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AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 631 Review

| Friday, May 31, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 631 Review



O_o??!
O_o??!

The Four Hokages arrive to save the day, and apparently Sasuke stopped off at a bar along the way.

The Good

The Hokage Sentai Warriors arrive!!
The Hokage Sentai Warriors arrive!!

It's going to be easy to go through the positives of this week's chapter. The art was excellent. It had some amazing looking panels. We also were spared from listening to Emo-bito's incessant prattle. Well, that sums up The Good that came out of this week.

The Bad

This is my reaction to what NARUTO has become.
This is my reaction to what NARUTO has become.

Upon reading this chapter, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. With the two year long Shinobi World War finally concluding and answering every mystery of the series. Is Kishimoto's ultimate plan to endNARUTO with a competition for the title of Hokage? I'm pretty sure being wanted as an internationally wanted criminal, who gave comfort and aide to the Akatsuki, would disqualify one from Hokage. It wasn't even a week ago -- in story -- that he was dead set on destroying the Leaf Village, and now he wants to lead it? Why is it that so many of the Uchiha have the character motivation of a nine year-old looking for a popsicle?

Let's examine how preposterous the very concept appears. On one hand, you have Naruto Uzumaki. He's saved the village from Pain, and he's not only earned the admiration of the village but of the other four great nations. He's put his life on the very line this entire war to protect everyone. Then we have Sasuke, who's betrayed the village, murdered, and jumps in at the end of the war to suck up some of the glory for himself. To be fair, we really don't know for sure that the following arc will be a competition for Hokage. However, if it does turn out that way. It will be a face palm of epic proportions.

Verdict 2/5

While I rated last week a 1 out of 5, I decided to give this a 2 based mostly on the great art and complete lack of Obito. There is no fault in the visuals. Unless you're one who finds the very appearance of Sasuke offensive to the eyes. However, the way the story is going makes me worry about the very fate of this series.

About the Author

Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek. Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers / @FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 631 Review

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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/31/2013

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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/31/2013



Greetings, Anime Vice Community. The series ATTACK ON TITAN has been a theme of the week as Tom has not only been writing his regular episode reviews, but he and Sam posted VICE PIT on the subject.

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Alphabetical: HERE

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Wiki Style Guide: HERE

Wonderful Wikis

WANTED Wikis

Blog-o-sphere & Formidable Forums

  • AnimeBlog! June 2013: What I'm Watching by AURON570 HERE
  • Ani-Crap Review #21: Kampfer by Dream HERE
  • Henneko Ep. 1-6 Review by takashichea HERE
  • FUNimation's High School DxD dub cast by takashichea HERE
  • Naoki Urasawas Monster to be adapted to HBO by Guillermo Del Toro by KingOfAsh HERE
  • MOST EPIC ANIME/MANGA MOMENTS:CODE GEASS, SHIRLEY AND ROLO by katmic HERE

Anime AMV Showcase

Here's an AMV keeping with the ATTACK ON TITAN theme.

Remember, if you would like to submit something for the Spotlight. You can send me a PM, but please be sure to add "Spotlight" to the subject line. I can't stress how important that is because it might just be lost in my Inbox when I clear it. Even if you have worked on something yourself and are really proud of your work. Get to work, and make more content for the next Spotlight!! Jana!!

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/31/2013

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MAGI #20 - - Watch & Learn

| Thursday, May 30, 2013
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MAGI #20 - - Watch & Learn



My reflex was to make a Spin Doctors reference, due to the title, but
it’d be more * AHEM * appropriate to bend the allusion a little more and talk
about PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE TWO THRONES. That game concluded the PoP’s “Sands
of Time” trilogy back in ’05 and, wouldn’t you know, it also happened to
involve an dark, evil consciousness literally spreading over a fair prince’s skin as
it asserted dominance.

Though they’re striking, the comparisons basically end there. I’m
not going to act like acrobatic thieves and sinister sorcerers are unique to
any one Arabesque fantasy adventure. They’re all drawing from 1,001 ARABIAN
NIGHTS, as I’ve repeatedly asserted. Still, I played TWO THRONES back during
my last thick of serious gaming and I distinctly thought its story was
good enough to be dramatized in some other medium... so it’s nice to see that
wish more-or-less coming true here.

== TEASER ==

On a cattier note, it’s amusing to bring up a video game here, because
this last arc's starting with a very RPG-style inciting incident. The evil
Black Rukh has poisoned your friends! Now your adventuring party has to
conquer yet another dungeon to collect enough XP… * AHEM *… I mean, magoi to
save them!

Considering how the last Balbadd arc ended with a series-ending
sense of finality, the extension of this conflict seems so much like your
classic “the princess is another castle” tease. (I mean, they basically are
saying that, only swapping ‘castle’ for ‘dungeon’
).

To be honest, I’m getting a little impatient to get to the real ending
here. It’s not that I’m necessarily dying to see what happens next; I’m just
eager to wrap this business up. We’ve only got five episodes left, now. I might
just do a ‘chunk’ review and get ‘er done. Stay tuned.

