Thank god for The Cartoon Network. What would we watch if it wasn't for this great station? Dexters Lab, Courage and Justice League are my favorites. When they started play anime I jumped for joy. Magus can remember introducing me to feature anime YEARS ago when we sat down and watched Vampire Hunter D. I was amazed. The cartoon had blood. It wasn't lighthearted with talking animals. It was a serious, mature themed story that was drawn and animated beautifully. This wasn't Star Blazers or Force Five, this was something on another level. I was hooked from then on. Thank you Alex.
My problem with anime today, too many series and not enough feature films. In order for me to catch everything awesome like Big O, Rururoi Kenshin(sp), Cowboy Beebop and this .hack sign shit, I have to be glued to my tv and my tv guide. When you are 33 and working 8 hours a day and trying to better yourself by making films, you don't have time to sit down every day and catch the half-hour epics.
Ok, so I'll just buy the DVD set right?! No way. As good as Evangellion is, I have to watch the whole set before I can watch the features. Which means for this series and many others I would have to purchase hundreds of DVD's. Star Blazers is the exception. I've already seen every episode and the purchase would be sentimental. Box sets cost a lot of money. I would rather plop down 30 bucks for a 90 min feature than 60 for a series of 20min episodes. I bought the whole Street Fighter II V series and watch every episode from start to finish til 4am in the morning. I'll probably never watch it again even though I thought it was wonderful.
Thank goodness there was a Cowboy Beebop movie or I would have never caught the coolness of it at all. I never saw it on TCN and the movie summed up the characters perfectly. Another great film I can watch in one sitting.
Movies like Vampire Hunter D, Galaxy Train 999, Golgo 13 The Professional, Fist Of The North Star and Wicked City are pieces of the old school style of feature anime that is slowly being replaced be episodic tales. Maybe I should just make time right?! Well there's too much to keep up with now a days. I'm dying to check out Hellsing and .hack sign and shit, but no time. And if I make time I'll have to get through the whole series to fully enjoy it.
Tell me your feelings on this subject.
Full Version: Feature Length Anime VS. Episodic
I really like both, episodic are good because it is generally longer, though there have been some really good feature stuff and it is a lot less expensive like you said, so generally I do buy features (Robotech and Cowboy Bebop are exceptions) though I find myself liking episodic more.
This harkens back to one of my favorite quotes:
"You get one life and you have to choose really between the things you're going to put your time into and the things you're not." - Clive Barker
Try as you might, anything is going to require your time. Playing video games, reading books, watching television, or posting on message boards. You have to budget your time accordingly.
I'd love to be making comic books. I'd love to say, "I'm working on comics, but my time is limited", unfortunately that would be a lie. The investment of time I'd have to make to do a 22 page a month comic is the amount of time I spend at my bonehead retail job. I'd have to pull another eight hour shift after I get home, and honestly - I'd rather kick back or catch up on missing sleep.
I'm wasting my life. An episode or game at a time.
Well, it's not going anywhere but a hole in the ground anyhow. And so, this leads me back to the topic of discussion.
Looking at my anime collection, I'd have to say I prefer television series. I own more episodic shows than movies, and can only think of a handful of movies worth watching more than once.
In some cases, Fist of the North Star, the movies are just a condensed and consequently inferior version of a long running television series. The FotNS manga is so infinitely better than the movie, that I can't recommend it enough to fans. The FotNS movie is the Cliff's Notes to the TV series / mangas novel. So much is gleaned over in order to get 13+ episodes of the show to fit in a convenient 90 minute package that it's not even funny.
The few movies I can think of that I enjoy are things like Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro. No conspiracy theories here, it's purely coincidence that both of those examples are Ghibli.
Regarding mature content in anime. You're going to be hard pressed to find a show of any substance on Cartoon Network. It sounds like the stuff you're looking for is the late night stuff that airs in Japan. Shows like Berserk. Which I have yet to finish watching, but I can assure you is the best god damned example of anime in the last ten years. Cowboy Bebop can piss off, the glory pig that it is.
Perhaps it's the subject matter, themes, presentation, and such - but I absolutely adore the characters and story of Berserk. Which is something I don't think could be shortened from a 24-26 episode series, to a 90 minute movie without losing a lot in the translation.
