Golden Deer Pub Community Forums

@Bakemono: Yes, there are subs from some crappy group that didn't bother translating the text. Seriously... I'd watch the episode without waiting. Umm, it's just fucking WEIRD.

@Umineko:

[spoiler]No, there's no signs of Natsuhi being sick.

Yeah, I think they did show the gold a little too fast without setting up that that the relatives don't believe there's gold. But, from my perspective, the relatives are on the fence and this is BOOM-PROOF it DOES exist. So, I don't think it's too far off the mark.

Yeah, I have no clue apart from what you said about Battler's connections here to this island except that his last name is U-whatsit.

As for the epitaph - PATIENCE! There's no reason yet for them to look at it just yet. In fact, I feel that these deaths are going to be the reason that they do pay attention to it suddenly. A "oh wait, isn't this like what was listed there... oh shit, what else is going to happen?! OMG WHAT IF THE NEXT LINE HAPPENS" stuff.

@Rosa: aww, that explains her freakouts on her daughter - yeah that could have been explained a little better - maybe will, though.

@Family/nitpicks - I think you are worried too much about the backstory scenes. They are probably going to fit them in in between scenarios and such, and there's some stuff you've mentioned that to me feels like "what's the point, I've got that message already, move on...." They sound like things I'd be interested in for a VN but not for an anime series.[/spoiler]

I'm not saying the anime is bad or anything; I know it's going to probably cover some of it eventually, much like it did with Higurashi (and the butchering of the plot it did there). However, Higurashi did better with the cast, but it did have only a third of it to deal with.

The thing is, some of the stuff that is cut is, as far as I know, only relevant to this arc. That's kind of a weird thing to remove. Like I said, though, the anime is still FINE and it works at conveying what needs to be conveyed. It's more of a question as to WHY what got removed got removed and they leave stupid things like "dur the gold is worth a lot."

[spoiler]Plus I feel like typing, though now I have food and shows to watch so I'm at a failure to care point.[/spoiler]

They'll do what they have to and I know all about pacing and what-not. It's not like I'm clueless to the whole thing. It'll eventually work out and, if it doesn't, I can play the VN since it's all translated.

ps, you may want to go fix your spoiler tag a few posts up.

Oh and Bakemongatari ... I have no idea. I'll give my impressions when the time comes.

^_^ I know, I just thought I needed to remind you since from reading your posts you seemed like you were getting over worried or frantic. XD

Haha, no. Just bored. Waiting for people to show up to repair our AC and busy bitching at a friend to start watching Umineko so I can yell at him about stuff.

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 eventually later today whenever I'm done with Burn Notice, Mythbusters, and playing tons of BlazBlue~~~

Edit: By the way, if it was anon that did the Bakemonogatari sub, it's terrible. Poor translation and they miss a lot of things (notably Nishio's wordplay and metahumor). It's probably of little wonder you were confused haha.

Incidentally, same guy did this as the author for Medaka Box and Death Note Another Note. Neat. </random>

Yeah, I watched the episode done by the other group (gg or whatever, can't remember) and it was a little/lot clearer and made more sense. I get it now.

Still, there are things that I still don't like about the anime, mainly the alternating quality.



We go in several areas from crappy animation to EXQUISITE.

And then there's CGI parts, like the flowers on Oshiro's shirt... which mysteriously do not move as he does o_O; Fushigi-ne....

The text, however, really didn't tell me anything that I hadn't already assumed.

The odd part is, nearly everyone else says how amazing the animation is (myself included). It's a style choice, nothing in the fault of the animators (they do the same with Zetsubo or Maria+Holic, for example). It's not as bad as Umineko (probably one of the worst animation jobs of the shows I follow) or Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (disappointing for BONES, though I don't think they're the primary animation studio). It's Shaft being Shaft.

[spoiler]Also, I think it's part of Shinbo's style, but I guess that's part of "Shaft being Shaft."

Also, whoawtf close-ups being better quality?!?!? Dur, that's been the trend forever. Sorry but that really was my first thought on seeing the screencaps there haha. Kind of a "no shit?" moment. There's plenty of anime that are infamous of this (i.e., pretty much every single one of them).[/spoiler]

And I assume you mean the qIIq (qq+II) fansub as gg isn't working on this. I haven't checked their subs (still waiting on Frostii~) so ... yeah. Can't be worse than anon's hackjob.

Edit: The left shot looks rougher, though it's the same image, just with more details on the close-up (beautiful though close-up, god I love HD). The lines are still there for her outline, for example. To be honest, there's no difference in the basic image between the two, outside of the better detail for the more close-up features.

EditAgain: I suppose it stands out more as it's 1080p so the details aren't lost in "lolblur." Shinbo also headed Tsukuyomi, Hidamari Sketch, Negima!?, Nanoha, Ef, and so-forth so I find it weird to point it out now when these things existed just as much in those shows.

<_< i think it looks shitty, but as usual, I'm in the minority about quality.

