Lucky Star (Generic Discussion thread)

[NeoSam]

らき☆すた
Lucky☆Star

A moe~ anime :D

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5853/rakisutabc2.jpg

Official anime site:
http://www.lucky-ch.com/

I was really hoping for this to get an anime >.< moe~ moe~ :P

らき☆すた
Lucky☆Star

Broadcast: Spring 2007

Based on a 4-panel manga thats serialized in the bishoujo magazine Comptiq.
For now there are 4 volumes released of this manga.
Here are the covers:

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/6703/vol1iq8.jpg http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/9708/200505000116wu0.jpg http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/637/200604000037am2.jpg http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8315/200604000038sf8.jpg

Mangaka: YOSHIMIZU Kagami (美水かがみ)

Read about the manga here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_%E2%98%86_Star

The first 2 chapters of the manga have been scanlated by Eval Powar group:
http://www.manganews.net/seriesinfo.php?id=4885

Genre: Seinen, Comedy

[martino]

Looks interesting. Are there any ANN or AnimeNFO links yet???

[kj1980]

Rakisuta is one of my favorite manga right now as well. Kagami teramoesu~.

[NeoSam]

This is going to get released on 10/10/2006:

らき☆すた おきらくカーニバル
Lucky☆Star Okiraku Carnival

Does someone know what this is?

[relentlessflame]

This is going to get released on 10/10/2006:

らき☆すた おきらくカーニバル
Lucky☆Star Okiraku Carnival

Does someone know what this is?It's basically a fan book with all the coloured comics and pages plus a bunch of extras (including a pillowcase, etc.). There's a listing of the contents here (http://www.broweb.jp/shopping/ViewItemDetail.do?janCode=2006090100058).

[NeoSam]

Thanks :)

Wow that pillowcase looks great >.< I want it, I want it >.<

[NeoSam]

Some info about the male oriented magazine Comptiq :P

コンプティーク
Comptiq

Monthly bishoujo game magazine

Average age of readers: 20.5
Readers:
Males: 95%
Females: 5%

Circulation: 52,667

Sources: Kadokawa Shoten (http://www.kadokawa.co.jp), JMPA (http://www.j-magazine.or.jp/)

Also the moe~ moe~ girls can be seen here in a post by pKjd:
http://www.moetron.com/2006/09/20/lucky%E2%98%86star-anime-in-the-works/

[NeoSam]

ドラマCD らき☆すた
Drama CD Lucky☆Star

Released on: 24/8/2005

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9439/hcdhu4.jpg

らき☆すた vocal mini album
Lucky☆Star vocal mini album

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2768/vocalminialbumwp2.jpg

A Nintendo DS game called:
らき☆すた 萌えドリル
Lucky☆Star Moe Drill

http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/game/game/rakisuta/index.html

[Kensuke]

Character desings seems little odd, but even if this is just a slice-of-life anime, I'm somewhat interested.

[darkchibi07]

Hmmm, I noticed something intriguing in Matthew's blog:

http://matthew.animeblogger.net/archives/2006/10/05/thursday_notes_october_5.php

It said something about KyoAni is going to work on this. Anybody want to verify it? :D

[NeoSam]

:eek: That would be so great :D

But I can't find this mentioned anywhere >.<

It would be great if someone can verify this.

[Sister Princess]

[アニメ]美水かがみ「らき☆すた」アニメ化企画進行中！
> 監督：山本寛
> シリーズ構成：待田堂子
> キャラクターデザイン：堀口悠紀子
> アニメーション制作：京都アニメーション

噂は本当だった。京アニ、「Kanon」の次はこれですか。角川書店お抱えスタジオになってる なあ。

Direct copy from Moonphase diary entry 2006-10-06

[darkchibi07]

I say that's a good confirmation that Kyoto Animation is working on this next spring. :D

(unless Moonphase misinterpret the info....:uhoh: )

[NeoSam]

Yay Yay Yay :D high quality moe~ moe~ anime :D

[Kisuke06]

Wow, great news! We can wait a very good anime. :D

[Sushi-Y]

Kyoani for Lucky Star? :heh: That's like... slicing oranges with a chainsaw. :heh: I'm pretty sure Kyoani will turn anything it touches into gold, but a dialog centered 4-panel manga series...?

Still, imagining Kagami in animation is enough to get me excited. :heh:

And Yamamoto Yataka-san is finally getting his turn at directing, I'm sure he'll deliver the goods.

[NeoSam]

らき☆すた おきらくカーニバル
Lucky☆Star Okiraku Carnival

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8996/carnivalki2.jpg

What is this? well, read the posts above :P and you'll find out.

[Skane]

Kyoani for Lucky Star? :heh: That's like... slicing oranges with a chainsaw. :heh: I'm pretty sure Kyoani will turn anything it touches into gold, but a dialog centered 4-panel manga series...?

Still, imagining Kagami in animation is enough to get me excited. :heh:

And Yamamoto Yataka-san is finally getting his turn at directing, I'm sure he'll deliver the goods.

Maybe the artists want to take a break. :heh:

Heh.

[Vexx]

Looks very cute especially the character designs ... in the vein of AzuDa/Yotsubato ?
Does that style have a name? It isn't really chibi.... but I see it used when someone doing a "whatdahell" look or side glance in comics at times. Extremely cute/cartoony.

[Blue Reverie]

Interesting. I shall have to keep my eye on this. :)

[kj1980]

The moment I heard KyoAni is going to be doing RakiSuta, I was dumbfounded and in a state of shock.

But then again, this is KyoAni's first attempt in animating a 4koma manga, so I guess their choice understandable. Being able to do a 4koma is tougher than it sounds. Azumanga and Pani Poni pulled it off brilliantly, so I have yet to see how KyoAni will be able to handle this. If they can pull a great storyboard out of this, KyoAni will level up again.

Art style and quality, I'm not afraid of. I have high confidence that they will bring out the best shine for my beloved trio of Konata, Tsukasa and Kagami.

I wonder if they are going to keep the same seiyuu as in the dramaCD and the Nintento DS game though? Hirohashi Ryo's portrayal of Konata was brilliant, so I hope they all stay the same. Oh, and please animate Hinata from the Moe Drill game Hinata so I can hear Noto-tan's beautiful voice!!


Which reminds me...I'd better do an English wikipedia for RakiSuta.

[NeoSam]

Which reminds me...I'd better do an English wikipedia for RakiSuta.

Ahh there's already one here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_%E2%98%86_Star

[ImClueless]

While this is show sounds interesting and with KyoAni involvement means the anime is gonna be at least high quality, this also means no FMP! or Haruhi for next spring....Booooooo

[Vexx]

offtopic: I'm betting they're going to let the Haruhi merchandise run its cycle ... from a cynical business perspective there's no point to making more anime of Haruhi unless the merchandise sales are stellar... then there's the consumer hyperventilation factor...

I'm kind of interested to see a KyoAni take on 4 panel cartoony style comics... though it *is* possible they be expanding their team and this is the new team's project.... okay now I'm completely operating without data here...

[kj1980]

Ahh there's already one here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_%E2%98%86_Star

Yes, and I'm the one refining it with details. It's currently work-in-progress.

[NeoSam]

Yes, and I'm the one refining it with details. It's currently work-in-progress.

Great :) thanks for your work.

[darkchibi07]

I checked out some of the character profiles, and few of the girls are GAMERS? :twitch:

That's something you don't see everyday which heightens my anticipation! :heh:

[Daniel E.]

If this is anything like Azumanga Daioh, I am sooo getting on this train. :D :D

I checked out some of the character profiles, and few of the girls are GAMERS?

That's something you don't see everyday which heightens my anticipation!

Same here!! :)

[Sushi-Y]

I checked out some of the character profiles, and few of the girls are GAMERS? :twitch:

That's something you don't see everyday which heightens my anticipation! :heh:
Since this series is mainly published on mags read by otakus, don't be surprised to see a few (as in a lot) otaku references. Many of the main girls possess one otaku-trait or another (interests in anime, manga, video games, online games, light novels, doujinshis, etc.). There's even an otaku transfer student (Patricia). :heh:

If this is anything like Azumanga Daioh, I am sooo getting on this train. :D :D
Well, it's a slice-of-life type of manga featuring a group of (relatively ordinary) girls carrying about their (relatively ordinary) daily lives, similar to Azumanga. There's also no male characters (no romance elements), just like Azumanga.

In terms of contents, Lucky Star can range from normal daily issues to some more niche stuff only otakus will get. In general, it should be enjoyable for everyone though.

[Sheba]

Konata Izumi - Seiyū - Ryo Hirohashi



Yay the seiyu of Alice from Aria! I liked her in Aria series and wanted to hear more of her.

I also see Mai Nakahara AND Ai Shimizu in the voice cast. I swear I often see them together lol.

[Daniel E.]

Well, it's a slice-of-life type of manga featuring a group of (relatively ordinary) girls carrying about their (relatively ordinary) daily lives, similar to Azumanga. There's also no male characters (no romance elements), just like Azumanga.

In terms of contents, Lucky Star can range from normal daily issues to some more niche stuff only otakus will get. In general, it should be enjoyable for everyone though.

Thanks for the reply. :)

Guess I'll check some bits of the manga to start getting familiar with the characters. :D

[ZeusIrae]

I checked out some of the character profiles, and few of the girls are GAMERS? :twitch:

That's something you don't see everyday which heightens my anticipation! :heh:

Ohohoh..This promising.I like slice-of-life,I liek KyoAni and there's gamer.

