Board 8 > Shounen Anime & Manga Discussion Topic 13 - FYI, we're not perverted

(+) Yeah! (+)

Spoilers for Shounen Anime and Manga throughout the topic, obviously.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

first

--
ph33r teh masta~!

Coindidence; topic 13 was made on Friday 13th!

dun dun dun

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

Hi guys I watch Macross am I welcome here?

--
caps

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

So when is there gonna be some continuously in this Fairy Tail filler arc? There must be, or it could just as well be part of the X791 arc. This sure was one weird episode, but was pretty funny nevertheless.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

4. Bakuman

Author: Ohba Tsugumi
Artist: Obata Takeshi
Debut: August 2008

Story
Ohba is a damn good writer. He demonstrated that with his supernatural dark thriller series before, and has heel-turned to a realistic light-hearted drama with fantastic results. First off, the premise is great. I learned so much about the manga business because of this. And then he writes it so well. I find it easier to talk about things I don't like than things I do, so it's hard to explain why I like it. But I guess the bottom line is that nothing is stupid. The humour always hits well, the dramatic romance has the right amount of larger than life while still in the realm of possibility, the conflicts arise naturally. The dialogue is always written well. I will admit some "arcs" try to shake things up with a villainous character, probably in an attempt to inject some freshness or perhaps make the series longer, but it's never bad. I must admit that the beginning of the series when they were starting out was perhaps the most intriguing part of the premise, but the characters have carried the rest of story through. It's concise and moves a brisk pace most of the time, intent on telling the story about kids growing up and living out their dreams.

Characters
A good story needs good characters, and the protagonists fit that bill. They're stubborn and idealistic, which comes off as virtuous and flawed at different times. They have insecurities and doubts and get equally fired up when things go well. It's funny in a way you can relate to. The series does a fairly well job of juggling some of its minor characters, though sometimes some people do get the shaft when they're "arc" doesn't involve the main characters as much anymore. Fukuda and Hiramaru are the biggest hits here. Eiji is a great rival and Hattori has been the best editor a guy could have from Day 1. Motivations are never overtly complex; no silly back stories about why a character wants to create the number 1 manga. Sometimes I feel it's a shame the author doesn't want to give anyone a bad ending. Nakai and Iwase could have just ended as failures, for example, and the story would not have suffered for it.

Art
Very good. I just don't think the series would work without what Obata brings to the table. Just as Ohba's writing here is completely different from Death Note, Obata's art is drastically removed from his typical dark style. The realism is portrayed by detailed backgrounds, but with a twinge of light-hearted comedy from character designs and clean shading. I wish I knew more art terminology so I could better express this, but there's a very appealing unique look to Bakuman. You see all his typical Death Note rip-off designs in things like Castlevania Judgement, and then he goes and draws this every week. He cares about this work, and it shows.

Story: A-
Characters: A-
Art: A
Overall: A-

First on the list to receive an "A", A's mark the stories that I believe should go down and be recognized not only in SJ history, but of all shounen and non-shounen manga.
It's harder for me to dissect this story because it's not your typical battle piece. Bottom line though, it's just a damn good story and one of the freshest series this magazine has seen.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

I will do a top 15 Naruto character strength ranking if the last topic is finished within the next hour.

--
caps

Shockingly enough, Funimation didn't screw up the numbering of the One Piece subs. They just skipped 542 completely

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

R.I.P. Fisher Tiger

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

Oh Mashima you and your ability to randomly insert plot-relevant fanservice into the story in the most bizarre ways possible

--
No I'm not a damn furry. Looney Tunes are different. - Guiga
I wanted Sonic/Shadow romance at that time, not sex. - MWE

MS will once again be hosting JUMP scans, but they'll be deleting them now after 60 hours

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

Yessss

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

Fisher Tiger is goddamn amazing. This flashback is like the peak of the arc. Well maybe the whole Big Mom thing, but that's afterplay either way. Can't wait to see what the anime can do with the fighting. Although, please don't make them almost lose or something. It kinda ruins the whole thing with showing how much stronger they are. Like, Zoro should be cutting Hody right away.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

13: Magico
12: Beelzebub
11: Medaka Box
10: Nurarihyon no Mago
9: Kukoro no Basket
8: Sket Dance
7: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
6: Bleach
5: Toriko
4: Bakuman

Still left...

Hunter x Hunter
Naruto
One Piece

Don't forget to save the write-ups if you haven't already.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

Predictions:

3. Naruto
2. H x H
1. One Piece

If you don't hold the H x H art against it too much.

--
Sir Chris
The Cult of Personality.