Watch this episode, “The Two Princes" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







MAGI #20 - - Watch & Learn

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ATTACK ON TITAN #5 - - Watch & Learn

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ATTACK ON TITAN #5 - - Watch & Learn



NOTE FOR
ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION
: this write-up was done before the most recent Vice Pit episode
where Sam and I talked about ATTACK ON TITAN. Like I said I would last time, I
went ahead and watched this episode immediately after I finished the previous one. Little
did I know that such a significant twist was coming…

It’s clear now that people behind this show are just diabolically good about
misleading, confounding and otherwise manipulating audience expectations. They
lulled me into a false sense of safety with the first episode, then wrenched me
around with a legitimate surprise, and they’ve just done it all over again in only a few
episodes.

== TEASER ==

Seriously, the sucker punch of Eren’s death hits your gut that
much harder because he was poised in such a rousing cliffhanger last time. Our hero was going to seize his revenge, man!
He’d hopped right over to a high point of conflict! We were going some
righteous retribution dealt out over an episode-long duel!

I doubt it’s an accident that this plot ‘leapt without looking’ in the
same rapid, breathless fashion as the guardsmen’s high-speed pursuit across
town. The show probably isn’t making the sort of cruel, snarky comment on
enlistment as, say… the STARSHIP TROOPERS movie, but there is some significance
to the fact that Eren misses the one, crucial giant while he’s racing off in a
rage to avenge his fallen comrade. I wasn’t taking notes when the one sergeant listed
the strengths and weakness of the various guardsmen during that one training
exercise, but Eren’s breakdown probably should’ve mentioned how he was
passionate to a fault. There’s more to
keeping cool than just being unafraid to act, of course, and it’s an
all-too-fitting tragedy that this young hero would have the courage to rise to
the occasion on his first mission, but not the steeliness to stay aware of his
surroundings.

Wow… I’m breaking down the details because I’m still trying to make sense of what just happened. I sit here in disbelief!
ATTACK ON TITAN just axed its main character with its fifth episode! One of the
supporting characters might be the real protagonist here? Maybe? I’m scared to
predict anything, now...

Watch this episode, " First Battle - Battle of Trost" here and decide for yourself,
then read my write-up on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







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ATTACK ON TITAN #4 - - Watch & Learn

| Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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ATTACK ON TITAN #4 - - Watch & Learn



I’ll be the first to admit that I might throw around superlatives a
little too liberally in this column. When I get excited about an episode, I’m quick to say it’s ‘best’ this or the ‘most’ that. It’s tough not to get
swept up in the moment and, most likely, if I ever went back over such
comments, I might decide to rephrase them a little more modestly.

Bearing that in mind… this was one of the single most thrilling
cliffhangers ever.

Obviously, I’ve never been on any vengeful vendetta, nor in a
life-or-death situation anywhere close to what these guardsmen are dealing with. Still, I felt the most visceral connection to Eren during
this installments’ final moments. There’s a very precise mix of adrenaline,
confusion, awkwardness and strange focus that swirls through you when an opportunity suddenly
manifests after you've been wishing for it for years. Abstract ideas rapidly stumbled in breathing,
sweating realities. You realize you’ll really have to follow through on everything
you’ve said you’d do.

== TEASER ==

Eren’s been given opportunity after opportunity to evade this threat
with his honor intact, but he’s stubbornly insisted on going into the lion’s
den anyway. He’s sworn to kill these monsters and now the time has come to
make good on that oath. Most series don't get to that sort of conflict until their last episodes. This one just leaped into it.

The fact that such feelings can be evoked here makes me really believe
that ATTACK ON TITAN is going to make the kind of lasting impression everybody’s
hoping it’ll make. It’s still got 21 episodes left to screw everything
up, of course. Still, the fact that it’s been able to effectively stoke the flames of this
particular grudge match in such a short amount of time, and then leave me just
dying to see what happens… that alone is remarkable.

I think I’m going to go right ahead and open up the next episode. I'll follow Eren's example. No
waiting!

Watch this episode, "Night of the Graduation Ceremony - Humanity Rises
Again" here and decide for yourself, then read my write-up on the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







ATTACK ON TITAN #4 - - Watch & Learn

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Date :Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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ONE PIECE #597 - - Special Review

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ONE PIECE #597 - - Special Review



You’ve really got to wonder how many hours that omnipresent snow effect
slaps on top of each episode’s rendering time, don’t you? By design, it isn’t
supposed to be that noticeable. It’s just background noise (or foreground
noise, perhaps
), sure, but anybody who’s fiddled around with Photoshop or
After Effects can attest that a semi-translucent layer actually demands a fair
amount of processing power.

Now, imagine that power being demand, over and over
again, at 20 frames-per-second… and you get an idea of how much added hassle a
simple weather effect might demand.

== TEASER ==

This episode was pretty much entirely devoted to Luffy and Caesar’s
first throwdown. I don’t see much point in giving a blow-by-blow, but I did think
it’s amusing to recount the fight’s larger escalation...

Initially, it’s just a
prolonged “Dude, cut it out
moment as Luffy creeps out Punk Hazard’s biggest creep by giving him a bear
hug that he just won’t let up on.

Then, it turns into the most agro Tex Avery
slapstick bout, with Luffy perhaps being the first toon to ever make a
super-move out of holding’s one breath.

And finally, things get kind-of
terrifying as Caesar makes good on his gaseous threats and basically just
poisons all the good guys.