What can go wrong?
I can already feel the hype.:eyespin:

[celcius]

I was already happy enough that RakiSuta gets animated.
But KyoAni handling it-!!

*happiness*
I'm already wishing Kanon ends already xD; (jk)

[kj1980]

I checked out some of the character profiles, and few of the girls are GAMERS? :twitch:

That's something you don't see everyday which heightens my anticipation! :heh:

Well one of them is. Konata regularly plays bishoujo and ero-games. Kagami is one of those tsukkomi & tsundere types who likes reading light novels. Tsukasa is your typical dojikko, and Miyuki is the big-breasted meganekko.

Looks very cute especially the character designs ... in the vein of AzuDa/Yotsubato ?
Does that style have a name? It isn't really chibi.... but I see it used when someone doing a "whatdahell" look or side glance in comics at times. Extremely cute/cartoony.

3~4 toushin (head to body ratio)? In many ways Konata can be puni though.

[Buterfliedreem]

Yay! Thats so moe!

[eggplant]

The cast for Lucky☆Star has been announced.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/25/casteh4.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=casteh4.jpg)

Cast/Anime Seiyuu (Drama CD, Game Seiyuu)

Izumi Konata: Hirano Aya (Hirohashi Ryou)
Hiiragi Tsukasa: Fukuhara Kaori (Nakahara Mai)
Hiiragi Kagami: Katou Emiri (Koshimizu Ami)
Kobayakawa Yutaka: Hasegawa Shizuka (Shimizu Ai)
Takara Miyuki: Endou Aya (Nakayama Erina)
Kuroi Nanako: Maeda Konomi (Asano Masumi)
Narumi Yui: Nishihara Saori (Saitou Chiwa)
Iwasaki Minami: Chihara Minori (Matsuki Miyu)
Patricia Martin: Sasaki Nozomi (Yukino Satsuki)
Tamura Hiyori: Shimizu Kaori (?)
Kogami Akira: Konno Hiromi (Nonaka Ai)
Miyakawa Hinata: ? (Noto Mamiko)
Miyakawa Hikage: ? (Tamura Yukari)
Takara Yukari: Kosuge Mami (?)
Izumi Soujirou: Hiramatsu Hirokazu (?)
Hiiragi Tadao: ? (?)
Minoru: Shiraishi Minoru (original anime character)

Hm, I am surprised about the substantial change in the seiyuu cast, considering this is a Kyoto Animation/Kadokawa title, and not a Star Child produced one.
I have to admit my first reaction was that the original cast has more clout, not to say that I'm not giving the young anime seiyuus a break, which a KyoAni title can provide.

Regarding the fact that the results of this reader poll to guess the Drama CD cast was more or less in line with the actual seiyuus, the change in the anime cast is drastic.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2528/touhyouze2.th.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=touhyouze2.jpg)

In any case, looking forward to the anime, slated for spring.

[Furudanuki]

The cast for Lucky☆Star has been announced.

Cast/Anime Seiyuu (Drama CD, Game Seiyuu)

Izumi Konata: Hirano Aya (Hirohashi Ryou)

<snipped>

Given Hirano-san's recent medical problems, are they still certain that she will be able to perform this role? I certainly want to see her continue her professional success and enjoy listening to her vocal talents, but I would hate to learn that it came at the expense of her health.

[Dagger]

Dammit! I like Hirohashi Ryou sooo much better than Hirano Aya. Why mess with a good thing? :frustrated:

[Vexx]

Given Hirano-san's recent medical problems, are they still certain that she will be able to perform this role? I certainly want to see her continue her professional success and enjoy listening to her vocal talents, but I would hate to learn that it came at the expense of her health.

I've seen some implicit noise that Hirano's illness has been overblown by the PR machine to increase the anxiety buzz amongst the fandom. Much as I like her though, I just prefer that anime productions use the VAs from the games or drama CDs if that is indeed the source material. I'm guessing the original VA had some schedule conflict.

[Sushi-Y]

The complete cast change is quite significant, and it's understandable that some people might be disappointed. After all, the drama cast had some big names in it. We'll see how much it matters once the anime's out.

But the Konata: Hirano Aya pairing is a little... blatant?
Given Hirano-san's recent medical problems, are they still certain that she will be able to perform this role? I certainly want to see her continue her professional success and enjoy listening to her vocal talents, but I would hate to learn that it came at the expense of her health.
Hopefully both her agency and herself have learned her limits when it comes to workload. Considering the amount of work she did this year, it's not surprising that her body gave out.

For now though, Aya's looking lively again, so things should be alright.

[Sheba]

Iwasaki Minami: Chihara Minori (Matsuki Miyu)


While my feelings are a tad mixed about the change of the voice cast, something just popped up in my mind:



Minami Iwasaki

* Birthday: September 12th
* Lives in: Tokyo Metro
* Blood Type: A
* Strong subjects: PE

Minami is a very quiet girl who does not show much emotions, hence why she is often mistaken for being cool, but she very kind at heart. She comes from a wealthy family, and her home is in the same neighborhood as Takara. She owns a very large white dog, and has a parasol in her yard. Minami was admitted to Ryōō Gakuen High School along with Yutaka who she met during the admissions exam and is also in her class; Minami is the class health officer. Afterwards, she helped Yutaka go to the nurse's office when she became sick. Once there, she gave Yutaka her handkerchief.



I just found it amusing, that's all.

[darkchibi07]

It's official! KyoAni is throwing in Haruhi Suzumiya in-jokes in the series! :heh:

[Kurogane_Shiroikaze]

While my feelings are a tad mixed about the change of the voice cast, something just popped up in my mind:



I just found it amusing, that's all.

Sakaki + Chiyo desu!

[Vexx]

It's official! KyoAni is throwing in Haruhi Suzumiya in-jokes in the series! :heh:

Hopefully that really was just a joke. Yuki is part of a long line of stoic characters and simply being quiet and apparently emotionless doesn't really qualify as an "injoke" (particularly when the character herself is that way in the manga). I've seen enough of the manga now to know this series *could* be part of the family that includes such classics as Ichigo Masimaru and Azumanga Daioh. The girls are "stereotypical" but with enough of their own quirks that people who call them cardboard cutouts are simply illuminating their own observational skills.... poorly. :)

[Julius Firefocht]

Like many posters here, I am quite surprised by the wholesale change of the seiyuu cast. More Hirano Aya and Minori Chihara is good, but when you think about it, you lose people like Mai Nakahara, Ai Shimizu, Ami Koshimizu, Masumi Asano, Yukino Satsuki, Mamiko Noto and Yukari Tamura. That list reads like a who's who of female anime seiyuus.

It is good that KyoAni is giving newer seiyuus a break, but IMO it would be better to keep a couple of big names around, and keep Hirano Aya and Minori Chihara at the same time.

Even then, I have faith in KyoAni, so lets see how it turns out.

Oh, and what illness was Hirano Aya suffering from? Overwork and stress?

[nadare]

Hirano Aya is suffering from both.

I think that She'll only have a hiatus on live performances and not on her seiyuu career(based on what i read at the suzumiya forum).

[Vexx]

Perusing my way through the 3rd volume now.... just a quirky little series, lots of minor smiles and chuckles.... Looking forward to the animated version now.

[kj1980]

For those Konata fans, you can download the Comptiq 23rd anniversary wallpaper here: http://www.comptiq.com/event/23anniversary/index.html

[Sushi-Y]

From MOON PHASE:

Anime character design was revealed on Newtype:
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/4519/20070106dqn7.jpg

It's not all that bad, besides Konata's hair color. :heh:

[Daisuke CP9]

Not bad at the anime art, though I expected more in Konata's hair XD

[MakubeX2]

Manage to flip through the manga. To me, this is a step down moe version of Azumanga.

Now I'm just waiting to see if KyoAni can make gold out of this.

[retardation]

there's probably things i should anticipate more.... but i'm excited about this for some reason.

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

And here's an HR scan of that previously posted image:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9866/1168421479968252029x260bv8.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1168421479968252029x260bv8.jpg)

[cyth]

I don't know if this is already a known fact, but MOON PHASE linked this news (http://anitama.com/bangumi_i/lucky_channel.html) today, announcing a late friday night radio show Lucky☆Channel (らっきー☆ちゃんねる) which is going to be held before the actual spring airing of Lucky☆Star TV anime series on Radio Kansai's Anitama every friday from 24:30 to 25:00. It's probably going to run until the anime starts. The radio show is taking mail letters on which they'll respond.

EDIT:

http://lantis-net.com/rakisuta/

Here's the first episode of it.

[Kaoru Chujo]

The cast for Lucky☆Star has been announced. Cast/Anime Seiyuu (Drama CD, Game Seiyuu)....I realize I'm late to the party here, but that seems like a big change to me, too. Koshimizu Ami, Nakahara Mai, Shimizu Ai, Asano Masumi, Matsuki Miyu, Noto Mamiko, Tamura Yukari, Saitou Chiwa. I've read that big names don't cost any more than small ones, but that sounds like an expensive line-up to me. (As well as being close to my dream team.) Scheduling names like that could be a problem, too, of course.

But a big yes to Hirano Aya, and also to Sasaki Nozomi. If you haven't seen Bokura ga Ita, you're in for a big surprise. Nozomi-chan has a voice as unique and wonderful as Saitou Chiwa's, though with less training. The most moe voice I know.

