Contemporary Anime/Manga in the vein of Gundam/Macross?

[clint g]

On the humor front, I'd also like to nominate Hayate no Gotoku (Hayate the Combat Butler). To this day I think it's the funniest anime I've ever seen. (Even funnier than Fumoffu and AzDoh.)

It's weird, though, because the content is kind of "kiddie-ish," but the humor is much more grown-up. It's very satire oriented and they make fun of just about every popular anime and video game ever made. Nothing is sacred. There were a couple of times where I couldn't help but say, "Oh my God! I can believe they just did that!"

There were also times where I was quite literally rolling on the floor laughing.

GHood news is that the second season of hayate is coming out soon! The episode 00 ova just came out a week or so ago.

Anyways, I'm glad to see that you liked FMP firehawk Its in my top 3 favorite animes. I get the feeling you're gonna love some of the stuff they have in FMP The Second Raid. Taken together with the first 2 seasons it has some of the best character development I've seen in a show, let alone an anime.

 

[zakkrusz]

^Sounds a little like Kodocha! which is also a pretty humorous and wacky show if you don't mind the fact that it's target audience is girls. I still found it very amusing though.

or check out Yukikaze if you want epic Macross-esk style dogfights.

Yukikaze is almost pornographic.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

There's a large amount of anime targeted towards adults actually both in the sense of being sophisticated and meaningful enough as well as those that are actually strictly pornographic in nature. I don't remember Yukikaze that well enough to know what you're refering to though. It's been a few years. All I remember is some great jet fighter action and animation/visuals that leave this expression stuck on your face for a while:

 

[firehawk12]

I think that's what he meant... it's jet porn.

 

[firehawk12]

Anyways, I'm glad to see that you liked FMP firehawk Its in my top 3 favorite animes. I get the feeling you're gonna love some of the stuff they have in FMP The Second Raid. Taken together with the first 2 seasons it has some of the best character development I've seen in a show, let alone an anime.

It's weird, because in any other context I might have complained about the complete shift in tone between and even within episodes, but it just worked in this series. On the one hand it's funny and on the other hand it has some war stories that are almost as interesting as "real life" war dramas.

Are they planning to make any more? It seems like the manga is ongoing?

 

[clint g]

FMP isn't really based off a manga but a series of novels. The novels just finished last year (i believe there are 20 of them, includign side story novels) so there is a decent chance of them making more of the series. Hopefully they do because there is some REALLY good stuff down the line. So far stuff up until the novel End of Day by Day has been animated, with Fumoffu mostly being filler stuff that could be found in side novels

 

[firehawk12]

Is the Japanese TV system like the American system? They need decent ratings in order to greenlight a new season? Or do they assume that the show will make money through licensing and DVDs and whatnot?

 

[clint g]

Is the Japanese TV system like the American system? They need decent ratings in order to greenlight a new season? Or do they assume that the show will make money through licensing and DVDs and whatnot?

DVD sales are a HUGE factor over there. Aniem dvds in japan cost about 750-70 bucks a disk, and they only have about 2 or 3 episodes on them. As a matter of fact, many people think thats why FMP hasnt gotten a new season yet. TSR only sold around 10,000 copies. Good numbers (for Japan) but it pales in comparison to Kyoto Animations other stuff like Haruhi, Kannon, and Clannad, which sold far more, so alot of people think that they re going to be putting more focus on those things.

Of course, that being said Kyoto animation are the biggest group of trolls out there and like messing with their fans by hinting at release dates for shows and then changing their minds

 

[firehawk12]

What's the typical budget for an episode or season? I imagine that has an impact on things like length of the series and all that? A longer series could probably generate more DVD sales, but I guess you have the risk of no one buying the later DVDs...

 

[CorporalClegg]

DVD sales are a HUGE factor over there. Aniem dvds in japan cost about 750-70 bucks a disk, and they only have about 2 or 3 episodes on them. As a

You're numbers are a bit off. The average list price for a boxed set coats around ¥6500-¥7500 witch is about $60-$70. Of course, they have chain/budget stores there too where the sale price is knocked down a bit just like it is here. Plus, after you adjust for the coast of living, they really aren't any more expensive than they are here.

 

[Rii]

or check out Yukikaze if you want epic Macross-esk style dogfights.

Yukikaze is almost pornographic.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

All I remember is some great jet fighter action and animation/visuals that leave this expression stuck on your face for a while:

That's what I was referring to, it's jet pornography that makes Top Gun look like a character study. The production values and attention to detail are the icing on the cake.