(Seriously, Luffy’s voice actress does some of her realest acting
yet when she goes through the various stages of choking and asphyxiation. That
part was… uncomfortable)
.

Actually, I was gearing up to wax a bit about how ONE PIECE seems to
get a pass on a lot of ‘rules’ of dramatic storytelling because of how
established it is, now. I was going to say how Luffy seems to rarely
every be losing, or in any threat of getting his ass kicked… and then he was promptly defeated by this sicko. Maybe ONE PIECE actually does still pay those rules their proper reverence?

Watch this episode, "An Intense Battle! Caesar Exercises His True Power!” here and decide
for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode here.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk







ONE PIECE #597 - - Special Review

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MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn

| Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn



Now, this makes up for so much. It might even be a series saver, for me.

Maybe it’s because I just watched a bunch of stupid MAURY videos on YouTube with some friends just recently, but MAGI couldn’t have morphed into a tawdry talk show at a better moment. After
an interminably-long, super-serious arc about the nature of power and betrayal,
there’s something so thrillingly cathartic about an entire
episode being devoted essentially to Sinbad's trial as a manwhore.

I’m sure there a plenty of uptight fans who found this episode
offensive - - a crass serving of filler that's interrupted their heroic adventure. Those fans need to lighten the hell up.

== TEASER ==

I don’t know if there’s anything more to say about this? The
entertainment value is so simple that any amount of analysis feels like its dampening
the fun. It’s like your health teacher making you explain why you "find video
games enjoyable" It’s just kind-of taking something and turning it… lame.

Seriously, do I really need to explain to anybody why 22 minutes of a
bunch of fantasy heroes pointing their fingers at one of their own over accusations of skankiness is absolutely hilarious? Do I?

No. I’m just leaving it there. See it for yourself.

Watch this episode, “The Name of the Culprit Is Sinbad"
here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode
here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn

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ATTACK ON TITAN Spoilers! -- THE VICE PIT

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ATTACK ON TITAN Spoilers! -- THE VICE PIT



Recent Vice Pit sessions on...

Recent sessions in Vice Pit: Undercover...

You can check out every episode of the Vice Pit here.

Be sure to submit questions and topics for a future Vice Pit session here. We will answer them!

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his . Visit his site - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk

Sam Weller is a writer and actor who's scribed for shows like FIRST EDITION, GEEK THERAPY, and most recentlyBATGIRL: SPOILED. He also really likes anime. To know what is going to happen next, follow@cravesam








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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013

| Monday, May 27, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013



Greetings, Anime Vice Community. Apologies for the lack of a spotlight last week. I had put off writing it until that Friday, but a bunch of particularly nasty storms came blowing through my area that day. I had to keep my computer off on concern of a blackout most of the day.

Tom and Sam posted some VICE PIT videos in the news, and Sam added a new Drunk Review of HUNTER X HUNTER. Alex Eckman-Lawn wrote a new editorial on the Top 5 Anime Detectives, and Rachel Heine wrote about ARATA THE LEGEND.

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Alphabetical: HERE

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Wiki Style Guide: HERE

Wonderful Wikis

We should give a round of applause to member Bigz007 for joining the 100K Wiki Points Club.

WANTED Wikis

Blog-o-sphere & Formidable Forums

  • FENG SHEN JI MANHWA REVIEW:BEST MANHWA??????? by katmic HERE
  • Winter 2012-13 Experiences: Trying Anime & Manga Recommendations by takashichea HERE
  • HUNGRY JOKER OVERALL SERIES REVIEW / THE FUTURE OF MANGA by katmic HERE
  • Toriko Episode 099 - Too Huge! by BurningLizard HERE
  • FUNimation's Dub Cast for Eureka 7 AO by takashichea HERE
  • Mushibugyo Ep. 1-7 Review by takashichea HERE
  • WHAT MAKES A GOOD MANGA/ANIME? by katmic HERE

Anime AMV Showcase

Here's an EVANGELION Rebuild AMV to enjoy over the weekend.

Remember, if you would like to submit something for the Spotlight. You can send me a PM, but please be sure to add "Spotlight" to the subject line. I can't stress how important that is because it might just be lost in my Inbox when I clear it.Even if you have worked on something yourself and are really proud of your work. Get to work, and make more content for the next Spotlight!! Jana!!

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013

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MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn

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MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn



Now, this makes up for so much. It might even be a series saver, for me.

Maybe it’s because I just watched a bunch of stupid MAURY videos on YouTube with some friends just recently, but MAGI couldn’t have morphed into a tawdry talk show at a better moment. After
an interminably-long, super-serious arc about the nature of power and betrayal,
there’s something so thrillingly cathartic about an entire
episode being devoted essentially to Sinbad's trial as a manwhore.

I’m sure there a plenty of uptight fans who found this episode
offensive - - a crass serving of filler that's interrupted their heroic adventure. Those fans need to lighten the hell up.

== TEASER ==

I don’t know if there’s anything more to say about this? The
entertainment value is so simple that any amount of analysis feels like its dampening
the fun. It’s like your health teacher making you explain why you "find video
games enjoyable" It’s just kind-of taking something and turning it… lame.

Seriously, do I really need to explain to anybody why 22 minutes of a
bunch of fantasy heroes pointing their fingers at one of their own over accusations of skankiness is absolutely hilarious? Do I?