Character depth is often the sacrifice for feature length animation.
It's also worth noting that anime seasons have gone from 22 minute 26 episode seasons, to 22 minute 13 episode seasons. Some are even 11 minute, or less, shorts that are played in a group with other shows.
If anything, episodic anime is getting easier to watch. The sprawling epics of FotNS and Slam Dunk have, almost, become a thing of the past.
My short answer? I like both to varying degrees.
WATCH AIR MASTER!
Peace,
G.A
"You get one life and you have to choose really between the things you're going to put your time into and the things you're not." - Clive Barker
Try as you might, anything is going to require your time. Playing video games, reading books, watching television, or posting on message boards. You have to budget your time accordingly.
I'd love to be making comic books. I'd love to say, "I'm working on comics, but my time is limited", unfortunately that would be a lie. The investment of time I'd have to make to do a 22 page a month comic is the amount of time I spend at my bonehead retail job. I'd have to pull another eight hour shift after I get home, and honestly - I'd rather kick back or catch up on missing sleep.
I'm wasting my life. An episode or game at a time.
Well, it's not going anywhere but a hole in the ground anyhow. And so, this leads me back to the topic of discussion.
Looking at my anime collection, I'd have to say I prefer television series. I own more episodic shows than movies, and can only think of a handful of movies worth watching more than once.
In some cases, Fist of the North Star, the movies are just a condensed and consequently inferior version of a long running television series. The FotNS manga is so infinitely better than the movie, that I can't recommend it enough to fans. The FotNS movie is the Cliff's Notes to the TV series / mangas novel. So much is gleaned over in order to get 13+ episodes of the show to fit in a convenient 90 minute package that it's not even funny.
The few movies I can think of that I enjoy are things like Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro. No conspiracy theories here, it's purely coincidence that both of those examples are Ghibli.
Regarding mature content in anime. You're going to be hard pressed to find a show of any substance on Cartoon Network. It sounds like the stuff you're looking for is the late night stuff that airs in Japan. Shows like Berserk. Which I have yet to finish watching, but I can assure you is the best god damned example of anime in the last ten years. Cowboy Bebop can piss off, the glory pig that it is.
Perhaps it's the subject matter, themes, presentation, and such - but I absolutely adore the characters and story of Berserk. Which is something I don't think could be shortened from a 24-26 episode series, to a 90 minute movie without losing a lot in the translation.
Character depth is often the sacrifice for feature length animation.
It's also worth noting that anime seasons have gone from 22 minute 26 episode seasons, to 22 minute 13 episode seasons. Some are even 11 minute, or less, shorts that are played in a group with other shows.
If anything, episodic anime is getting easier to watch. The sprawling epics of FotNS and Slam Dunk have, almost, become a thing of the past.
My short answer? I like both to varying degrees.
WATCH AIR MASTER!
Peace,
G.A
i like episodic when its not too long, maybe the usual 26 eps... so far the only long anime that ive enjoyed has been Gundam SEED.... but then again im also a big fan of OVA's which for the most part have longer episodic counterpart...
the movies i like have to be long (Spriggan, Princess mononoke(SP?)) or have them resolve or fill in gaps (animatrix... Char's Counterattack, Ninja ressurection) so like everyone else im into both... and one more thing i love inuyasha but they made it over 100 eps... the evil people...
the movies i like have to be long (Spriggan, Princess mononoke(SP?)) or have them resolve or fill in gaps (animatrix... Char's Counterattack, Ninja ressurection) so like everyone else im into both... and one more thing i love inuyasha but they made it over 100 eps... the evil people...
Speaking of FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, has anyone seen any of the episodes from the DVD series?!?! I've watched like 4 of them and it is fucking insane! This is where I can honestly say that the series is better than the movie. The movie WAS a cliff note of the original series as Ganesha said. Well, Ganesha, if you get a chance, check out the series. It is incredible! Every show ends with him doing a different technique. He'll say stuff like, "You have 30secs to live" and there will be a 30 second counter on the lower right of the screen! Crazy!!!
