Some comments on some Japanese animation pieces

Nothing very organized here. Just some thoughts that have come to me. I am writing all these simply because I want to write something on Japanese animation, but to dwell up anything organised would be too time-consuming. On the other hand, I think the comments below are quite concise, and are mostly first thoughts that come to me. If you have watched any of these titles below, you may agree with me. If you have not, watch them, they are all worth watching.

Touch will always be the best.

Kimagure Orange Road: Ayukawa Madoka, of course. Yet, there is something more to it -- not ESP -- There is a sense of empathy that is much stronger than in, say Maison Ikkoku. I watched both pieces when I was an adolescence, but that is not the only reason; one also should pay attention to the type of people depicted in the two pieces.

Umi ga Kikoeru: good. Good plot, good music, good artwork and good 'feel'. There is a sense of reality in it.

Five Star Stories: I like the LED Mirage.

Gundam: It is a story of men, not robots, and a very good one. Also, the author has sought to be technically sound -- at least qualitatively, which is a very good thing.

Dirty Pair: I like Kei, as opposed to Yuri, who is supposed to be the cuter one, I believe. This has to do with their personalities.

City Hunter: Didn't appreciate it when I was younger. Now, I have to admit that it is indeed a good one.

Key, the Metal Idol: Sigh... A very good, yet also very disturbing piece.

Shojou Kakumei Utena: I like the theme song very much.

Area 88: I really want to watch Act II and Act III.

I really like Nausicaa more than Laputa, which many people will not agree.

Kodomo no omocha: Hilarious, and very good in this aspect.
14- 5-1999: I have only watched the first 19 episodes (out of 104), but I really like this piece. True, hilarious, and there is more to it, too. There are conflicts, content, and address to some serious issues in a light way. Certainly, the happy endings are sometimes a bit unrealistic, but this piece certainly makes me feel happy.

-- 8- 2-1999

Dancougar (actually, I don't know how to translate the full name of this piece nicely) has an amazing design of the robots. (Hades Project) Zeorymer is another one I find the robots appealing. It is nice and short, too, with a well organised story line. The one imperfection is the inclusion of 'those two scenes', which I find completely unnecessary. Oh, well, what can you say...

What is great in X is the compelling/moving atmosphere/mood that CLAMP creates. There is a sense of gradeur -- well, I think I am using the wrong adjectives here, totally, but my true ideas can only be expressed correctly in Chinese... So, wait till I know how to type it -- Also, there is this short 'music video' on X, which I assume is for promotional purpose, that is very goo as well, with great music and the usual good feelings that the anime conveys.

( 6- 3-1999)
If you have not done so, I would recommend you NOT to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. It is very successful in arousing an interest in the audience in the early episodes, but unfortunately, it is perhaps even more successful in discouraging the audience with a completely incoherent and incomprehensible ending, leaving them very unsatisfied. For those of you who have already watched them, here are my views on the piece. (end of passage on 6- 3-1999)
Without a doubt, Katsuragi Misato is the most attractive female character in Neon Genesis Evangelion (to me, at least). Yet, I think I have more sympathy towards Aynami Rei. Is that a sense of pity? I do not know. Perhaps it is. Yet, it is true that Ayanami is a very dynamic character here, who has substantial development in character through the episodes. Of course, it is also her discipline, independence and ingenuous character that draw my attention. I also must express my feeling that the title and nomenclature of many things in the story quite disturb me. Am I being ignorant about some language, or are the producers indeed being stupid with their English? Let me not answer this. Also, I would say that the success of this work has almost nothing to do with the robot designs -- personally, I have never like them at all. Yet, I am still waiting to watch the film(s) and see the ending of the story!!!
( 6- 3-1999 again)
Having watched Evangelion -- Death and Rebirth, I find Ikari Shinji nothing but an extremely hopeless and pathetic child. On the other hand, my impression on Asuka Langley improved. Whether this is a change in my part, between my watching the series a year ago and now, or if this is a better understanding of the characters, I cannot tell. Akagi Ritsuko seems to be the most normal and sane character in the story, and perhaps the one I hold in the highest esteem. To love like Hyuuga Makoto (Katsuragi's assistant) must be very arduous. Wise or not is another question. Of course, whether it is wise depends on one's attitude towards love.

GodSigma was probably the first robotic anime I watched since I came to my senses. I still remember the first episode, as well as Leslie Cheung's Cantonese version of the theme song.

When I watch Macross during the MIT Anime Club showings, people always laugh loudly about the concept of pop songs as a symbol of human culture and a weapon against the extra-terrestrials. This really annoys me, because I am distracted by their laughs. Perhaps it is really stupid in their eyes, just as Star Trek is equally stupid in my eyes. If they had a chance to watch Macross when they were small, I am very sure that they will agree with me, that it is a very nice piece, too.

Rurouni Kenshin is what I have been watching recently. Himura Kenshin really looks like a woman, most of the time. I don't think I agree completely with the samurai's principles (Bushidou?), but I need to think about this a bit more before I can make more comments. I like Takani Megumi, because of the obvious reason, but also because of her positive attitude in her medical practice.
14- 5-1999: My favourite male character is Hiko Seijuuro. Well, he's cool -- at least, I think so. I've watched the first 62 episodes (the first and second seasons of broadcast), and I have to admit that it is good, especially the second season (Yet, one has to watch the first season in order to appreciate the second, I suppose).

What I want to say about Dr Slump may be a bit unconventional. It is not until I came to MIT and reflected upon Dr Slump that I find Dr Norimaki Senbee such an interesting character. I used to think that he was a fool, but he is in fact the number one, most superb scientist, inventor and engineer in the entire world! I suppose my own position as a science and engineering student has allowed me to come to this realisation. Another very interesting minor detail is that Toriyama Akira actually depicted the everyday life of a scholar 'doing science' quite accurately -- Whenever I am eating my cup noodle last at night taking a break from my problem sets, I will recall Dr Norimaki, because we (my fellow classmates and I) eat cup noodles much the same way he does! Found a great link here.

-- UTC 11:43 21- 9-1999 AD