From the activity she portrays on her blog, it doesn't sound as if Hirano Aya is much weakened. As far as I can tell, she is cutting back drastically on public appearances, but going ahead full-bore with anime roles. And going to university at the same time. I've seen no info anywhere about what her trouble was. I expect just exhaustion, but she said it was something that needed treatment and that she will have to keep taking care of. Not to start a rumor, but an eating disorder could fit that bill.

The person adapting the comic is Machida Doko, who was also lead writer on Muteki Kanban Musume, and earlier scripted a number of episodes of Onegai My MNelody and one of Wolf's Rain. The director, Yamamoto Yutaka, directed episodes of AIR, FMP, SHnY, and Kanon, and did script work on SHnY, but this appears to be his first time in overall charge.

As for 4-koma-based anime, Hidamari Sketch is Shinbou doing it again.

[steelbound]

As Kanon gets closer to finishing I can't but help looking forward to this.



The director, Yamamoto Yutaka, directed episodes of AIR, FMP, SHnY, and Kanon, and did script work on SHnY, but this appears to be his first time in overall charge.

I was looking at this today. I couldn't help but think that the guy,Tatsuya Ishihara, who directed Kanon, Haruhi, and Air is busy working on Haruhi season 2.

[NeoSam]

So its starting in April :) I can't wait to see the possibly first highest quality anime based on a 4-panel manga >.<

[Vexx]

Just the thought is making my brain twitch.... 4 panel.... KyoAni effects.... good grief...

[Daniel E.]

Lol, 3 months without posting/looking in this thread.

Seems like someone forgot about this show for a little while. :innocent:

Still looking forward to this. :D :D

[Skane]

As I postulated earlier in this thread, Lucky Star may be KyoAni's way of taking a break. ;)

Cheers.

[FireChick]

Hmmmm....I think I might watch this! I hope it'll be hilarious and funny (Like Ed, Edd n Eddy). Tsukasa looks really cute! And I might be watching it mainly because my fav seiyuus are in it like Emiri Katou and Hiromi Konno.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Maybe you know Kyoto Animation isn't big on maintaining the original look and feel of their adapations as people seem to think. It seems to me they do whatever they think will make the series popular, such as replacing the audio drama cast with whoever is popular right now. When I saw the drama list didn't include any of Kyoto Animation's darlings and actually had people I like in it, I wondered how long it would take for them to replace every good voice actor with the trendiest people out there as I can see right through Kyoto Animations glossiness to the lack of any creative substance underneath.

This, lends credence to my theory that studios are going to be horribly abusing Aya Hirano's popularity in years to come (I mean its no wonder she's getting ill, I'd hate to be in her position). Not impressed with this company, they are honestly killing the medium for me. In fact I've hated them for the longest time for their blatant over-pandering to the desires of fans (I'm actually red with fury just thinking about how much I hate what Kyoto Animation is doing). Overeaching to fans kills creativity just as much as not caring about the fans does. I'm glad people here are starting to question things that studios do a bit more though, rather than automatically accept cast replacement simply based on the fact that the replacements are currently very popular, we have a healthy dose of skepticism from people (why people are surprised I'm not sure as Kyoto Animation is the ultimate do whatever is popular company in the industry, only topped by Capcom's habits in the video game realm). Well I hope people judge the series on its true merits (as it does look incredibly right down my alley, loli's and video games and whatnot), rather than by the fact that Kyoto Animation is doing it and Aya Hirano is in it (Two things likely to be mentioned at least 10000 times once its aired, one of the other main reasons I tend to dislike the presence of either of the two in a production as suddenly the thread no longer becomes Lucky Star, but Kyoto Animation produced show with Aya Hirano...Discuss. I think people know what I mean). I also have to wonder why Aya Hirano hasn't realized what a tool she's become for the industry (again I really pity her for being so overworked, she didn't ask for this).

And To Kyoto Animation wherever you may be, if you want my respect you have to earn it through creativity. I've seen creativity in the form of Sunrise and Bones and Kyoto Animation, you sir are no Studio Bones.

[FireChick]

I'm kinda getting the feeling that Lucky Star is gonna be like Azumanga Daioh for some reason. Or maybe that's just me?

[Kaioshin Sama]

I'm kinda getting the feeling that Lucky Star is gonna be like Azumanga Daioh for some reason. Or maybe that's just me?

I get a similiar vibe and wonder how much longer I will get to talk about the actual show, before the topics are flooded with posts like "OMG Aya Hirano is the best and Kyoani is teh pretty". I also pray to god that I'm just being overly paranoid and I can talk about this hilarious looking series with others when it airs. I always get this sense of forboding whenever either of the two are involved in anything, like all thats important to people is the fact that they are involved in some way.

I also resent the fact that Kyoto Animation seems to think that the series, as a look at the otaku industry of Japan, can't hold its own weight unless it has the latest and hippest voice actors playing the parts, so they have to fit them in to the cast. That's all I can pull out of this voice actor switch. Makes me, wonder how long its going to take for them to work Goto Yuko into the cast as well.

All in all it's a fairly insulting slap in the face to both me and the orchestrators of the base franchise.

[Vexx]

If one has read the manga Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star - there are a lot of similarities in the format (witty dialog between high school girls of a variety of personalities in different situations). So... yeah.

I'm a little concerned about the VA switch. I always like to hear new voices (rather than the same 4 or 5 voices repeatedly until I can't watch a series without advanced cross-contamination thoughts from other series). As much as I like Hirano or Gotou, for example, I don't want to hear them doing *every* single character in *every* series whether or not their voices fit the role. OTOH, I don't have any really preconceived notions about what these characters should sound like.... so the major problem will be if I hear character X and keep thinking "character from series Y".

American examples: "john wayne" and "clint eastwood" movies are great to watch... but the story is almost irrelevant to watching these guys perform their iconic/archetypal selves. I think that's a shame to some extent - I don't mind it on occasion but when it interferes with the story itself (recalls Leonard Nimoy doing a Sherlock Holmes play right after he had finished Original Star Trek .... lets just say the audience was full of Trekkies rather than fans of Sherlock Holmes who would have applauded even if Nimoy had bumbled all his lines).

KyoAni has great production values, but it does not mean they are incapable of screwing up.... <shrug> I don't see too much point in getting overwrought until we see the series in action. If it makes me laugh, it wins for me -- if I start making the faces 0.O o.O then the points will slide off.

[Chaos2Frozen]

As long as it works, and the show's good or better, I won't complain...

[Kaioshin Sama]

I would like to make a gentleman's bet with the people on this topic should they agree. I will bet that Aya Hirano does the opening to this show as a way to lure in extra viewers. If I am right, others must admit that Kyoto Animation is using her as a hook to draw extra viewers to this series. If I am wrong, I will not be allowed to say anything negative about this series during its run. Either way nobody wins or loses anything really, only the truth wins. So, how about it?

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

I would like to make a gentleman's bet with the people on this topic should they agree. I will bet that Aya Hirano does the opening to this show as a way to lure in extra viewers. If I am right, others must admit that Kyoto Animation is shamelessly pandering with this series. If I am wrong, I will not be allowed to say anything negative about this series during its run. Either way nobody wins or loses anything really, only the truth wins. So, how about it?

If you hate the series, why would you keep watching? Do you enjoy complaining about how a show is not to your taste?:twitch:

I'm sorry, but my "Ignore" list in animesuki forums is filled with people who made it their life's goal to troll an anime forum complaining about a series they really should have stopped watching eight episodes ago. If you are going to be like that, please inform me ahead of time so you can join that list.:(

[Kaioshin Sama]

If you hate the series, why would you keep watching? Do you enjoy complaining about how a show is not to your taste?:twitch:

I'm sorry, but my "Ignore" list in animesuki forums is filled with people who made it their life's goal to troll an anime forum complaining about a series they really should have stopped watching eight episodes ago. If you are going to be like that, please inform me ahead of time so you can join that list.:(

Dude it hasn't even aired yet, I'm speculating. Usually a series has to earn points with me for me to like it, so I always start off fairly skeptical. Its not enough that Kyoto Animation is doing it for me to declare it automatically good before its even aired, like it is with others. Since people don't ever allow me to say anything negative and it all has to be postive, I will be giving up my right to interpretation of the series including the good and the bad, which is a big deal to me, hence the sacrifice I would make should I lose the bet. I don't troll though, I say what I think, people just can't tell the difference for some reason, because they don't know that a critical perspective means highlighting the potential problems of something and where improvement can be made. If that's a problem go ahead and add me since you don't seem to like moderate or opposing opinions of shows, but keep in mind if I was trolling, I would have been moderated for it as this board has good moderators who don't allow for any shenanigans.

I assume your not in the bet than. I hope somebody takes me up.

You also don't seem to remember me. It's me the guy from the Haruhi forums who was initially extremely skeptical of the overwhelming popularity of the series. Intially I was unimpressed with it since it was nowhere near as good as others were claiming day in and day out, but I ended it up liking it very much in the end, though not to the degree others did. I now periodically check up on the translations of the novels and read a chapter when I have time.

[Vexx]

Hopefully that list doesn't include people who like a show but are able to see its shortcomings or are unhappy with certain aspects. I'd hate to read a forum where everyone just gushes about how wonderful it all is :) :) I know I've read some pretty amazing rants from Vallen over the last few years (here and on MT forums :) )

Kaioshin didn't say he hated the series, he hasn't formed an opinion, it hasn't aired yet. He is unhappy with the tendency lately to cast the *same* VAs over and over and over --- whether or not they may be the best choice for the role. That is an argument about the production team tension between art and profit -- and one I can say is quite suitable for discussion.

note: I don't know about "shameless pandering" :), if she does the OP tune - its just another hook to draw in viewers and new potential fans. For me, potential problems arise when a series becomes more about a VA or a particular director than about the story itself.