I guess if I didn't have a day job I would have more time for episodic anime. I remember back in the days I NEVER got into Robotech because I missed the first season and it was too hard to follow. Thank god for DVD! I still need more time though.
Ganesha, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!!! Even if you only have time to pencil ONE PAGE A NIGHT, DO IT!!!! Being creative is the greatest thing in the world. You have people that are happy working 9-5 jobs their whole life. These people wake up, drink coffee, read the paper, go to work, come home and do the same shit over and over again every day of their life and take one vacation a year. WHAT A WASTE OF FUCKING LIFE. But I also understand that everyone can't be creative. If you have the talent to draw comics, THEN FUCKING DO IT!!! There are tons of jobs out there for artists. When I was soul searching I started doing comics. Completed 2 comics and got half way through one which Magus and Sandman are begging me to finish because it's so funny. Oh and Ganesha, if you can't get in the comic biz, you could always become a storyboard artist for films and animation. Do you have a website with some of your art? I'd like to check it out!
PEACE
I guess if I didn't have a day job I would have more time for episodic anime. I remember back in the days I NEVER got into Robotech because I missed the first season and it was too hard to follow. Thank god for DVD! I still need more time though.
Ganesha, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!!! Even if you only have time to pencil ONE PAGE A NIGHT, DO IT!!!! Being creative is the greatest thing in the world. You have people that are happy working 9-5 jobs their whole life. These people wake up, drink coffee, read the paper, go to work, come home and do the same shit over and over again every day of their life and take one vacation a year. WHAT A WASTE OF FUCKING LIFE. But I also understand that everyone can't be creative. If you have the talent to draw comics, THEN FUCKING DO IT!!! There are tons of jobs out there for artists. When I was soul searching I started doing comics. Completed 2 comics and got half way through one which Magus and Sandman are begging me to finish because it's so funny. Oh and Ganesha, if you can't get in the comic biz, you could always become a storyboard artist for films and animation. Do you have a website with some of your art? I'd like to check it out!
PEACE
I'm being lazy, so I'll just post bandwidth piggy images instead of links. OINK! OINK!
An oldie, but goodie:
Shantae, the game sensation:
The Game Nintendo should make:
Re: FotNS TV. I opted out since Mangle cut the super awesome music, opening and closing animation from the show. FotNS is not the same without the super awesome 80's rock.
Mangle is prone to editing shows however they damned well please. It sickens me.
As for dreaming. . . I haven't stopped dreaming, but to put a spin on an old saying - "Dream in one hand, shit in the other. See which one gets full first."
I'll get around to doing something. I'm just not overly enthusiastic as it's not my ambition to work on one of those shithole American comics, which is incidentally, where the money is at if you want to make a living at comics in the US sans a day job.
Besides, I've always got Langston Hughes and Robert Frost for inspiration.
Peace,
G.A
An oldie, but goodie:
Shantae, the game sensation:
The Game Nintendo should make:
Re: FotNS TV. I opted out since Mangle cut the super awesome music, opening and closing animation from the show. FotNS is not the same without the super awesome 80's rock.
Mangle is prone to editing shows however they damned well please. It sickens me.
As for dreaming. . . I haven't stopped dreaming, but to put a spin on an old saying - "Dream in one hand, shit in the other. See which one gets full first."
I'll get around to doing something. I'm just not overly enthusiastic as it's not my ambition to work on one of those shithole American comics, which is incidentally, where the money is at if you want to make a living at comics in the US sans a day job.
Besides, I've always got Langston Hughes and Robert Frost for inspiration.
Peace,
G.A
That's some good shit man. Are you coloring with Photoshop? Very nice indeed!
Photoshop is what I know. 
Peace,
G.A
Peace,
G.A
I had no idea that First of the North Star was originally published on television. I wonder if I could get it on VCD, or off a FSing network?
Holy cow!
There's also a new FotNS OVA series coming out.
Just skimmed the first episode. Looks like it's not based on the manga, or if it is, it's based on later arcs - or re-tooled versions of the existing stories.
Peace,
G.A
There's also a new FotNS OVA series coming out.
Just skimmed the first episode. Looks like it's not based on the manga, or if it is, it's based on later arcs - or re-tooled versions of the existing stories.