No. I’m just leaving it there. See it for yourself.

Watch this episode, “The Name of the Culprit Is Sinbad"
here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode
here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








MAGI #19 - - Watch & Learn

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Anime Caption Contest! -- 5/23/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

| Sunday, May 26, 2013
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Anime Caption Contest! -- 5/23/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL



Welcome back to the Anime Vice Caption Contest! You know the drill; we have three new images that need some funny captions! See who won the previous contest below!

Here are the Rules

  • You can caption any or all of the images!
  • You can caption the same image more than once, but not in the same post!
  • You cannot double post! You must wait for someone else to post before you may post again! This makes it fair and stops spam.

The captions will be judged by the hosts of THE VICE PIT themselves; Tom Pinchuk and Sam Weller! The winners and their winning captions will be featured in the next Caption Contest post!

HELP! THE IMAGES WON'T INSERT CORRECTLY!

I've noticed some users don't always insert the images correctly in the comment section. To make sure you post the images properly, you should copy them from this post and paste them into the comment box, rather than upload the images again yourself. To do this, highlight some of the text below the images (try starting from "want to recommend") all the way up to some of the text above the images (try highlighting up to "fill in the captions!") and then right-click on that text and select "copy", go to the comment box, right-click inside that and select "paste" - then all you need to do is fill in the captions! Hope that helps, have fun!

Week #9 Winners

"WHAT DOES SHOGUN PINCHUK HAVE AGAINST US?!"
~ Daniel Newton
"Shoot, I can't be the white ranger."
~ Destinyheroknight
"I'm really not sure about how I feel about the school banning skirts."
~ SamJaz

Caption Contest #10

So, are you up to the challenge? Just copy the images into the comment box below and fill in the captions!

"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"
"Caption me!"

Want to recommend some images for the contest? Go to my profile and send them to me in a PM and I'll check them out.

Have fun and good luck!

About the Author

Daniel Newton is an Anime Vice moderator and occasional guest writer with a dangerous Wine Gum obsession. Follow his personal and community Twitter feeds: @Daniel_Newton and @AnimeVicers







Anime Caption Contest! -- 5/23/13 -- AV MOD MATERIAL

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GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn

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GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn



Now, I’ve actually been waiting for this sort of premise to get played
out in a show. For all the hot air I’ve blown out over deconstructionism and
the like, wouldn’t it be the greatest genre inversion to have your typical anime
killing machine getting stuck in a predicament where he can’t use
force to solve anything?

I’m about a third of the way into this show, now. It’d be easy to fall
into the trap of calling things too early. Still, I’ll put a wish out there and
hope that GARGANTIA actually goes ahead with something fearless
here. I’d love if it turns out that Ledo really has wiped out all the
bad guys, and the rest of this series is just about him and his mech learning
how to cope with more benign communication and relationship challenges. He’d be
the knife with nothing to cut, searching for a more benevolent reason for his existence.

== TEASER ==

The last time I used that whole “knife that doesn’t cut” phrase was
when I was reviewing CASSHERN SINS. It’s not too much of a stretch here,
honestly. Ledo’s basically another battle bot grappling with questions of
purpose; only his struggle with humanization doesn’t have the sort of pesky
qualifiers that’d come with him actually being synthetic. His conversation with Amy’s little brother is a rather bittersweet
distillation of all the lengthy philosophical dialogs in CASSHERN.

On the one
hand, the kid is so heartbreakingly naïve for not even comprehending how
anybody could see him as worthless. On the other hand, there’s something undeniably life-affirming to the way
he sort-of just shrugs off Ledo’s bleak worldview for the grumpiness it really
is. The gloom simply doesn’t apply to him.

Whether the show winds up becoming more conventional - - either with
the appearance of new Terran enemies or with the arrival of Ledo’ss alien foes
-
- I’ll prize this episode for having more Urobuchi-brand dialog that are
legitimately thought-provoking without the pretension that usually accompanies
the term.

Watch this episode, “The Flute of
Recollection" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013

| Saturday, May 25, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013



Greetings, Anime Vice Community. Apologies for the lack of a spotlight last week. I had put off writing it until that Friday, but a bunch of particularly nasty storms came blowing through my area that day. I had to keep my computer off on concern of a blackout most of the day.

Tom and Sam posted some VICE PIT videos in the news, and Sam added a new Drunk Review of HUNTER X HUNTER. Alex Eckman-Lawn wrote a new editorial on the Top 5 Anime Detectives, and Rachel Heine wrote about ARATA THE LEGEND.

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Alphabetical: HERE

Anime Vice Task Initiative: Wiki Style Guide: HERE

Wonderful Wikis

We should give a round of applause to member Bigz007 for joining the 100K Wiki Points Club.

WANTED Wikis

Blog-o-sphere & Formidable Forums

  • FENG SHEN JI MANHWA REVIEW:BEST MANHWA??????? by katmic HERE
  • Winter 2012-13 Experiences: Trying Anime & Manga Recommendations by takashichea HERE
  • HUNGRY JOKER OVERALL SERIES REVIEW / THE FUTURE OF MANGA by katmic HERE
  • Toriko Episode 099 - Too Huge! by BurningLizard HERE
  • FUNimation's Dub Cast for Eureka 7 AO by takashichea HERE
  • Mushibugyo Ep. 1-7 Review by takashichea HERE
  • WHAT MAKES A GOOD MANGA/ANIME? by katmic HERE

Anime AMV Showcase

Here's an EVANGELION Rebuild AMV to enjoy over the weekend.