[Nightengale]

In some ways, I can see what the whole issue is about. It's much like Sunrise really. Some people are watching Sunrise animes waiting for it to turn into a trainwreck and laugh at it, ignoring the fact that Sunrise produced 2 good anime series alongside that one below-average Sunrise anime. And Kyoto Animation's rise to fame due to their apparent "faithfulness" and high production values due to low-episode count and one-anime-at-a-time-production has clearly appealed to those who wants eyecandy. It's not that they're a bad studio, it's just that they aren't GOD Animation either. They've been around for quite a while, but their track-record isn't long. I'm still waiting for an original studio animation by Kyoto Animation that should occur sometime in the future.

Likewise, my only interest in this anime so far is seeing how Kyoto Animation will deal with manga-adaptions, much less a 4-koma. I'm always interested in animation studio's virginal quest, even though 4-komas isn't wholely my cup of tea.

[Kaioshin Sama]

In some ways, I can see what the whole issue is about. It's much like Sunrise really. Some people are watching Sunrise animes waiting for it to turn into a trainwreck and laugh at it, ignoring the fact that Sunrise produced 2 good anime series alongside that one below-average Sunrise anime. And Kyoto Animation's rise to fame due to their apparent "faithfulness" and high production values due to low-episode count and one-anime-at-a-time-production has clearly appealed to those who wants eyecandy. It's not that they're a bad studio, it's just that they aren't GOD Animation either. They've been around for quite a while, but their track-record isn't long. I'm still waiting for an original studio animation by Kyoto Animation that should occur sometime in the future.

Likewise, my only interest in this anime so far is seeing how Kyoto Animation will deal with manga-adaptions, much less a 4-koma. I'm always interested in animation studio's virginal quest, even though 4-komas isn't wholely my cup of tea.

Well the fact that they will have to interpret a 4-Koma and will be required to add to it, could finally be their baptism of fire so to speak. Will they be able to rise to the challenge of actually writing a series and prove themselves once and for all or will they buckle under the challenge of having to do something other than animate a series that's already been written for them. Like I've said before, I see there faithfullness to original scripts as a weakness/crutch rather than a strength.It shows a lack of creativity, and its also seems to be the reason why Kyoto Animation can continue to afford high quality animation in its series. Thus, Kyoto Animation's entire credibility as a creatively competive studio for the next little while, rests on this series success.

Oh and just try hard to ignore the people who think its clever to expect each Sunrise series to trainwreck because one series failed as a result of everything under the sun going wrong at once and lack of trust in the production staff. The people who expect these trainwrecks, obviously aren't familiar with Sunrises catalogue and history of innovation (As far as I can tell they think Sunrise was founded in 2002 or something) stretching back into the mid 70's at least. When you define a genre time and time again it tends to balance out one failure.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Dude it hasn't even aired yet, I'm speculating. Usually a series has to earn points with me for me to like it, so I always start off fairly skeptical. Its not enough that Kyoto Animation is doing it for me to declare it automatically good before its even aired, like it is with others. Since people don't ever allow me to say anything negative and it all has to be postive, I will be giving up my right to interpretation of the series including the good and the bad, which is a big deal to me, hence the sacrifice I would make should I lose the bet. I don't troll though, I say what I think, people just can't tell the difference for some reason, because they don't know that a critical perspective means highlighting the potential problems of something and where improvement can be made. If that's a problem go ahead and add me since you don't seem to like moderate or opposing opinions of shows, but keep in mind if I was trolling, I would have been moderated for it as this board has good moderators who don't allow for any shenanigans.

I assume your not in the bet than. I hope somebody takes me up.

You also don't seem to remember me. It's me the guy from the Haruhi forums who was initially extremely skeptical of the overwhelming popularity of the series. Intially I was unimpressed with it since it was nowhere near as good as others were claiming day in and day out, but I ended it up liking it very much in the end, though not to the degree others did. I now periodically check up on the translations of the novels and read a chapter when I have time.

Please, don't take it as an insult; I am just allergic to people who watch anime they hate just so they can say how much worse it is compared to last week. My philosophy is "if it makes my eyes bleed, I stop watching".

As for that thing with Haruhi? Yes, i remember you. And no, that's not important. People can like or dislike any show they want, and people become Haruhiists only if they truly believe in it. The line I highlighted on your quote in the last reply I made was the only thing I have an issue with. And it was really only because it brought back bad memories. As I said, this isn't anything against you.

Anyway, onto a different line of thought...

Am I the ONLY person who believe Kyoto Animation doesn't need to make an Original Animation?
Why is it so important? The majority of anime on the market had been, is, and likely always will be adaptations. And so many good source material gets butchered by bad adaptions that most of us once believed it was inevitable.

KyoAni had proved us wrong. It IS possible to be faithful to the original while having a good product at the end. And thus far, that has been their strength. Close cooperation with original authors and an eye for detail had served them well thus far, so why risking it all doing something else?

(As a reverse example, Gainax was made famous by their good Original Animations. Their anime adaptations tend to have production difficulties because they don't get along with the original authors. In their case, I prefer if they just make Original Animations only, and preferably be as controversial as possible while they are at it. Each to their own strength, I say.)

[Kaioshin Sama]

Please, don't take it as an insult; I am just allergic to people who watch anime they hate just so they can say how much worse it is compared to last week. My philosophy is "if it makes my eyes bleed, I stop watching".

As for that thing with Haruhi? Yes, i remember you. And no, that's not important. People can like or dislike any show they want, and people become Haruhiists only if they truly believe in it. The line I highlighted on your quote in the last reply I made was the only thing I have an issue with. And it was really only because it brought back bad memories.

Anyway, onto a different line of thought...

Am I the ONLY person who believe Kyoto Animation doesn't need to make an Original Animation?
Why is it so important? The majority of anime on the market had been, is, and likely always will be adaptations. And so many good source material gets butchered by bad adaptions that most of us once believed it was inevitable.

KyoAni had proved us wrong. It IS possible to be faithful to the original while having a good product at the end. And thus far, that has been their strength. Close cooperation with original authors and an eye for detail had served them well thus far, so why risking it all doing something else?

You are exactly right a "GOOD" product, is what you get with a good adaptation. Well we've got an all-star cast of posters now, so I'm not really worried at all. We will be discussing this show after all without the threat of fanboyism. I think I'll be changing my Avatar to read something different now. Thanks for helping me restore my faith even though you didn't even intend to in the first place, you have done it.

[Nightengale]

Am I the ONLY person who believe Kyoto Animation doesn't need to make an Original Animation?

As I like to put it...Who Dares, Wins. Just because they've found their niche at being good novel adaptors doesn't mean they can't venture out. It's fun to expect the unexpected....and seeing myriads of fake spoilers. :P

In a way, technically the same argument can probably hold true for Sunrise and Madhouse. Madhouse has proven time and time that their manga adaptions are respectable and worthy adaptions, even to extents of it being better than their source material, due to extra executions made possible by animation while Sunrise too had proven that they're good at light shounen adaptions and rewritings, also made it's point by their overall improvement of Yakitate Japan by improving the pacing, the puns and the writing in the last quarter of the show, Keroro because Sunrise loves Gundam, Gintama by being...Gintama, and recently Kekkaishi by cut-and-pasting/rewriting/repace/reanimate/lenghten episodic chapters so that they flow better than their chapterish episodic manga counterpart. Well, Inuyasha wasn't very good, but I can't blame them. Inuyasha shows few signs of ending, but more recently though. But even so, they have their fair share of original animations and other works too. In a perfect world, Kyoto Animation would be animating every light novel in existence, but we're not in a perfect world and we'd have to settle with what that can be done.

Nobody's asking Kyoto Animation to stop doing what they're excelling at. That's dumb. It's like asking Sunrise to stop making Gundam. It's just that it's interesting to see people try something different.

[Skane]

But KyoAni has been branching out. :heh:

The problem here is that they are 'only' producing one anime series at a time. So the speed of them diversifying is rather... glacier. I often compare KyoAni to Blizzard as a metaphor, as both companies share a similar policy of one product at a time, both insist on high-calibre production values, and are both relatively new to their respective worlds.

Just as KyoAni's current claim to fame lies in its' ability to adapt light-novels, Blizzard's claim to fame lies in its' RTS-genre games. Both are trying to branch out in varying degrees. Blizzard had tried to make an Adventure game but that got cancelled in favour of WC3, which subsequently led to their first true genre-deviation in a grand way. A MMORPG, known to many as World of Warcraft(WoW), now currently ranked as the most populated MMORPG ever.

Blizzard is also trying to create a FPS. The infamous Starcraft:Ghost. If it ever gets completed, it will be a nice test of whether Blizzard can compete in even more genres.

So we come back to KyoAni. Let's see...

FMP!Fumoffu!, Air(TV), FMP!TSR, SHnY, and now Kanon(2006), with Lucky Star in the near future. We will ignore their other anime-productions, since those were joint efforts.

Considering that we only have... six anime series to draw conclusions upon, I think it is a little too early to dismiss KyoAni as an one-trick pony. What do you want them to do? A different genre every time? That would be ridiculous.

It would be nice to see an original production from KyoAni in the future of course, but we need to be realistic here as well.

