Spring 2012 Anime

So there's hope for Accel World yet?

I mean, watching the PV and reading the trope page summary, it didn't seem very Shounen. It was intriguing.

So should I stick with it?

Definitely....

And what, pray tell, is Wrong with Shounen, now?

edited 6th Apr '12 5:23:22 AM by Demongodofchaos2

[1]

.... Heh, I know it's a parody.

Still doesn't mean it can't be liked unironically.

Besides the fact that Shounen fighting elements have even influenced Seinen and Shoujo (IE the Magical Girl Warrior) I see know problem with the Shōnen Demographic as a whole.

Ranma One Half Technically counts as a Shonen Fighting Series meets Unwanted Harem anyhow.

edited 6th Apr '12 5:57:55 AM by Demongodofchaos2

I don't have a problem with Shounen itself. But there are several big targets if you want to criticise certain trends in Shounen.

Regarding Accel World, I have seen the first episode and it pretty clearly exceeds Guilty Crown, but at the same time I can't say it's worth an FMA.

I'll have to watch more and see how it turns out. Currently I'm tentatively placing it slightly below Shakugan No Shana, but it could go either way.

\*sees we're talking about shonen* So, how 'bout dat Medaka Box? :3

Below Shakugan no Shana? It's that bad? D:

Ah hah.

I know, subjective scales are subjective. Mine goes Guilty Crown<Shana<FMA... With precious little middle ground.

Okay, it could also be comparable to Inuyasha or Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai. Remains to be seen, but it doesn't have any particular parody immunity, and I can't say I'm exactly impressed by what I've seen so far.

edited 6th Apr '12 6:23:40 AM by UltimatelySubjective

Meh. It's genre shifts are good, but trying to do to many take thats a gainst Shonen leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, in all honesty.

Speaking of shonen, how bout date Fist Of The North, Jojos Biarre Adventure, Saint Seiya, or Neon Genesis Evangelion? (Record Scratch) No, seriously, the manga adaption and the anime are technically donsidered shonen, and kids in japan still watch Evangelion regardless of all that it has in it.

Also, Shonen allowed the Pretty Cure to exist:

I have one thing to say about the first two episodes of Accel World: Think of them as "set-up" episodes and think of just how much was set up by them.

Going into detail:

• the technology that everyone has
• how that tech is used on a day-to-day basis
• the ability to go into a full virtual world
• the primary characters (Main Character and his realistic inferiority complex, Student Vice President, two childhood friends, bully)
• the importance of a "direct connection"
• the program and how it is used
• the basic rules for the "game" (including basic statistics, how you level up, motivations, and downsides)
• the fact that there must be a reason she wanted his help in the first place (this is what the continuing plot builds off of. Mostly.)

How many anime could fit all that info into the first 2 episodes in such a (relatively) seamless way and do a lot of other plot line set-up? Then imagine if that quality continues...

Yes, I have also read the Manga. Not the VN yet, it is not translated very far.

Okay, the world building was good. The characters have yet to shine though and the story doesn't seem to have started.

So far it hasn't really proven anything. For example, if this were going to be a regular shounen fighting series with a tournament arc where we will revisit that system every episode, then perhaps we have been given too much of an introduction.

I have no major complaints so far. The childhood friend with the bento seems a bit out of place though.

You are being remarkably astute in your observations. Watch the next arc (it should only take 3 episodes at the rate the anime is going) and then come to a decision.

FYI: Don't expect any spoilers after that point. The manga has not gotten farther than that yet. Part of the reason I want to watch the anime so much.

About the currently aired episodes, a little detail they left out was that he had made a different avatar, but then the bully "took a liking to it" and gave him the pig in exchange.

Can't think of any other details of significance that didn't make it in.

edited 6th Apr '12 7:38:27 AM by Belian

Okay, I'll keep watching.

I just watched Medaka Box.

Not sure what to think.

It's like this show knows nothing of context.

How should I put it? It's remarkable that they've managed to make something so coherent that works out of what feels like dialogue stolen from a bunch of other shows.

I am wondering what the point to it is.

Currently I'm rating Accel World higher than Medaka Box.

edited 6th Apr '12 7:47:22 AM by UltimatelySubjective

It starts out... weird, but when it gets going... okay, it's still weird. But trust me, it gets awesome. The whole thing is like a slice of life/fighting genre/parody of the fighting genre/deconstruction of the fighting genre type show.

Oh yeah, and the guy responsible for Bakemonogatari writes it.

Bakemonogatari's a completely different beast though. You don't watch Bakemonogatari for the fights and genre shifts.

Medaka Box basically gets good once it starts getting Meta as hell.

And when Kumagawa takes center stage, oh boy...

So basically 5 seasons from now it might be a worthy watch?

Depends how quickly they get through the early material, but I'd say 2 seasons from now, not 5.

Is it going to get to those seasons, though? A bad start can sink any series.

Hard to see it making it that far then.

All I can say is that if it were my decision, I'd get through the early chapters as quickly as possible, cutting any non-essential material, but that doesn't seem to be the approach they're taking.

However, it's entirely possible that it's planned to continue somewhat indefinitely because it's a Shonen Jump series and all that.

Medaka Box is basically like Bleach for the first two arcs. It starts out with some random character introduction/problem solving, then jumps into a huge arc in a completely different setting that introduces a whole bunch of new characters. And then after that the most popular character in the series gets an official introduction (although he had shown up in a few flashbacks earlier).

And thus begins Kumagawa Box.

I've heard there'll be filler arcs. So apparently it will be continuing for multiple seasons. Perhaps they intend to provide replacements for two of the ending Big Three?