Thanks to the wonders of Xtorrent, iSquint, and iPhone combined with a couple of hours a day on the underground, I have been able to delve into the world of anime. After having worked my way through Blood +, Full Metal Alchemist, Samurai Champloo, Evangelion Neon Genesis (don't get me started on this series, I am still angry about the last 3 or 4 episodes), and Baccano! I decided to start watching Death Note. I am about 20 episodes in now and just finished the first story arc.I am struggling to find the proper hyperbole to express just how brilliant this series is. To my relatively untrained eye, the animation is fantastic. Many of the characters are loathsome for various reasons yet extremely compelling. The tension between L and Light is so thick I want to eat it with a silver spoon and a side of creme fraiche. Many episodes have found me reminding myself that I need to breathe. Mini spoiler alert - there is one scene where Light is having a little mental show down with the fiancée of Ray Penbar - (sounds so much cooler with a Japanese accent) FBI Agent, as the sun is setting and a light snow begins to fall that is so perfectly constructed. The tension. The beauty. The tragedy. The sadness. Amazing.
But wait. There's more. I haven't even mentioned the shinigami yet. The voice acting for these Japanese death gods is some of the best you will ever come across. I love their cackling laughter and harsh voices. I love their painted faces and magical eyes. Plus the apple addiction makes for some good physical comedy.
Something I found interesting was that the series has an extremely high level of exposition. It seems like two thirds of each episode is comprised of hearing the characters verbalize their thoughts to themselves. Surprisingly this method of telling the story has worked for me so far.
One last thing I want to mention. As I said before I just finished the first story arc of the series. I am 2, maybe 3, episodes into the next story arc and I am a little concerned. I miss the shinigami and I miss the conflict between L and Light. I haven't really bought into the crime syndicate thing yet. Hopefully this tangent is resolved shortly and we get back to L versus Light.
So if anybody has any good recommendations for which series I should watch next, let me know. I have already started watching Trigun on the side with my flatmate and really like it.
1 comment:
First of all I am so excited that you have gotten into anime big time. Which is funny because I have gotten into Manga a lot recently. I just devour the stuff.
I haven't watched Deathnote. But I hear great things.
As far as recommendations go. I like Basquash which is post apocalyptic basketball in giant hot-rod robots. Then there is Gurren Laggan. Which I am watching when I can. It's almost like a parody of the giant robot genre but extremely well done. Then there is the incredible FLCL. If you haven't seen it already. It's brilliant and insane. All the things I love in a good anime.
Oh and if you haven't sat down and watched ALL of the Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex series (including 2nd Gig) you are seriously missing out. You need to watch that. Might be my favorite series after Cowboy Bebop.
Also, MOVIES. I just watched this movie called Spriggan. It's incredible. Really great action/adventure. Then there is any and all of Satoshi Kon's movies.
Welcome to being a big nerd Morgan. We're glad to have you.
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