Lance Armstrong is God-like in cycling, but does that mean we need him to be Godly in other sports as well before we start to respect him? It would be a nice bonus and grant him much more kudos, but should we deny him his due respect just because of his speciality?

Cheers.

[Kaioshin Sama]

But KyoAni has been branching out. :heh:

The problem here is that they are 'only' producing one anime series at a time. So the speed of them diversifying is rather... glacier. I often compare KyoAni to Blizzard as a metaphor, as both companies share a similar policy of one product at a time, both insist on high-calibre production values, and are both relatively new to their respective worlds.

Just as KyoAni's current claim to fame lies in its' ability to adapt light-novels, Blizzard's claim to fame lies in its' RTS-genre games. Both are trying to branch out in varying degrees. Blizzard had tried to make an Adventure game but that got cancelled in favour of WC3, which subsequently led to their first true genre-deviation in a grand way. A MMORPG, known to many as World of Warcraft(WoW), now currently ranked as the most populated MMORPG ever.

Blizzard is also trying to create a FPS. The infamous Starcraft:Ghost. If it ever gets completed, it will be a nice test of whether Blizzard can compete in even more genres.

So we come back to KyoAni. Let's see...

FMP!Fumoffu!, Air(TV), FMP!TSR, SHnY, and now Kanon(2006), with Lucky Star in the near future. We will ignore their other anime-productions, since those were joint efforts.

Considering that we only have... six anime series to draw conclusions upon, I think it is a little too early to dismiss KyoAni as an one-trick pony. What do you want them to do? A different genre every time? That would be ridiculous.

It would be nice to see an original production from KyoAni in the future of course, but we need to be realistic here as well.

Lance Armstrong is God-like in cycling, but does that mean we need him to be Godly in other sports as well before we start to respect him? It would be a nice bonus and grant him much more kudos, but should we deny him his due respect just because of his speciality?

Cheers.

It mostly seems to me that they are trying way to hard at the moment to recreate the Haruhi buzz and they figure if they can get as much of the cast back together they can do that. Ultimately its a lack of confidence I didn't want to see. Not only that, there's more idols in this series than I have ever seen in any anime ever, including Lovedol. I haven't had a chance to research just how popular they are and what kind of a draw they would have, but I'd assume a fair bit.

But, My biggest objection to the company is the artificial god status they have attained because of their lucky break with Haruhi. After they did that, Kanon came along, which you know is a good series that can stand alone, but so much of the focus is on the fact that Kyoto Animation happens to be doing the 2006 version. It's always like, "What is Kyoani going to do next, are they going to do Haruhi references with Lucky Star. Oooooh Squeal!" And I feel like saying you know just because Aya Hirano happened to do the voice of Haruhi (The most legendary thing ever to happen in the history of the universe by the way, in case people didn't know) doesn't mean that the character she's is playing Haruhi (I'll tell everybody right now I've read the character data and she's not even remotely like Haruhi).

It's just gotten so irritating lately to see these blind followers of a company, who don't even know why they like the series the company does, but they'll follow them off a cliff if need be (not saying its ever going to happen of course) because they produced the Haruhi anime. I used to think it wasn't the companies fault and it was the fans, but now that they seem to be taking advantage of it, I don't know. The biggest kicker is the VA of Yuki returning, a person who's not even particularly good at her job and is just a random idol who lucked into the spot,replacing the original strikes me as bizzare to say the least.

Right now things are quiet calm and reasonable on this thread and its still about Lucky Star the video game parodying 4Koma, but once it airs its likely to become utter chaos. You'll have people coming in out of the blue who don't even know what Lucky Star is, but they'll be hear to check the latest Kyoto Animation series with "Haruhi" in it. It'll be all about how Aya Hirano nailed her latest part and how Izumi is the best character and how deep she is, (never mind that its next to impossible for a character in a 4Koma to be deep, but it will come up at some point) nobody else can compare blablabla, and people will misinterpet the characters and insert Haruhi jokes and it will just be mentally exhausting for me and a few other people I know here. Basically expect the thread to look something like this. (http://anime.miao.us/archives/2006/10/19/942/) I don't know how Skane can even stand posting on this blog. As far as I can tell its the pinnacle of everything I've just discussed up until now. I can't tell if its something like Colbert Nation or if its actually serious.

Anyway, if none of this happens I will personally eat my hat that I'm not wearing, because the joy of being able to discuss the anime properly will numb the horrible indigestion in my stomach. This series looks like so much fun and I already feel like any chance I have of enjoying it on the same level as everybody else (The would have been comedy and video game centric or Content level, intead of the Voice Actor and Studio level) is gone now thanks to these changes and the production studio.

[Vexx]

Probably ought to start boiling that hat and add some ginger.... I'd say the odds are 100% at least *someone* will be all about the Hirano rather than "is the adaptation from 4-panel to animation true to the spirit of the comic?" :)

[Kaioshin Sama]

Probably ought to start boiling that hat and add some ginger.... I'd say the odds are 100% at least *someone* will be all about the Hirano rather than "is the adaptation from 4-panel to animation true to the spirit of the comic?" :)

Hahaha, yes you are right. I have someone in mind, but one person isn't enough to kill a thread. It's when the entire thread reaches that point (roughly an hour after the first sub gets released) that things will deteriorate. Just check out that link in my previous post, if you want to know the horror I am picturing.

The blog post starts of with a harmless, Skane (that's you bro) says Kyoto's next project is.... Discuss, and wow!!!! So then as I'm reading its basically :( :( :( :mad: :mad: :frustrated:

[Daniel E.]

I don't know how Skane can even stand posting on this blog. As far as I can tell its the pinnacle of everything I've just discussed up until now. I can't tell if its something like Colbert Nation or if its actually serious

Does anybody actually takes that blog site seriously?

I love to read it, but I do so just to get a laugh at the jokes Jason makes. :heh:

Anyway, I have never cared much about voice actors; I am grateful for their work in anime , but that's as far as my love for them goes. So, I am cool either way the thread goes in the end. :)

EDIT:

Finally got around to see some bits of the manga and sadly, I didn't find it very funny. :(

Still willing to give the anime a try though. :)

[FireChick]

Kaioshin-Sama? Don't you think you're going a teeeeensy bit overboard with this? I'm not being mean but I think that even though you think Kyoto Animation abuses popularity, they're just doing what's best for anime. Heck, they did a good job with Suzumiya Haruhi (even though I've never watched that). Don't you think you should give KyoAni a chance? I mean, I'm already liking Lucky Star not because Kyoto Animation is doing it (kinda but still) but I just think the characters look really cute and I'm hoping it will be a children's show like Azumanga Daioh (never watched that but my friend did until she lost The Anime Network).

[Sai the Dreamer]

Kaioshin: Please make a justified basis for your opinions. Many of the seiyuu from TMoHS were made popular because of TMoHS, and as such it isn't unreasonable to say: a) they're very good, and b) the characters they portrayed sound quite similar to those they'll be voicing for Lucky Star. On top of that, going along with Wiki, there's over 20 characters in Lucky Star, and only two of them are voiced by Aya and Minori.

Um... oops, off-topic. :heh: I'm looking forward to this because I want to see how Kyoani goes with a plotless comic. They've pretty much covered everything else by now.

[WanderingKnight]

Kaioshin, you'll find idiots everywhere. Accept that. Even in the most top-notch series with an extremely niche fandom target, you'll find idiots in it. Of course, the more the popularity of the show, the more idiots you're bound to find. That doesn't make KyoAni bad. In fact, you should consider it a bit strange that you can't enjoy a show without any kind of contact with its fandom. Not liking something because of the people who like it seems kind of strange to me.

Besides, who needs a reason to justify his/her likings? There are so many shows I love I have no idea why (the closest example is ARIA, a show where absolutely nothing at all happens, and even so I can't stop myself from enjoying it). Trying to justify objectively what one likes doesn't make one a good fan, it makes one an extremist bastard. The idiots that liked Kanon 2006 only because KyoAni had a hand in it don't need a reason to like it. KyoAni is their reason enough, and it'd be stupid for me to refrain myself from liking Kanon (a show I haven't seen yet) just because I'm bothered by those idiots. And I'd have a harder time if I didn't like Kanon, and tried to force it through their heads. And it would also be stupid, without mentioning the waste of time. If they enjoy it, let them enjoy it, tastes aren't universal anyways.

Well, back on topic, I find Hirano Aya to be one hell of a seiyuu, and most of times for me a seiyuu can determine whether I like or not a particular character (it's the reason behind my complete WORSHIP of Miu Matsuoka from Ichigo Mashimaro, to name an example). I'm puzzled about how KyoAni will develop this, and if they're going for an AzuDai-type of approach. If they're doing the latter, I'll support them all the way.

PS: Oh, and I've been handed the responsibility of translating the manga in my scanlation group, so one more reason for me to watch it.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Kaioshin: Please make a justified basis for your opinions. Many of the seiyuu from TMoHS were made popular because of TMoHS, and as such it isn't unreasonable to say: a) they're very good, and b) the characters they portrayed sound quite similar to those they'll be voicing for Lucky Star. On top of that, going along with Wiki, there's over 20 characters in Lucky Star, and only two of them are voiced by Aya and Minori.

Um... oops, off-topic. :heh: I'm looking forward to this because I want to see how Kyoani goes with a plotless comic. They've pretty much covered everything else by now.