H x H is the hard one to place there.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

Excellent write up. Shame on you people for not having read Bakuman.

--
caps

From: ninkendo | #013
MS will once again be hosting JUMP scans, but they'll be deleting them now after 60 hours

What they should have done in the first place. I knew losing the majority of their traffic will make them see the light. No thanks to people like you still visiting them for the past few months making them hold out until now!

--
caps

Kuroko no Basket is pretty awesome. Got introduced to another from the Generation of Miracles, which is cool because it shows us that Kagami still is long to go. I can't wait to see some more matches, which it seems like we will next time.

I really hope the anime will go on for quite sometime, and not like Medaka Box which will have 12 episodes. Everyone not reading the manga (that's everyone but pj I think) watch the anime. 2 episodes of today means no catching up basically. Start before there will be catching up to do!

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

Gonna post this in new topic as well. The correct order of Fairy Tail songs from best to worst:

Full Rankings:

1. Opening 8 - Rock City Boy
2. Ending 1 - Kanpekigu no Ne
3. Opening 6 - Fiesta
4. Ending 6 - Be As One
5. Ending 8 - Don't think. Feel!!!
6. Opening 9 - Towa no Kizuna
7. Ending 2 - Tsuioku Merry-Go-Round
8. Ending OVA - This Place
9. Opening 10 - I Wish
10. Ending 10 - Boys Be Ambitious
11. Opening 3 - Ft.
12. Opening 1 - Snow Fairy
13. Opening 11 - The Starring Sky
14. Opening OVA - Eternal Fellows
15. Ending 4 - Kimi ga Iru Kara
16. Ending 7 - Lonely Person
17. Ending 5 - HOLY SHINE
18. Ending 3 - Gomen ne. Watashi
19. Opening 2 - Sense of Wonder
20. Opening 5 - Egao no Mahou
21. Opening 4 - R.P.G ~Rockin' Playing Game
22. Ending 11 - Glitter (Starving Trancer Remix)
23. Opening 7 - Evidence
24. Ending 9 - Kose Te Nobashi'te


Openings:

1. Opening 8 - Rock City Boy
2. Opening 6 - Fiesta
3. Opening 9 - Towa no Kizuna
4. Opening 10 - I Wish
5. Opening 3 - Ft.
6. Opening 1 - Snow Fairy
7. Opening 11 - The Starring Sky
8. Opening OVA - Eternal Fellows
9. Opening 2 - Sense of Wonder
10. Opening 5 - Egao no Mahou
11. Opening 4 - R.P.G ~Rockin' Playing Game
12. Opening 7 - Evidence

Endings:

1. Ending 1 - Kanpekigu no Ne
2. Ending 6 - Be As One
3. Ending 8 - Don't think. Feel!!!
4. Ending 2 - Tsuioku Merry-Go-Round
5. Ending OVA - This Place
6. Ending 10 - Boys Be Ambitious
7. Ending 4 - Kimi ga Iru Kara
8. Ending 7 - Lonely Person
9. Ending 5 - HOLY SHINE
10. Ending 3 - Gomen ne. Watashi
11. Ending 11 - Glitter (Starving Trancer Remix)
12. Ending 9 - Kose Te Nobashi'te

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

GranzonEx posted...
From: ninkendo | #013
MS will once again be hosting JUMP scans, but they'll be deleting them now after 60 hours
What they should have done in the first place. I knew losing the majority of their traffic will make them see the light. No thanks to people like you still visiting them for the past few months making them hold out until now!

love mah ippo

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

So I just saw the MS tweet. Thank you Bulgaria.

Anyone know what manga their background image comes from?

--
caps

Awesome news.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

You people have Bulgaria to thank.

--
caps

GranzonEx posted...
So I just saw the MS tweet. Thank you Bulgaria.

Anyone know what manga their background image comes from?



there it is if anyone wants to take a stab at it. I looked through a list of manga characters with eye patches but couldn't locate this guy

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

Good, mangastream my heroes. Mangareader would never load the pictures for me. Pissed me off.

--
-

ninkendo posted...
GranzonEx posted...
From: ninkendo | #013
MS will once again be hosting JUMP scans, but they'll be deleting them now after 60 hours
What they should have done in the first place. I knew losing the majority of their traffic will make them see the light. No thanks to people like you still visiting them for the past few months making them hold out until now!

love mah ippo

What about your FT.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

FT's great, but it's no Ippo!

--
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9016/otungaattorney.jpg
http://card.psnprofiles.com/1/CaptainRockman.png

ninkendo posted...
Anyone know what manga their background image comes from?



there it is if anyone wants to take a stab at it. I looked through a list of manga characters with eye patches but couldn't locate this guy

That's Senji aka Crow from Deadman Wonderland.