Remember, if you would like to submit something for the Spotlight. You can send me a PM, but please be sure to add "Spotlight" to the subject line. I can't stress how important that is because it might just be lost in my Inbox when I clear it.Even if you have worked on something yourself and are really proud of your work. Get to work, and make more content for the next Spotlight!! Jana!!

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: Community Spotlight 5/24/2013

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Date :Saturday, May 25, 2013
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HUNTER X HUNTER EP 76-79 -- DRUNK ANIME REVIEW

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HUNTER X HUNTER EP 76-79 -- DRUNK ANIME REVIEW



CAUTION: In D.A.R. Sam Weller enjoys a few brews and reviews the latest DVD releases. He is over 21, will NOT be behind the wheel of a car, and encourages everyone to do the same no matter the circumstance. Enjoy your anime responsibly!

All you Vicers have been waiting for someone on staff to take a look at this show, so I decided to wash out the various tastes TORIKO left in my mouth and give this one a try. And after a great Vice Pit discussion with Tom about shonen shows and their merits I was looking forward to this one.

And I decided to enhance my excitement with my favorite pastime... booze.

After only a few episodes, I can see what the hype about HUNTER X HUNTER is about.

== TEASER ==
Wait, our show is getting coverage on Anime Vice?! WHOOAH
Wait, our show is getting coverage on Anime Vice?! WHOOAH

This is the beginning of a new arc for our heroes as Gon and Killua journey with their new bro-pal Kite to a near-forbidden country to investigate the deadly Chimera Ant that is slowly amassing an army of monsters. The queen ant's aim? To give birth to an even badder Big Bad that will surely threaten... blah, blah, blah. I'm already interested, don't worry.

One laaaaast caveat before I pontificate from my inebriated roost: I haven't watched, heard, or read ANYTHING else about this show before I started looking at these episodes. I checked out the wiki only after these 'eps' just to clarify some points.

We good? O-kay Doe-kay. *urrp*

THE DRINK

While I usually recommend a mixed-drink variety of drank to drunk (?) yourself, I've decided to do a CHEAP PLUG for the latest sketch I starred in (read: one liner). It features GAME OF THRONES and BEER. Don't worry, it's only fair. Listen closely at the end and you'll hear me plug the Vice Pit

So here's the beer I'm drinking right now as I write this article. The good ol' standby Shock Top but the seasonal brew version: Honeycrisp Apple Wheat! I just love apples. And apple pie... mmmmm...

ALRIGHT! Enough with the non-anime and the drinks. Onto the review!

THE GOOD

You had me at "Academic Penguin" speaks to "Bully Turtle"
You had me at "Academic Penguin" speaks to "Bully Turtle"

A great sign that this show would be good is in the opening animation. I saw guys that look like Perfect Cell, Devilman, even a cute cat-girl! Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come...

I like that our protagonists, Gon and Killua actually LOOK and BEHAVE like kids. In these episodes, they meet another hunter by the name of Kite. 'Hunters' are essentially just adventurers. Combinations of archeologists, explorers and martial artists - - except they don't hunt food this time around!

What a relief.

The world of HUNTER X HUNTER seems to be a very recent-feeling mirror of our's. People have smart phones and computers, and in general, the hunters' jobs are kind of practical. They are researchers and explorers and seem to get PAID by companies. It's a structure that really works and makes sense.

(Wow, that's the most cognizant I've ever sounded).

Also, every time I hear the name “Gon” I think of the dinosaur:

THE BAD

They put the PLUCK in plucky protagonists... but not much else so far...
They put the PLUCK in plucky protagonists... but not much else so far...

So even though this gives drunk, awful, absentee fathers an excuse not to raise their kids directly, Gon figures out that his recent adventures have been planned in advance by his father in order to "toughen him up." Or something like that. I liked that the metafffor - - ahem - - metaphorical search for a father figure was replaced with a literal one.

BUT... I didn't really learn much about the characters here besides "Gon is a really good kid" and "Hunters are generally kind of good." Hopefully more character dynamics emerge as I watch this stuff.

Finally, there’s a really apt allusion to Tom and I’s discussion recently about ONE PIECE, in which Gon is offered his father’s current whereabouts and he refuses. Can’t have the hunt end too early, you know! If that was going to be such a throwaway, why even mention it?

Also, while I found the building of the Chimera Ant's hive and power structure within incredibly interesting (TALKING ANIMALS, YOU GUYS) I think the beginnings of the hunters' search could have been spiced up a little more.

THE BLERGH

So far, Evil Suit-Wearing Koala is my front runner for villain of the year.
So far, Evil Suit-Wearing Koala is my front runner for villain of the year.

The Chimera Ant Queen and her followers are awesome monster designs that I would have LOVED as a kid. But the koala that spits poisonous booze at people (that drains them of their moisture?) is kind of disturbing. I'm looking forward to his fights because he really makes me want to... want to...

*BRRP* I think I'm done.