Yes I've probably said enough in this thread for a month. I give Kyoto Animation my blessing with this, but they'll still carry the baggage of Haruhi everywhere they go with the voice cast change and I can guarantee a LOT of people who were previously interested in Lucky Stat itself, will now be focused on how much the show can remind them of Haruhi instead of how funny it is.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Regarding the voice actors, it doesn't seem to me that they're trying to get viewers by replacing the old cast with "idols." Hirano Aya, and maybe Chihara Minori, are the only names I see there that seem much of a draw. The original cast pretty well all were big draws. And as far as I know, all of the new cast are simply young or little-known seiyuu. Checking them in Japanese Wikipedia, I see none that could be called "idols," in the sense of being known mainly for singing or appearances.

It seems most likely to me that they changed the cast because the Drama CD cast would have been both prohibitively expensive and probably unavailable. As I understand the business, even Hirano Aya, with her newfound fame, would be cheaper to hire than most of them, since she is still a young seiyuu. I just hope the young cast can do a good job.

And Vexx, you're close. After the show starts, I may well say something about Aaya from time to time, but the main voice attraction of this show for me is the chance to hear Sasaki Nozomi in another role.

In any case, I will certainly keep talking about seiyuu, since I'm interested in them myself and I think they get too little credit from us for what they do. The Japanese audience for whom these shows are made certainly knows them, so I think it's good that we should have a chance to know them, too.

Everyone has different interests, and this board should be a place where we can all discuss whatever interests us in a spirit of friendly discussion rather than personal attack.

[rooboy]

PS: Oh, and I've been handed the responsibility of translating the manga in my scanlation group, so one more reason for me to watch it.I have a question then: this seems sort of like the manga equivalent of Megatokyo (or, if you've never read Megatokyo, like the 4koma equivalent of Genshiken). Is that a good analogy? I've always liked 4 Koma (like Azumanga Daioh) and independent chapter comedy mangas (things like Kyou no Go no Ni - not as short as 4 koma, but not really a continuing manga either), so I have somewhat high expectations for this.

[WanderingKnight]

I have a question then: this seems sort of like the manga equivalent of Megatokyo (or, if you've never read Megatokyo, like the 4koma equivalent of Genshiken). Is that a good analogy? I've always liked 4 Koma (like Azumanga Daioh) and independent chapter comedy mangas (things like Kyou no Go no Ni - not as short as 4 koma, but not really a continuing manga either), so I have somewhat high expectations for this.

What do you mean "4koma equivalent" of Genshiken? Are you referring to the otaku-related jokes regarding games and such?

Then again, (and though this might sound heretic) I still haven't watched Genshiken, so I wouldn't really know how to compare them. There are plenty of jokes about otakus here and there,

like Kona-chan not wanting to join the athletics club, even when she's good at sports, just because she wouldn't be able to watch goldentime anime

but the manga has the general feel and joke punch style of Azumanga and other 4koma. It doesn't get to where AzuDai got, but it's still pretty enjoyable stuff if you like light-hearted comedy.

[Mirrinus]

Ok, I'm seriously not understanding the severity of the objection about how KyoAni is using their own popular seiyuu to draw hype for Lucky Star. First off, I just wikipedia'd all the seiyuu listed out of sheer curiosity, and most of them don't even have their own page. Only 6 were apparently well known enough to have their own page, and of the 6 only 3 even had any notable lead roles (plus one is for anime original characters anyway). In a cast of 20ish characters, having 2 or 3 popular voice actors seems hardly a diabolical ploy for attention. The vast majority of the new voice actors seem very little-known, and you probably could have attacked SHnY with the same objection even more forcibly than you could for Lucky Star.

I find it hard to believe one can actually watch this show objectively if you're already going in with the mindset that the production studio has screwed up the voice cast. Quite frankly, my judge of how good the seiyuu choices are depends on how well I thought they performed, regardless of who they are. I didn't know the names of any of the seiyuus for SHnY until I think December of last year, well after I finished watching SHnY, mostly due to my tendency to overlook the credits. But I still enjoyed them immensely regardless.

[Zappster]

Regarding the voice actors, it doesn't seem to me that they're trying to get viewers by replacing the old cast with "idols." Hirano Aya, and maybe Chihara Minori, are the only names I see there that seem much of a draw. The original cast pretty well all were big draws. And as far as I know, all of the new cast are simply young or little-known seiyuu. Checking them in Japanese Wikipedia, I see none that could be called "idols," in the sense of being known mainly for singing or appearances.

It seems most likely to me that they changed the cast because the Drama CD cast would have been both prohibitively expensive and probably unavailable. As I understand the business, even Hirano Aya, with her newfound fame, would be cheaper to hire than most of them, since she is still a young seiyuu. I just hope the young cast can do a good job.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought. It seems to me that the old cast would pander to more fans than the new cast. So if they really were pandering to the fans as was suggested, then they would have stuck with the old ones. Now whilst I'm sure Hirano Aya is popular I doubt she has the popularity of some of those seiyuu in the original cast list (Tamura Yukari, Noto Mamiko spring to mind). Or perhaps I'm wrong and she is more popular.

Again a certain somebody has gotten something into their head and gone off on one and unsurprisingly it's about Hirano Aya and Kyoto Animation. I get the feeling I have read similar posts before... hmm... I wonder.

[celcius]

Awww, why did Tamura Yukari get replaced. The original seiyuu cast was already perfect. -.-

WanderingKnight:
OMG, scanlation of the manga finally coming out? Miracles do happen!!
After almost 1 year of waiting, it's finally come~

[WanderingKnight]

Awww, why did Tamura Yukari get replaced. The original seiyuu cast was already perfect. -.-

WanderingKnight:
OMG, scanlation of the manga finally coming out? Miracles do happen!!
After almost 1 year of waiting, it's finally come~

You'll have to wait, though, my schedule's completely full of exams till the 2nd week of March, so I won't be having too much free time to balance between anime viewing and translation.

Besides, 4koma sometimes are a pain in the ass for the translator.

[FireChick]

For some reason, I'm getting the feeling that if this anime ends, ADV will license it like Azumanga Daioh. But it's just a feeling.

[FireChick]

Sorry for the double-post but according to Anime News Network, the main seiyuus, even Aya Hirano are doing the opening theme song performance. But they spelled Tsukasa's seiyuu's name wrong. It's Kaori Fukuhara not Saori.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Sorry for the double-post but according to Anime News Network, the main seiyuus, even Aya Hirano are doing the opening theme song performance. But they spelled Tsukasa's seiyuu's name wrong. It's Kaori Fukuhara not Saori.

I win the bet! *Victory Dance* Who wants to admit it now? Who's man enough?:heh: :heh:

Actually nobody took me up on the bet because they probably knew deep down the odds were terrible. Oh well... :sad:

Really I'm actually unhappy that I was right. Luckily with fansubs you have the option to skip the opening and hopefully there aren't too many (more than one) character singles I won't want to listen to in the anime cause those things are seriously annoying when its idol pop. I'm praying that they leave it like Haruhi where there's one character rock song thats actually listenable, its story relevant and then that's it, Done, no more, back to the 4Koma style jokes.

I'll make a new bet now though. Kyoto Animation will be turning this into less of a 4Koma style comedy and more of a melodrama, which is what their fanbase is used to from them.

[FireChick]

*glares at Kaioshin* Don't make any remarks you...

[Skane]

~~ I'll make a new bet now though. Kyoto Animation will be turning this into less of a 4Koma style comedy and more of a melodrama, which is what their fanbase is used to from them.
:confused: *blink* *blink* :confused:

Fumoffu.

[rooboy]

:confused: *blink* *blink* :confused:

Fumoffu.

No no no, FUMOFFU!

I know, it's quite irritating that people forget that Kyo Ani started with Full Metal Panic (both Fumoffu and The Second Raid - personally I consider The Second Raid to be the highlight of their body of work, but I know that's just me).

I have little doubt that they can pull off the comedy. To this day when I watch Fumoffu I laugh so much my sides ache. I'm particularly fond of the greatness of the rugby episode and the two-parter involving Tessa.
What do you mean "4koma equivalent" of Genshiken? Are you referring to the otaku-related jokes regarding games and such?Yup, that's pretty much exactly what I meant. Thank you! :)

For some reason, I'm getting the feeling that if this anime ends, ADV will license it like Azumanga Daioh. But it's just a feeling.That's entirely likely, ADV seems to have staked out the straight-comedy series lately. PPD, Keroro Gunso, Azumanga Daioh, etc.

[Skane]

No no no, FUMOFFU!

I know, it's quite irritating that people forget that Kyo Ani started with Full Metal Panic (both Fumoffu and The Second Raid - personally I consider The Second Raid to be the highlight of their body of work, but I know that's just me).

I have little doubt that they can pull off the comedy. To this day when I watch Fumoffu I laugh so much my sides ache. I'm particularly fond of the greatness of the rugby episode and the two-parter involving Tessa. ~~
I can't tell whether you're berating me or supporting me. :heh:

In any case, yeah. One of KyoAni's well-known traits is their ability to deliver the comic timing. This has been reflected in ALL their series, with Fumoffu being the pinnacle of their comedy.

"Britney... I'll die for you." :D

Cheers.

[rooboy]

I can't tell whether you're berating me or supporting me. :heh:LOL, I was supporting you. But it can't just be fumoffu. It has to be full and deep voiced. FUMO-FU! ;)

[Iridium]

In any case, yeah. One of KyoAni's well-known traits is their ability to deliver the comic timing. This has been reflected in ALL their series, with Fumoffu being the pinnacle of their comedy.