 

[clint g]

DVD sales are a HUGE factor over there. Aniem dvds in japan cost about 750-70 bucks a disk, and they only have about 2 or 3 episodes on them. As a

You're numbers are a bit off. The average list price for a boxed set coats around ¥6500-¥7500 witch is about $60-$70. Of course, they have chain/budget stores there too where the sale price is knocked down a bit just like it is here. Plus, after you adjust for the coast of living, they really aren't any more expensive than they are here.

lol that was supposed to be 75 to 70

 

[zakkrusz]

What's the typical budget for an episode or season? I imagine that has an impact on things like length of the series and all that? A longer series could probably generate more DVD sales, but I guess you have the risk of no one buying the later DVDs...

It's different with each production company and varies from show to show sometimes as well. Kyoto Animation's budget looks to fairly massive considering how good their series look. Madhouse Studios, Production IG, and JC Staff also have similar large budgets for their shows. I don't know of anywhere to look up actual numbers though. Most websites would probabally be in Japanese Kanji which I can't read.

I would imagine that series that complete in less episodes would produce less discs and sell more than a longer series which would get expensive to buy. It would explain why anime are generally only arround 12-26 episodes in length usually.

 

[firehawk12]

Yeah. I guess it's only a problem with adaptations though - if a series gets cancelled before they can adapt all of the source material, then that's it.

It kind of makes me wonder if there are internet petitions on places like 2chan though.

 

[miraclefan]

Hey guys I want to know if any of you would recomend either as a ''anime/manga'' Battle Royale, Gantz? I've heard some ''interasting'' things to say the least about them.

 

[zakkrusz]

Well, Gantz, I would definitely not recommend. I thought it was horse s*** personally. It's fine if all you're looking for is ultra-violence and sex but if you want a good story, interesting characters, or any kind of meaningfulness in addition to your sex and violence like I do, I'd suggest staying far away from it. I disliked or actively hated all the characters so there's nobody I could root for to survive in this survival anime, plus the series is incredibly repetitive. The first half is almost watchable but then the second half comes and kills off all the characters who actually had potential and positive development and then just falls apart and ends up ending really badly, leaving a ton of unanswered questions.

Battle Royale I don't think has an anime, and I haven't read the manga. Someone else would have to help you there. There's a live action movie or two though. I have the first one somewhere but haven't watched it.

 

[Pilot Ace]

Hey guys I want to know if any of you would recomend either as a ''anime/manga'' Battle Royale, Gantz? I've heard some ''interasting'' things to say the least about them.

I second a no-go for Gantz. It's pretty terrible.

But, I do recommend watching this Gantz: The Abridged Series... http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8695D5171FD2C5AD by hbi2k.

 

[zakkrusz]

Hahahahaha! Now that is frelling awesome!

 

[firehawk12]

Finished FMP and Melancholy of Haruhi and liked both. Haruhi's weird episode order threw me off, but watching it in the weird broadcast order sort of makes sense for some reason. Starting with that anime episode parody was almost genius in a way.

As for FMP - I guess the novels are the only way to keep following the series if they're not going to produce the anime anymore?

Anyway, it looks like I'm off to the Combat Butler series... I think I've come a far way from watching giant robots fighting it seems.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Well, Gantz, I would definitely not recommend. I thought it was horse s*** personally. It's fine if all you're looking for is ultra-violence and sex but if you want a good story, interesting characters, or any kind of meaningfulness in addition to your sex and violence like I do, I'd suggest staying far away from it. I disliked or actively hated all the characters so there's nobody I could root for to survive in this survival anime, plus the series is incredibly repetitive. The first half is almost watchable but then the second half comes and kills off all the characters who actually had potential and positive development and then just falls apart and ends up ending really badly, leaving a ton of unanswered questions.

What he said. As a sidebar, I've never actually finished the series.

 

[zakkrusz]

Basically, the final game is

Spoiler: stuff

filler. Kurono pisses off Gantz after he cries because Kato, Kei, and the chick he just got it on with died in the second to last game, so it makes him the "alien" that the rest of the people have to hunt down. So either he wins and kills the selection of scum or they kill him. Ultimately you never find out what Gantz was or where it came from or what it's purpose is supposed to be. In the end after everyone is dead including Kurono's hot Teacher, Kurono gets somehow transported back to the moment where he and Kato saved the bum. Some kind of wierd pretentious and confusing crap ensues where he watches himself and Kato save the hobo and he ends up running on the train tracks for no discernable reason, turns around to face the oncoming train and gets hit again after refusing to play Gantz's games anymore and denouncing it. Then Gantz takes off and goes to who knows where: end credits.

I've heard from other people that the manga is a lot better and goes on past that point. However, after being severely burned by the anime I have absolutely no intention, whatsoever, of ever finding out.