stand up to finer tastes.

I'd guess I'd say the biggest problem I have with it is that it's like an anime version of Cowboy Bebop. The basic story is good so far (I don't remember much, so I get to experience it fresh), and the scenery and style of everything is very well done. But the writing is just disappointing; sometimes you can tell where something that wasn't important used to be an entire issue of the manga, and instead of cutting it out entirely they decided to simply have three twenty second scenes to get through it. This would be okay for some things, but there are points where it's literally "We have to find this guy! Hey, where is this guy? GUY!", ten second fight scene, "That was easy!" "HE'S NOT DEAD!" transformation sequence, fifteen second fight scene, QUEST COMPLETE

The show finds this weird place where it feels like they're trying to explain the action to kids way more than should be needed. For example, one of the bad guys remarks "We won't tell them there's really another ship!", which ruined the surprise anyway. Five minutes later, our protagonist is informed "There's another ship!", short action scene, back on the ship, the computer remarks "So, there was another ship! That makes sense.", just for a character to say "NOT A GOOD TIME FOR THAT". And then there are the instances where characters simply think out loud to the point where you wonder if anyone can contain a thought without speaking it.

And then they'll go and have adult stuff that simply has no place in a kid's show; not cultural difference stuff, but "Main Character goes to a brothel" stuff. I honestly have no idea what kind of audience they're aiming for with this.

On the other hand, there are some absolutely brilliant moments even in spite of the issues. "You cactus bastard!" has to be one of the greatest insults I've ever heard.

Most of the characters, subplots, etc. are pretty good in their concepts, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. I'd really like to see what this could be, adapted into a proper film. Cut out a lot of the unrelated side plots, trim out the needless exposition (which often just makes the plot holes that much worse), turn up the harshness to fit the character's attitudes, actually question some of the ethical issues the plot brings up (in one episode, in the course of attempting to hack the ship's computer, the bad guy is implied to be mind-raping the android that synchronizes the ship's systems. Afterwards the other characters ask "Are you okay?" and pretty much drop it. In the next episode, people are being mind controlled by the aforementioned cactus bastard, and the android is the only one immune -- at no point is this actually mentioned, compared, discussed, or anything...), run time might be a little long but I could see it working very well.

Well, a boy has the right to dream.

[DakAttack]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

The show finds this weird place where it feels like they're trying to explain the action to kids way more than should be needed. For example, one of the bad guys remarks "We won't tell them there's really another ship!", which ruined the surprise anyway. Five minutes later, our protagonist is informed "There's another ship!", short action scene, back on the ship, the computer remarks "So, there was another ship! That makes sense.", just for a character to say "NOT A GOOD TIME FOR THAT". And then there are the instances where characters simply think out loud to the point where you wonder if anyone can contain a thought without speaking it.

Spoiler alert, this is all anime. You can close your eyes and know what's going on because the plot is continuously flowing out of somebody's mouth. It's not legit. It's not the rillist. It's why I don't watch anime.

For something renowned for its animation, they sure as hell can't animate a plot.

[Armando]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

I'd guess I'd say the biggest problem I have with it is that it's like an anime version of Cowboy Bebop.

I...what?

[Etra]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

I...what?

I thought the same thing, but didn't even want to go there.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

I...what?

The only thing I can figure is that he means Cowboy Bebop is just so far above every other anime that it might as well not be classified as anime?

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

I figured that he meant that Outlaw Star is "more anime" than Cowboy Bebop.

I have similarly heard Kill La Kill called "the most anime anime" or "Anime: The Anime".

[Jarre]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

1 Week till I move to Derby, so much to do, so little time!

[Feba]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

YM is correct. Dak is wrong to say that all anime is like that; clearly you haven't seen much if you think it's all the same banal, mediocre crap.

It's not that Cowboy Bebop is so much better than most anime (although it is), it's that it doesn't get bogged down in the same mannerisms and weaknesses that most anime do. The excessive exposition, the thinking out loud, calling your attacks, turning everything that should be subtle and unsaid into dialogue. Outlaw Star takes a lot of the same concepts, style, and theme that Cowboy Bebop has, but the production is just thoroughly disappointing.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

I've decided that I'm going to make an effort to use cash more often simply because it makes balancing the checkbook easier. Instead of a dozen tiny entries I'll just have "get $200 from ATM". It'll be great.

[Feba]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

Holy fuck, people still use checks?!

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

Logged into Skype.

Happy birthday, Armando!

[DakAttack]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

YM is correct. Dak is wrong to say that all anime is like that; clearly you haven't seen much if you think it's all the same banal, mediocre crap.

I have literally seen all anime and it is all like that.

I hope they don't find out that I'm lying! That would be devastating! Why can't they just agree with me that anime is inferior to all other kinds of media??? Ugh! I am going to go eat food now.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

Super useful lifehack courtesy of my father: WD-40 gets rid of sticker gunk really well.

[Jarre]

Re: Official Bored at Work / Off-Topic Chat Thread II

Move house tomorrow, certainly is the 2nd most stressfull thing in the world, 1st would be divorce, 3rd would be titan extreme.