THE HANGOVER

As you could surmise from the, uh... size of my sections in this one, this is the first D.A.R. where the show brought the goods. I'm stuck to this show like the solid masses accumulating inside my liver.

While it isn't perfect, and leans a bit on setup in these episodes, I appreciated that nothing truly STUPID happens in this show. This is a very pure adventure concept, with no room so far it seems for fanservice, needless comedy, or the like.

And, as a result, it's a breath of fresh air in the shonen landscape.

"Magic and laughter and friendship and rain-boooows!"
"Magic and laughter and friendship and rain-boooows!"

Expect another one of these reviews in the future. My drunk cries could use a break from time to time.

So check the episodes out for yourself here and let me know what you thought about this new arc so far in the comments. I'll be catching up to the most recent run of episodes soon!

Sam Weller is a writer and actor who's scribed for shows like FIRST EDITION, GEEK THERAPY, and most recentlyBATGIRL: SPOILED. He also really likes anime. To know what is going to happen next, follow@cravesam








HUNTER X HUNTER EP 76-79 -- DRUNK ANIME REVIEW

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GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn

| Friday, May 24, 2013
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GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn



Now, I’ve actually been waiting for this sort of premise to get played
out in a show. For all the hot air I’ve blown out over deconstructionism and
the like, wouldn’t it be the greatest genre inversion to have your typical anime
killing machine getting stuck in a predicament where he can’t use
force to solve anything?

I’m about a third of the way into this show, now. It’d be easy to fall
into the trap of calling things too early. Still, I’ll put a wish out there and
hope that GARGANTIA actually goes ahead with something fearless
here. I’d love if it turns out that Ledo really has wiped out all the
bad guys, and the rest of this series is just about him and his mech learning
how to cope with more benign communication and relationship challenges. He’d be
the knife with nothing to cut, searching for a more benevolent reason for his existence.

== TEASER ==

The last time I used that whole “knife that doesn’t cut” phrase was
when I was reviewing CASSHERN SINS. It’s not too much of a stretch here,
honestly. Ledo’s basically another battle bot grappling with questions of
purpose; only his struggle with humanization doesn’t have the sort of pesky
qualifiers that’d come with him actually being synthetic. His conversation with Amy’s little brother is a rather bittersweet
distillation of all the lengthy philosophical dialogs in CASSHERN.

On the one
hand, the kid is so heartbreakingly naïve for not even comprehending how
anybody could see him as worthless. On the other hand, there’s something undeniably life-affirming to the way
he sort-of just shrugs off Ledo’s bleak worldview for the grumpiness it really
is. The gloom simply doesn’t apply to him.

Whether the show winds up becoming more conventional - - either with
the appearance of new Terran enemies or with the arrival of Ledo’ss alien foes
-
- I’ll prize this episode for having more Urobuchi-brand dialog that are
legitimately thought-provoking without the pretension that usually accompanies
the term.

Watch this episode, “The Flute of
Recollection" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








GARGANTIA #4 - - Watch & Learn

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Date :Friday, May 24, 2013
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GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn

| Thursday, May 23, 2013
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GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn



Again, I’m a little hesitant to attribute too much of this show’s
plotting to Urobuchi when there’s an entire writing staff contributing, but I've quickly come to associate the guy's name with shows that’ve clearly been crafted by somebody who’s consumed and scrutinized a ton of
stories…

MADOKA MAGICA felt like a concise, if Byzantine, tapestry tying
together the nooks in a hundred SAILOR MOON episodes. PSYCHO-PASS felt like a
scientific answer to explain the buddy formula of a thousand cop movies. Now,
GARGANTIA presents a very entertaining, and to-the-point, realization of your
typical battle thread question. How would one Gundam unit fair against some
roving marauders from FIST OF THE NORTH STAR? Well, it’d be a hilarious lopsided
duel, and the people involved here recognize that.

== TEASER ==

The fact that such a… thought experiment proves to be something
so tight, crisp and charming (instead of a boring, LODOSS WAR-like recitation
of rules
) is an impressive feat in itself. Actually, it’s doubly impressive considering that we’re three episodes
in, so far, and everybody has proven to be a laughable threat to our lead. The
pirate queen and her lobster mech gave him a bit of a fight, sure - - and she was
quite fun while she was putting up that fight,
too - - but Ledo’s
more-or-less invincible at the moment. The only conflict he’s got to struggle with,
right now, is how to better communicate with the nice people hosting him on
this barge.

And honestly, the “communications” about necessary force and the like
have proven to be just as fascinating as the mecha battles. If I were to
attribute another quality I’ve enjoyed about shows Urobuchi’s involved with (with
the exception of PHANTOM, though
), it’s that the intellectual conversations
feel like they’re coming from a place of practical experience instead of being vaporous, G.I.T.S.-like abstractions-unto-abstractions.

Ledo’s little dialog with Amy about
the fish they’re eating is a sharp example of that…

Watch this episode, “The
Villainous Empress" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn

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Date :Thursday, May 23, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: ONE PIECE Ch. 709 Review

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AV MOD MATERIAL: ONE PIECE Ch. 709 Review



The Dressrosa tournament has taken an unforeseen twist, and Franky is nearing closer to the goal of finding the SMILE factory.

The Good

Anything is possible!!
Anything is possible!!