--
http://myanimelist.net/animelist/swordz9

That looks like some nice art. Might pick the manga up just for that!

--
caps

When does HxH air?

I really wanna see the new op/ed

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

The new HxH episode already aired.

--
http://myanimelist.net/animelist/swordz9

Yeah I found the ed.

Was there no new op then? I was positive there was going to be.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Alright found the op too.

It was hard to find because it was more of a ver. 2 type.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Let's inject some life into this topic.

3. Naruto

Author: Kishimoto Masashi
Debut: November 1999

Story
I don't even feel like using these guidelines I created anymore.
Everyone knows Naruto, got lots of love in Japan and America, and lots of people hate it too. I can understand some of the reasons, but really it's to ignore all the great storytelling techniques and ideas that noticeably absent from modern shonen that try to follow the One Piece Precedent, sort of like a certain series of fairies.

To begin with there's actually like, you know, character development. Naruto, while retaining his shonen boy charms, is still far from the annoying brat he used to be. Sasuke has pretty beautifully turned into a cold villain, though the end result is going to be what ultimately makes him a deep character or not. Even Sakura really isn't the super b**** she was at the start. She acted like a 12-13 girl would and acts like a more matured older teen now, with what little scenes she gets. Time skips are kind of a cheap way to do that, but it's something. More than character development, it feels like things change. Important characters get killed off, both villain and hero, the political climate changes after some major arcs, revelations about the mythos are gradually revealed, etc.

Perhaps most importantly of all, Naruto sticks to major themes. Topics of loneliness and isolation, about being needed or having purpose, identity, and the effects of war especially on children are brought up again and again. The plight of the Jinchuuriki, those with bloodline abilities, and what warped the minds of certain villains all call to these themes. It's not just there to be cool or to add depth to some villain before he's defeated. It's the driving force behind characters' motivations and the story. The heroes and villains clash with their fists and their ideals. The fights are like conversations or debates between points of view.

I'll take the time to say here that I like Part II a great deal more than the first part. Lots of things I feel weren't done as best they could back then. It was necessary because it set up Part II, but it doesn't make it feel particularly meaningful. I think the biggest mistake was jumping into the Chuunin Exam right away. Not only did it feel like an artificial way to introduce a bunch of fighters and characters into the story, but it got away from building the relationship between Team 7 that you never get to see. It makes the later Sasuke betrayal kind of weak. A bunch of characters cared more than they had to because the story needed to see drama unfold. Sasuke himself just kind of turns evil because of a sealed curse or something. I really liked the Zabuza/Haku arc. It provided a realistic conflict for what the characters could handle, developed their relationship, and added on to aforementioned themes with the arc characters. There should have been more isolated arcs like that before it jumped into Orochimaru stuff. I never really minded that the minor characters never got more spotlight in Part II either. As far as I'm concerned, most of them got the time they deserved, and more interesting things were able to take the stage. Naruto being as strong as he is also makes much more sense in the context of what he's doing. It's just funny when the Rescue Sasuke stuff is delegated to a bunch of Genins. Just kind of makes it feel unimportant, you know?

Oh and the world doesn't make too much sense to me. I thought the villages were the military force of the countries, but they all seem to act very independently and declare war directly on each other. It seems the "real world" is really at the mercy of whatever the strongest hidden village decides to do. It's not that important though. Kind of a premise that's forgotten.
Reliance on backstory can get annoying, but some of it is fantastic.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Characters
I already mentioned that lots of the minor Leaf characters aren't too interesting, but they also don't show up too much so it's good. Shikamaru, Lee, and Gaara are the only ones that needed more time, and guess what? They did. Perhaps the first two could use even more, but it's alright. Naruto and Sasuke are great leads. The Villains have all been great. As an aside, Kishimoto does need to learn to make females interesting. The only good one so far has been Konan imo.
Speaking of premises that are forgotten though, what's up with the Leaf's attitude towards Naruto? They were real d**** to him for no reason, and now they're all chummy with him. He could probably destroy every single person in there with one hand so I wonder if it's really the kind of acknowledgement he wants. Again not important, but I wonder if anything's really changed, and the next outcast that's born into the city won't get the same treatment. Not really gone into. The goal of becoming Hokage always struck me as not on the same level as becoming Pirate King or something either. Hokage is a pretty political position despite the "strongest" title and I wonder why he still wants it. Clearly he's already the strongest right?
The two-man one-woman cell thing he has going is a little annoying.