I'm glad someone else pointed this out. I've been watching Kyoto Animation works for years, and while, initially, the first thing that attracted me to their work is the high-quality animation (as drew me in with certain episodes of Tenshi ni Narumon and the Munto OAV), I realized pretty soon, especially after Fumoffu, that, in my opinion, the primary strength of this company is in excellent storyboarding throughout all stages of the animation process. You won't find many shows that "flow" better from scene to scene with planned out transitions and the like than you will with a Kyoto production, which I think bodes well for something like Lucky Star which will rely on good storyboarding much more than something taken from a manga or novel. Attention to detail on the storyboarding reflects in the comic timing that you mentioned earlier.

Reading this thread is reminiscent of the discussions that took place just before KareKano was released, with many unwilling (or unable) to view the series on its own merits without looking at it through the lens of the production studio or aforesaid production studio's previous big hit. Personally, I'm very much looking forward to it.

[Kaioshin Sama]

I'm glad someone else pointed this out. I've been watching Kyoto Animation works for years, and while, initially, the first thing that attracted me to their work is the high-quality animation (as drew me in with certain episodes of Tenshi ni Narumon and the Munto OAV), I realized pretty soon, especially after Fumoffu, that, in my opinion, the primary strength of this company is in excellent storyboarding throughout all stages of the animation process. You won't find many shows that "flow" better from scene to scene with planned out transitions and the like than you will with a Kyoto production, which I think bodes well for something like Lucky Star which will rely on good storyboarding much more than something taken from a manga or novel. Attention to detail on the storyboarding reflects in the comic timing that you mentioned earlier.

Reading this thread is reminiscent of the discussions that took place just before KareKano was released, with many unwilling (or unable) to view the series on its own merits without looking at it through the lens of the production studio or aforesaid production studio's previous big hit. Personally, I'm very much looking forward to it.

That's exactly my problem, now that Kyoto Animation has made Haruhi, people can't judge their individual series by their own merits anymore, it always has to be auto-awesome since Haruhi was popular.

That kind of mentality among viewers never leads to anything good, believe me. As an example, if you want to know why the Playstation brand has dropped in quality, its that Sony realized they could get away with anything because of their bases unconditional support. Kaz Hirai's "The consumer's are ready speech", the idea that they have the right to dictact what the consumer's are willing to accept and the arrogance and contempt for the consumers desires they show now wouldn't exist now, as they'd still be trying to win over support if people hadn't given them carte blanche to do and say, whatever the hell they want.

At this point in time the studio could easily do a lackluster job, slap its name on it and it would be phenomenally successful. Thankfully they haven't done it which shows that Kyoto Animation has some integrity at least, but they very very easily could if they wanted too and thats what worries me.

It's exactly as you said, people must be able to view the series on their own merit rather than by what the studio may have done right in the past and no matter how much they may support them. Otherwise it won't be the viewers that hold influence and weight in the anime industry with their dollars to be won over by competing anime productions, but the companies who can essentially take the dollars and simply use their brand sticker as a reason for why they are taking the dollars. That's not the anime market any of us would want to see I'm sure.

I am looking forward to Lucky Star because its a funny 4Koma, but let's be honest, how many people think the ratio of viewers watching for the company that did Haruhi's next project versus the viewers watching for zany antics isn't lopsided toward the former. Now how many people think the ratio of people watching to see Aya Hirano play a character versus the people watching to see the Lucky Star cast animated is also lopsided towards the former. If I am wrong and I hope to god I am wrong because that means I'll never have to worry again, I will be happier than if I'm right believe me.

I'm just a small fish in the sea so I don't have much influence on the market, but the large bloc of fans out their who would be willing to give carte blanche to a company for creating one particularly successful franchise scares the hell out of me, because they have the power to ruin the market for an entire generation of viewers with that mentality.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I sometimes wonder if we talk about a studio when we should be talking about specific staff. Air, Suzumiya Haruhi, and Kanon were directed by Ishihara Tatsuya (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9087). The FMP shows were directed by Takemoto Yasuhiro (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9153). And the lead writers differ between the two sets of shows, too -- although you can see some of the same names involved here and there in writing, storyboarding, or directing specific episodes of the two sets of shows. In fact, the two directors did those jobs on episodes of the other series. So I guess (to partially contradict myself) it is reasonable to think that there will be something of a KyoAni style and quality that is common to all their shows -- while at the same time realizing that actual individuals are involved, not just some amorphous "studio."

Lucky Star is directed by Yamamoto Hiroshi (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=152), who is assuming full responsibility for the first time, although he was credited as "series director" (シリーズ演出) of SHnY, while Ishihara was the "director" (監督). Yamamoto also shows up as scriptwriter, storyboarder, or episode director for episodes of all the shows I've mentioned. So I think it's reasonable to have high hopes. The lead writer, Machida Douko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=26799), was the lead writer on Muteki Kanban Musume, and wrote Boku wa Imouto wo Koi Suru. I'm not sure what that tells us. She was also involved in writing Saiyuki Gunlock and Wolf's Rain (though just one of several writers on those two).

I agree with Kaioshin to the extent that I think nothing is "key" and nothing can be taken for granted. And yet I think that we have to grasp at whatever info we have, and we are justified in giving shows a chance when they have the same staff or cast as other shows we have enjoyed. And I'm one who thought SHnY was an actual masterpiece. But the proof of the pudding, as always, is in the eating, so we shall see.

[Furudanuki]

It's exactly as you said, people must be able to view the series on their own merit rather than by what the studio may have done right in the past and no matter how much they may support them. Otherwise it won't be the viewers that hold influence and weight in the anime industry with their dollars to be won over by competing anime productions, but the companies who can essentially take the dollars and simply use their brand sticker as a reason for why they are taking the dollars. That's not the anime market any of us would want to see I'm sure.

I am looking forward to Lucky Star because its a funny 4Koma, but let's be honest, how many people think the ratio of viewers watching for the company that did Haruhi's next project versus the viewers watching for zany antics isn't lopsided toward the former. Now how many people think the ratio of people watching to see Aya Hirano play a character versus the people watching to see the Lucky Star cast animated is also lopsided towards the former. If I am wrong and I hope to god I am wrong because that means I'll never have to worry again, I will be happier than if I'm right believe me.

You make a very valid point here - people certainly do need to judge a production on its own merit. The fact that KyoAni has so far - in my opinion - consistantly turned out a superior quality product means that I am at least going to take a look at whatever series they put out next. And I will probably give them a bit more leeway than I might otherwise if my initial impression is not entirely favorable, because their past performance has earned them that much. But if that unfavorable impression does not improve after a few episodes then all the past kudos in the world are not going to make me keep watching, and I will be much less likely to cut them any slack the next time around. And I need to clarify that when I say "unfavorable impression" I mean "poorly done/presented", not "simply does not appeal to me".

As far as the seiyuu are concerned having someone like Hirano Ayu in the cast is a plus for me, but it won't make the difference between watching and not watching because I can listen to Hirano-san voice characers in several other series if I don't care for this one. Same goes for most of the other popular and well-known seiyuu. I'm actually more interested in hearing the rookies, because you never know when lightning might strike. After all, Sasaki Nozomi (who will also be in Lucky Star) was absolutely stellar in her debut as Takahashi Nanami in Bokura ga Ita. (Nana-chan, banzai!)

[orion]

I don't think that Kyo-Ani will slack off. They have to keep up the good work because they are also a brand name, just like Madhouse, Gonzo and Studio Ghibli. Any blemishes potentially decreases the selling ability of their name.

Putting some seiyuus that they work well with and are popular on the cast isn't a problem to me either as long as they can do the job properly. They have to maximally sell this show. Same thing happens in R1. It's a business too after all.

[WanderingKnight]

Gonzo

That's the worst example for "keeping up the good work".

[Dagger]

Frankly, BONES is the only other studio I can think of that always puts out series that look high-quality & are generally very solid productions, even if they don't appeal to everyone (KyoAni is on the whole more superlative in the visual department, but they've also produced fewer works total).

Madhouse, GONZO etc. may be well-known, but they make as much crap (visually speaking, although of course you could argue that at least some of such shows are crap in general) as they do gold. They've spread themselves really thin, whereas KyoAni hasn't shown any indication of moving toward making more than one show per season. Neither way is necessarily better than the other--even GONZO puts out absolutely stunning work from time to time, and if bottom-barrel material is what it takes to fund stuff like Gankutsuou, I can't say I mind. Meanwhile, fans of KyoAni's Full Metal Panic, Haruhi and KEY productions will have to wait ages for new series/seasons, since they're all coming one at a time. I do think that BONES does the best job of striking a balance between good animation & putting out a good number of shows.

[herbert]

After knowing it is next project Kyo-Ani will work on, I find a way to read the manga, and I think it is a adorable manga having some interesting characters. Although I still have some doubt how can it put into anime, I look forward to see Kagami and Konata on TV screen (or laptop screen for me).

BTW I coloured a couple pics from manga vol 2, here they are.


http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1686/02021zo6.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02021zo6.jpg)http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5261/02030on7.th.jpg (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02030on7.jpg)http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6793/43776383gg9.th.jpg (http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=43776383gg9.jpg)http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5489/84274209qk0.th.jpg (http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=84274209qk0.jpg)

[Sai the Dreamer]

Kaioshin: Hm... I think you're missing the point here. By no means does Kyoani doing the series make it a one-hit wonder; however, given that their past works have been very successful, it is NOT indecent to assume that this one will be a similar case.