Pretty much. It isn't "the animation is bad" so much as "their style is bad." There is a difference. You didn't like Ef either so perhaps Shaft just doesn't work for you or something as these two series have practically identical animation styles, though Bakemongotari is obviously higher budget (probably highest budget of the entire season).

[spoiler]That said, I don't really spot faults with the animation. It's a little weak during talky-talky scenes from a distance (obviously) but they at least match the lipsync relatively well and keep the animation proper. It clashes a bit from the otherwise high quality close-up / detailed scenes surrounding them though. I really wouldn't call this a style choice so much as a "this is how scenes at a distance are done" kind of deal ... maybe I'm just used to this from always watching HD stuff. This is pretty normal for all anime (and hell, regular TV while we're at it).

Anyway, Hitagi reminds me of Hinagiku ... except slightly crazy. Therefore, this will be win. Epic levels of win.

...why do I like crazies.

Also, something about Koyomi reminds me of Minato (Persona 3).

Anyway, I can read fast and can usually spot frame skips and what-not but ... seriously, what the fuck at some of these text screens. If I have to pause to read some ... >>

Voice cast is superb; Chiwa Saito fits for Hitagi after her "look I'm fucking crazy" role as Louise in Gundam 00. Horie Yui as Tsubasa, who I assume gets a later arc (Tsubasa Cat, probably) and it's refreshing to hear her voice and no fucking UUU~UUU~UUU. Kamiya does a good job with Araragi as well so no complaints on him. SPINZAKU (Takahiro Sakurai) for Oshino made me laugh. I don't know why.

Nishino's humor is partially lost on some of the straight literal translations, but qIIq tried. It's not a bad sub. Looking forward to Frostii's version, which should be out by the end of the fucking year.

What confused you about the episode? I felt it relatively straightforward, though the Crab explanation a bit hard to grasp at the end.[/spoiler]

Bad animation would be Umineko (static faces, mouthflaps don't match*, poorly done expressions, and just outright looks outdated for 2009) but it is Studio DEEN and a low budget. They win points for Higurashi references (and even having Higurashi on in the background) though, unless that was in the source (I know the manga does it too).

*Made all the funnier when they have an INTENSE MOMENT OF ZOOOOOOM IN ... and the lipsync is off.

On another note, oh god yet another Umineko-only fansub group (Lambda-delta).

...wait, Lambdadelta...

[spoiler]But we don't even know if Miyo is in this!

Lambdadelta = λδ = 34 = 3 4 = Miyo.

God I hate you Ryukishi.[/spoiler]

The Anon subbers just did a fuck aweful job of translating. Yeah, it was the crab speech that confused the hell out of me, especially the way they translated it. Maybe I should also blame it on it being 2am in the morning when I watched. Seriously, I had thought "oh, she got attacked by a vampire, too." so when it came to the crab talk I was like "WTF are they talking about?!!" I get it now, she's not a vampire she's just... strange. XD

As for animation, I just think maybe this "art style" just annoys the hell out of me. What you seem to call art style to me looks like its just sloppy quick-work (and them putting a huge chuck of budget into needless CGI and cutting corners here and there). <_< I realize that not all can be as beautiful as close ups, but, I still think that if the character's face look like they are starting to turn into a blog, I just HAVE to say something. Meh, but you do realize that despite my protests about these things, that I do still continue to watch. I'll just keep it all inside. That being said, though, in terms of art style: I LOVE the colors and the strange camera angels.

What seems weird is that you're pointing it out here yet making it sound "unique" to this series. Nearly every series does this to some extent and it's especially noticeable in some Shaft works. Usually, it's done so non-close up shots are given less detail for the other shots to have more attention; higher budget is not infinite. This part isn't an art style and is just how animation work ... well, works.

I'd be hard pressed to find any series that does an "at a distance" talky scene without a degradation of quality. I suppose that's why I'm confused. It's something that always happens yet here it's a big deal?

Edit: To clarify, I get the "why does it look worse randomly?" thing. I just find seemingly holding it to this series alone weird. If it's a more general "consistent quality is better" than sure, that's logical; but attributing it alone to this is anime is a bit "wait, what?"

Oh well different strokes blahblahblah. I think the bigger question is, do I follow this series now or wait until it's over and all subbed ... the good subs are about a week after they air, though that may go down as less on-screen text to deal with (though doubtful, as I know there's a unique OP for every girl so ...). Sadness.

The irony of this after my "wtf cut story" at Umineko is not lost on me either~

[spoiler]The "crab" speech is a long winded explanation of Schrodinger's Cat.

...god damn cats.[/spoiler]

Oh well, I hear a lot of talk in regards to NisiOisin's story quality ("God of the Light Novel" ... really?) so I'm looking forward to how this shapes up story-wise. Shaft's fascination with flashing things and on-screen text aside, I'm glad that a good studio is doing the animation work here.

Edit: I should stop waking up so early and being on boards. I tend to type a lot and ramble pointlessly...