For all of those who make the assumption that ONE PIECE is formulaic and predictable. I present to youONE PIECE Ch. 709, which proves the unthinkable can happen. I honestly surprised when I found myself supporting Bellamy, but Luffy has joined in the cheers. Don't jump to the conclusion that Luffy is just so innocent a protagonist that he can forgive anything. Even when he fought alongside Crocodile, he never trusted him.

I was with a lot of you who thought that Elizabello's legend of punching a fortress down with a single punch was some gimmick, but I like that it was everything they claimed. Legends are often based in some level of reality, and even fewer times they're exactly what people have said.

The Bad

The only real disappointing thing about this chapter is the outcome of Block B. I really would have liked Bellamy to pull this one out, but this Dressrosa Royal Rumble needs its heels. So far, Bartolomeo seems like a one-trick-pony. I'm sure his barriers are impressively strong, but I doubt they're going to be as effective now that people are aware of them. More so against someone like Luffy, who has both reach and armament haki. He'll probably be Luffy's opponent in the second round.

Verdict 4/5

Oda has once again shown an impressive talent in redeeming a former villain. While I'm disappointed that Bellamy has lost in the preliminaries, I very much doubt that Oda would revive this character only for him to disappear once more into darkness. He'll be sure to return soon enough, but will he be sided with or against Doflamingo? With Block B concluded, it's Luffy's turn next, and Don Chin Jao is after his life.

Just a heads up, but it was reported today that Oda has been hospitalized, due to a complication of tonsillitis. He's expected to make a full recovery, but he needs some rest. This means there will be an unscheduled two week break for ONE PIECE. Oda's series is due to return on the June 10th issue of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. We all send him our best.

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt








AV MOD MATERIAL: ONE PIECE Ch. 709 Review

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ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn

| Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn



At last! FULL METAL JACKET’s opening scene, reimagined through the lens
of alternate history fantasy anime! (They even got it right down to the same gag
with a foolish recruit getting punished for sneaking in a little snack from the
mess hall…
)

For the record, having been in a harness quite similar to this “Three-Dimensional
Maneuver Gear” myself, getting around in any sort of bungie-like is actually
much more treacherous than it looks. This show doesn’t get into how painful it
is for your “little giants,” but I went ahead and inferred an added level of.... conflict into every
scene where Eren’s struggling with this particular skill.

== TEASER ==

Speaking of which, this episode also reminded me a bit of SPACE
BROTHERS
- - a very solid show I never got to follow as much as I would’ve
liked. Obviously, the maneuvering is a lot like the training gear they make you
wear at Space Camp (thus bringing my connection to these crotch crankers
full-circle
), but I think I was more taken by their common use of a particular
trope. You know what I’m talking about. If an anime wants to show
characters reaching a particular, non-violent accomplishment, they’ll more
often show a still image of that act with vertical speed-lines over both sides
of the screen.

To be honest, I associate this with gags more often, so it maybe makes
the little victory a touch harder to take seriously. Eren realizing that, all
along, he’s actually been doing exceptionally well? Him perhaps sensing
that one of his meaner fellow recruits could have sabotaged him?
That’s all solid drama that’s rendered rather… humorous by this
particular storytelling, uh... flourish.

Why, it’s just like a hard-nosed drill instructor wanting you to keep a straight face when he’s betting on how good you are at sucking golf balls through
garden hoses, isn’t it?

Watch this episode, "A Dim Light in the Darkness of Despair - Humanity
Rises Again" here and decide for yourself, then read my write-up on the previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn

|
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ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn



At last! FULL METAL JACKET’s opening scene, reimagined through the lens
of alternate history fantasy anime! (They even got it right down to the same gag
with a foolish recruit getting punished for sneaking in a little snack from the
mess hall…
)

For the record, having been in a harness quite similar to this “Three-Dimensional
Maneuver Gear” myself, getting around in any sort of bungie-like is actually
much more treacherous than it looks. This show doesn’t get into how painful it
is for your “little giants,” but I went ahead and inferred an added level of.... conflict into every
scene where Eren’s struggling with this particular skill.

== TEASER ==

Speaking of which, this episode also reminded me a bit of SPACE
BROTHERS
- - a very solid show I never got to follow as much as I would’ve
liked. Obviously, the maneuvering is a lot like the training gear they make you
wear at Space Camp (thus bringing my connection to these crotch crankers
full-circle
), but I think I was more taken by their common use of a particular
trope. You know what I’m talking about. If an anime wants to show
characters reaching a particular, non-violent accomplishment, they’ll more
often show a still image of that act with vertical speed-lines over both sides
of the screen.

To be honest, I associate this with gags more often, so it maybe makes
the little victory a touch harder to take seriously. Eren realizing that, all
along, he’s actually been doing exceptionally well? Him perhaps sensing
that one of his meaner fellow recruits could have sabotaged him?
That’s all solid drama that’s rendered rather… humorous by this
particular storytelling, uh... flourish.

Why, it’s just like a hard-nosed drill instructor wanting you to keep a straight face when he’s betting on how good you are at sucking golf balls through
garden hoses, isn’t it?

Watch this episode, "A Dim Light in the Darkness of Despair - Humanity
Rises Again" here and decide for yourself, then read my write-up on the previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








ATTACK ON TITAN #3 - - Watch & Learn

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AV MOD MATERIAL: Ash Ketchum - - Character Spotlight

| Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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AV MOD MATERIAL: Ash Ketchum - - Character Spotlight



HalberdierV2 and Takashichea explore notable anime and manga characters from the 90's & 2000's.