Art
Easy section. It's nothing spectacular, but there's something unique about his style. I think it's because it's more subdued than most other WSJ works. It doesn't POP and WOW with crazy styles and locales. I never really liked the way he draws humour either. I think his style is on serious storytelling and his art looks almost seinen-like or at least has the potential to be. Design wise all of the main characters look cool. Seeing all the parents look exactly like their children makes me facepalm. His art started off kind of dirty and became a lot cleaner as it went on. I like both though. I would like to see him make a story about older characters next time. I think it suits him if he gets away from the early Naruto formula of silly lead with handsome rival that girls swoon over.

Action
I have some gripes with the chakra system kind of just producing clones. Same beef with the anything-goes Genjutsu. The best fights I think are where you roughly know what both characters are capable of and actual strategy is employed, and these things kind of undercut that a lot. Even then, the series produces some fantastic fights. Lee vs. Gaara, Naruto vs. Sasuke, Sakura vs. Sasori, Sasuke vs. Itachi, Sasuke vs. Danzo, Naruto vs. Pein are all A+ fights. Some for the drama and comeback factor (mostly Part 1) and the others for the epic strategic thinking and just drawn out boss battle-like fighting. Sasori in particular was so great with how he kept pulling out phases after phases of attacks. He really takes his time to draw out the entire fight, and the end result is a feeling of satisfaction with the conclusion and the level of hardship the character that wins has to go through. Certain other authors can take note that a real fight is about the back-and-forth and not the one hit KO comeback.

Story: A
Characters: B+
Art: B+
Action: A+
Overall: A-

Naruto is also one of the only series to really not have an "arc" feel. I know they're there, but compared to others, it feels like one on-going story, kind of like FMA. The fanbase may have ruined this series to a lot of people, especially a few years ago when it was airing on TV and was extraordinarily popular, but if you look, there really isn't denying it's different from lots of current Jump pieces and worthy of praise.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Imma read Mx0 for funz

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Great write-up.

Even though the Zabuza/Haku arc wasn't a favorite of mine (it had it's good parts, but that's not the point here) it's very much true that we could've used more arcs like that before the Chuunin exam. Seen more of their training or something. The teamwork they showed in the second part of the Chuunin exam was acutally quite awesome. It also showed us that they had gotten to know each other quite well, with Sasuke figuring fake Narutos out and such. At this point Sasuke was my favorite character because he was the smart one when it came to thinking between the lines, if you know what I mean, and it really helped building the teamwork they had more than anything else. We saw this in pretty much every teamwork mission or challenge they had. If that had been going on for longer then no doubt Sasuke leaving would've been a way bigger thing than it already was. He as absent a lot starting the last part of the chuunin exam and until Naruto finally met up with him in the retrieval arc, so besides making the fact that they were best friends / like brother seem like less, it also meant that by this time I serveral characters had surpassed Sasuke as my favorites, since the times before wasn't enough, and thus made it less tragic than intended.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

From: pjbasis | #037
To begin with there's actually like, you know, character development. Naruto, while retaining his shonen boy charms, is still far from the annoying brat he used to be.

I approve of this jab at a certain generic OP clone.

From: pjbasis | #038
Sasuke vs. Danzo

My favorite fight in the manga.

--
caps

Generic manga checklist:

1. Dragon themed attacks/characters
2. MC has fire based attacks
3. Friend/rival has water/ice attacks

I'm sure I can think of more.

--
caps

Hmm, Happy looks a bit different in the manga.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

pjbasis do you like Kishimoto's older more erm, 'messy' art style, or his more recent 'cleaner' style?

Others can answer this too if they want, I prefer his older messier style, but I seem to be in the minority for this opinion.

--
-

Come on H x H # 2 for my glorious prediction.

--
Sir Chris
The Cult of Personality.

Hard to say.

His clean style has been used for so long. And it's been used for the better part of the story so I guess I like him staying clean, at least for Naruto.

His dirty style feels like an older style (duh), but what I mean is I guess it should be used for a different series, one that maybe harkens to something less shounen.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

I like the cleaner style he uses right now. I'm a sucker for clean art!

--
caps

Here's wondering if I wait for MS, or I in my impatientness read bad translations first, and then later good ones

What to do.

--
Nio-chan and Ctes: http://img.imgcake.com/nio/Untitledpngyn.png
BroAndCharAndCtes: http://i.imgur.com/oBQfY.png

I'm waiting for the stream

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0

Mx0 could be better.

I like the premise, and the main character is awesome, but it feels oddly paced.

It's struggling to make the more serious stuff interesting, I think.

--
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr345/Rakaputra/pjbasis.png
SuperNiceDog - 1, pjbasis - 0