Peace,
G.A
The original movie is based on the original manga in readers digest form. It takes the whole story and puts it together in one film. The first series is based on the manga except on a whole new level. It's more detailed and you get to see everyones stories. You also find out who the baddest mofo's are. Like for instance, in the movie, you don't know what happens inbetween the fight between Kenshiro and the huge Fat Guy (forget his name). In the series, you get to see all that happened inbetween. Some of the stuff is out of continuity. But it's a great series. Like 150 episodes or some shit. It's really tight though. Then there's the brand new series that just came out. I can't even begin to tell you about that one cuz I haven't seen it yet.
Voted both but truth be told there are few feature length animes that can hold a candle to series such as Berserk, Hellsing, Trigun, Bebop, Eva, FMP, Rahxephon, Samurai Deeper KYO, Zaion (4eps), R.O.D. (3eps), or even Lodoss Wars.
Ghibli films come close enough to be worth watching as does Ninja scroll (the movie) and even Spriggan but many of the movies (in the genre) are just watered down cut-ups of the series that spawned them.
Ultimately series just have more time for character development causing the viewer to empathize with the main characters more thus making the dramatic element that much more potent.
Looking at my collection you can clearly see that I prefer series to feature length films but I love it all and would never miss out on a film just because it's a film.
Currently up to disc 4 in the FotNS I think it left off at ep44 or so (into the second season but not quite the finale, I think there was 11eps per disc so far), you just can't help but love the 80s anime kung-fu action (except for that damn little girl yelling "Ken" every two seconds for the majority of the first season...I hate her).
Ghibli films come close enough to be worth watching as does Ninja scroll (the movie) and even Spriggan but many of the movies (in the genre) are just watered down cut-ups of the series that spawned them.
Ultimately series just have more time for character development causing the viewer to empathize with the main characters more thus making the dramatic element that much more potent.
Looking at my collection you can clearly see that I prefer series to feature length films but I love it all and would never miss out on a film just because it's a film.
Currently up to disc 4 in the FotNS I think it left off at ep44 or so (into the second season but not quite the finale, I think there was 11eps per disc so far), you just can't help but love the 80s anime kung-fu action (except for that damn little girl yelling "Ken" every two seconds for the majority of the first season...I hate her).
Rau is a bad motherfucker isn't he? He is still my favorite of all the characters.
I would like to add that I also don't like the animation used on series vs feature films. I think tv anime is 15fps versus 24fps for most high quality films.
while you are correct in saying the feature films do have better quality... i would highly... highly highly sugest Hellsing... (best anime ive seen period) im slightly biased toward it but still its the greatest anime (seriese ive ever seen). Vampire Hunter D is a good movie. (I hate .hack//sign, i watched it as much as possible trying to keep up with it and it made me wanna run in verticle circles around a room with no celing.)
If it is good I willl watch it. Most series really have different seasons or sections, so you can miss one but still start with a fresh storyline for the next season or story arc. Of course that is usually for anime upwards of 26 episodes.
There isn't alot of quality animated films because they take alot of time and you could easily pop out 2 or 3 seasons of a show instead of creating an epic movie. However some movies get it right. Anything by Studio Ghibli except Totoro because it is stupid. Also the guy who made Millenium Actress is supposed to be making new stuff Millenium actress si highly praised. Movies of a series are not technically movies. They are classified as Original Video Animations and most often condense the series into 3 or 4 hour long episodes. Like the Kenshin OVAs.
I prefer a series probably simply because it covers more ground. I would like to see more movies like Kill Bill because it covers alot of ground but is in essence two seperate pieces.
There isn't alot of quality animated films because they take alot of time and you could easily pop out 2 or 3 seasons of a show instead of creating an epic movie. However some movies get it right. Anything by Studio Ghibli except Totoro because it is stupid. Also the guy who made Millenium Actress is supposed to be making new stuff Millenium actress si highly praised. Movies of a series are not technically movies. They are classified as Original Video Animations and most often condense the series into 3 or 4 hour long episodes. Like the Kenshin OVAs.
I prefer a series probably simply because it covers more ground. I would like to see more movies like Kill Bill because it covers alot of ground but is in essence two seperate pieces.
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