Takashichea

Same old Ash and Pikachu
Same old Ash and Pikachu

Ash Ketchum is a well known character in Pokémon. A lot of folks stopped watching the show at the end of the Silver Conference in Johto where Misty, Brock, and Ash depart.

As you all know, Ash "resets" his character every region after that point. The purpose for Ash's reset is to hook in viewers (mostly children and teenagers), and to have a fresh adventure to show that he is still growing and learning despite him still looking like a 10 year-old. It is a little hard for the older generations to take Ash seriously when he takes out his Pokédex for a Pokémon he has already seen before (or the time he messes up in battle with type match-up and abilities he has seen before).

The show's theme is friendship, of course, and to suit that, Ash is constantly making new friends. His role after Hoenn is to journey with new people who are inexperienced and show them the beauty in the Pokémon world. In their adventures, they learn from each other. For example, May finds out her passion is to be a Pokémon Coordinator, instead of a trainer; Dawn learns new ways to show off her Pokemon in contests, and so on.

For me, Ash is unforgettable I don't hate POKEMON. I recommend it to people, young and old. I still watch it since I have a little brother who bugs me every Saturday morning about POKEMON BLACK & WHITE. Of course, whenever my old friends come across the show on Cartoon Network, they are shocked to see Ash and Pikachu doing the exact same thing like they did back in the old days...

HalberdierV2

Some of the younger ones are probably wondering why us older dudes give Ash so much flak. A lot of this stems from where arguably his best character development occurred - - the first three seasons of the show (Kanto, Orange Islands, and Johto). Those arcs all ran when POKEMON was at its highest popularity in the 90's and early 2000's.

Now, if you'll allow me to get business-y for a moment: Nintendo's higher-ups hadn't fully decided to make POKEMON a cash-in at that point. They were actually planning to make the show end after Johto, right when Ash parts ways with his partner (and crush?) Misty. However, they instead decided to carry the show onward, perpetually locking Ash in as a 10-year-old (even though, in the earlier seasons, it's implied that he's already been doing this Pokémon shindig for at least a year in Kanto).

Ash saying good-bye to Misty
Ash saying good-bye to Misty

Just like Taka, I also don't hate the series; even though the best moments ended for me after the epic Gary vs. Ash fight. Well, there was also the brand new Blaziken vs Charizard battle in Mt. Silver, and also some touching moments like Ash releasing his Butterfree and saying goodbye to Misty... but still, * SNIFF *, it was never as consistently good.

To be fair, the show probably wasn't designed to grow with its original watchers like other have. It still manages to make me look at it once in a while, though: usually when Ash enters a new region. Actually, with the group going to Unova's version of the Orange Isles soon, I think I might give this stalwart of my adolescence another watch.

That wraps up on Ash. Feel free to share your experiences with the dude in the red cap below! Also, we're doing another character spotlight from the 1990's next month. Could you recommend any notable characters from that period?

Follow us on Twitter: @HalberdierV2 and @Takashichea.








AV MOD MATERIAL: Ash Ketchum - - Character Spotlight

Posted by : Unknown
Date :Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn

|
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GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn



Again, I’m a little hesitant to attribute too much of this show’s
plotting to Urobuchi when there’s an entire writing staff contributing, but I've quickly come to associate the guy's name with shows that’ve clearly been crafted by somebody who’s consumed and scrutinized a ton of
stories…

MADOKA MAGICA felt like a concise, if Byzantine, tapestry tying
together the nooks in a hundred SAILOR MOON episodes. PSYCHO-PASS felt like a
scientific answer to explain the buddy formula of a thousand cop movies. Now,
GARGANTIA presents a very entertaining, and to-the-point, realization of your
typical battle thread question. How would one Gundam unit fair against some
roving marauders from FIST OF THE NORTH STAR? Well, it’d be a hilarious lopsided
duel, and the people involved here recognize that.

== TEASER ==

The fact that such a… thought experiment proves to be something
so tight, crisp and charming (instead of a boring, LODOSS WAR-like recitation
of rules
) is an impressive feat in itself. Actually, it’s doubly impressive considering that we’re three episodes
in, so far, and everybody has proven to be a laughable threat to our lead. The
pirate queen and her lobster mech gave him a bit of a fight, sure - - and she was
quite fun while she was putting up that fight,
too - - but Ledo’s
more-or-less invincible at the moment. The only conflict he’s got to struggle with,
right now, is how to better communicate with the nice people hosting him on
this barge.

And honestly, the “communications” about necessary force and the like
have proven to be just as fascinating as the mecha battles. If I were to
attribute another quality I’ve enjoyed about shows Urobuchi’s involved with (with
the exception of PHANTOM, though
), it’s that the intellectual conversations
feel like they’re coming from a place of practical experience instead of being vaporous, G.I.T.S.-like abstractions-unto-abstractions.

Ledo’s little dialog with Amy about
the fish they’re eating is a sharp example of that…

Watch this episode, “The
Villainous Empress" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the
previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number
of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - -
tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk








GARGANTIA #3 - - Watch & Learn

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