There's a large difference between watching a series and liking a series based solely on the company behind it. It's like genre - say you're a fan of mecha, and a decent-looking series comes about. Because it's mecha, you'd at least give it a try.

The same case applies here: because Kyoani's known for producing great series with a bit of something for everybody, it's at least worth giving a try. Don't you think?

[houkoholic]

Although I still have some doubt how can it put into anime,


Two words: Azumanga Daioh.

I have no doubt that Lucky Star will probably turn out to be very similiar to Azumanga Daioh in terms of execution - an episode containing several short skits.

[WanderingKnight]

OT: @Sai the Dreamer: Isn't your avatar a bit too fast? You should try lowering its speed and cutting a bit of the blank part.

[herbert]

@ houkoholic
Thank for your opinion. Having this doubt is probably my own problem since I am among the very few ppl who werent satisfied with the way Azumanga anime telling stories. To me, the eps were felt inconsistent if they are sum up of handful not-close-connected small stories. I like much better the way Paniponi does - each ep focus on an individual story filled with some laughable randomness. This made me feel the wholeness that Azumanga anime somehow lacks. But as much as I want to see sth similiar to Paniponi, I am not sure if Lucky Star can be done that way.

Whatever, I watched Azumanga quite long ago, perhaps my taste has changed and I might like Lucky Star even if it pulls out as Azumanga did

[FireChick]

Maybe my feeling of Lucky Star being licensed by ADV might be true. If it is, then I kinda want Cynthia Martinez (haven't heard voice yet) to do Konata, Jessica Boone to do Tsukasa or Kira Vincent-Davis to do Kagami. It's just a feeling but I hope it'll be true. I definitely think Jessica Boone is good for Tsukasa. Hmmm...maybe Hilary Haag should do Miyuki. Nyah?

[Rion]

BTW I coloured a couple pics from manga vol 2, here they are.

Oh, your colorations are great! It makes me want to color some manga pictures too... (I never did it before though).

[NeoSam]

Lucky☆Star official anime site has opened: :)

http://www.lucky-ch.com/

Broadcast: April 9, 2007

[darkchibi07]

:heh:

They're playing with the Wii-mote.

[Skane]

I am really curious to find out what sort of animation style they will be using for this series.

Hmm...

[FireChick]

Wheeee! April 9 is three days after Kamichama Karin! Cool! I better see this! Oh and Kagami and Konata look cute playing with those Wii remotes on the website! Heh heh.

[Vexx]

W00t for Wii-use. Just as a completely irrelevant note... I may find I'm liking this show because it provides examples of girls to girls that gameplay, anime, and manga are all right ((starts thinking of targets to transmit this viral meme to....)).

[Kaioshin Sama]

W00t for Wii-use. Just as a completely irrelevant note... I may find I'm liking this show because it provides examples of girls to girls that gameplay, anime, and manga are all right ((starts thinking of targets to transmit this viral meme to....)).

Suggest it to 4-Chan if you want it to spread like wildfire.

[FireChick]

I'm a girl and I read manga and watch anime.

[Vexx]

Yeah, we figured that out :). My wife reads manga and watches anime and both my son's girlfriends do so (but it took some browsing to find them).

-offtopic:
There's still a silly amount of social pressure for girls to avoid certain things (like playing with Legos, math, physics, gameplaying, certain hobbies) and I'd like to see those social pressures vanquished. I spend far too much time firing clues into my peers (the parents of people like most of the posters here) that their little girls should be playing sports, taking those "hard" courses and its alright to play video games, etc. The very attitude and assumption amongst young males that everyone in an FPS, watching an anime, or on the Net is a guy speaks to how much work remains.
-ontopic:

Looks like April is going to be a busy month between Lucky Star, Hidamari Sketch, Nanoha S., and all the other interesting stuff going on.

[orion]

Maybe the execution will be different, but somehow a seinen moe title about girls that play video games doesn't seem to empower the female gender to me. :)

You've got teens (16 and 17 yos) drawn to look like grade schoolers. :p

[jiv]

Hi, I'm new here so, hello, everyone.

Talking about the way we would like this show to be done, I think the best way to do this is make short sketches of about 4 or 5 minutes based in 5 or 6 strips. I think padding some strips or trying to atatch a big group of strips into a single chapter won't work. I saw Azumanga a long time ago, so my mind may be tricking me, but that was the main complain I had with the series. However, I hope this is funny, the first scanlated strips i've read seem good to me.

[NeoSam]

Please look what image I added to the first post of this thread, what do you think, should I keep it ?

And lets now look at the lucky star guide book :P

Title of guide book:

らき☆すた おきらくガイドブック
Lucky☆Star Okiraku Guide Book

Image of guide book's cover:


http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1746/kchubnjc3.jpg

Pantsu Pantsu :P

Ahh also Volume 4 of the moe~ 4-panel manga will be released on April 10, 2007 :)

[Lost]

Please look what image I added to the first post of this thread, what do you think, should I keep it ?
Of course you should, it's =3

[Pellissier]

Finally we get to see a little more closely how the character design will look like :)

http://img03.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/12/1173730842117371563664576.jpg (http://img03.yourpix.org/view/03.07/12/1173730842117371563664576.jpg)

http://img03.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/12/1173730842117371550739916.jpg (http://img03.yourpix.org/view/03.07/12/1173730842117371550739916.jpg)

http://img03.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/12/1173730842117371530101523.jpg (http://img03.yourpix.org/view/03.07/12/1173730842117371530101523.jpg)

[Daniel E.]

Finally we get to see a little more closely how the character design will look like :)

http://img03.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/12/1173730842117371563664576.jpg (http://img03.yourpix.org/view/03.07/12/1173730842117371563664576.jpg) http://img03.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/12/1173730842117371530101523.jpg (http://img03.yourpix.org/view/03.07/12/1173730842117371530101523.jpg)

Cute! :)

Those girls will surely go far in the next Saimoe tournament. :D

[Daisuke CP9]

Nice designs IMO. Konota with Haruhi = Moe awesomeness XD

Those girls will surely go far in the next Saimoe tournament.
Damn straight they'll definitely go far when they got elected ^__^

[Skane]

I see that they are going to get the metallic-liquid eyes treatment. ^^; I notice that the background is very crayon-like though. I guess the usual background artists are getting a Spring vacation? :heh:

Man... I still think of that red marble( from Kanon(2006)) whenever I think of Lucky Star. Overkill. :heh:

Cheers.

[aorta]

Maybe the execution will be different, but somehow a seinen moe title about girls that play video games doesn't seem to empower the female gender to me. :)

You've got teens (16 and 17 yos) drawn to look like grade schoolers. :p

You just described Manabi Straight as well. Maybe there's a trend for this kind of thing.

[Vexx]

If I have to choose between (Bratz, Barbie Shops, etc) or (Manabi Straight,LuckyStar,Azumanga) to show a young girl.... its an easy choice :)

[NeoSam]

And now for a moe~ moe~ calendar :P

Title of calendar:
らき☆すた おきらく着せ替えカレンダー
Lucky☆Star Okiraku Kisekae Calender

Moe~ cosplay calendar

Released on: February 7, 2007
Price: 1680 Yen

Some images:


http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/737/rakisutacalendarzi0.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6364/rakisutacalendar1da5.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/778/rakisutacalendar2vd4.jpg

[FireChick]

I'll be using my computer instead of my dad's (which I'm most usually on) because my dad is ordering new parts for it. Luckily my anime episodes and story chapters are saved. Sorry I went off-topic. Just felt like letting you know. Back on topic....Ooooooooh! They did a really cool anime version of Miyuki! She looks pretty! Konata, Tsukasa and Kagami's anime versions look so adorable!:) :p :D

[BatAttack]

If I have to choose between (Bratz, Barbie Shops, etc) or (Manabi Straight,LuckyStar,Azumanga) to show a young girl.... its an easy choice :)

Hmmm... what about a third option? Something like SuperGals. :)

Still stylised, and sort of cute, but not really kiddie.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Nice designs IMO. Konota with Haruhi = Moe awesomeness XD

Damn straight they'll definitely go far when they got elected ^__^

I don't think that was really intentional so much as they were pasted on to share the cover of a girls heroine themed magazine and should be seen as complete seperate rather than with each other in the traditional buddy buddy sense (i.e interacting).

Gotta hand it to them for the nice touch up on the characters, making them not look quite as triangular. This is probably the second anime to look much better than the manga, the first being Black Cat, the all time champ of artistic improvement in all sectors.

[Kaoru Chujo]

There are now strong indications (including the ad poster below) that this will be a "2 kuur" (i.e., two season, or 24-episode) anime. This seems like a bad idea for an anime of this kind. One person on 2 channel posted that although he is a fan of the comic, he doesn't think it should go two seasons. We'll see. I love Hidamari Sketch, for example, but 12-13 episodes is definitely going to be enough.

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but there is an English advertising poster for the anime. I guess it's genuine. The English advertising suggests to me that KyoAni may be aiming for quick international licensing:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.jpg)

I suspect that voice-recording is already underway, so I hope they made the decision to go 24 episodes based on the excellence of the first couple of episodes, lol.

[relentlessflame]

There are now strong indications (including the ad poster below) that this will be a "2 kuur" (i.e., two season, or 24-episode) anime. This seems like a bad idea for an anime of this kind.I was just going to say the same thing, except from my perspective it's a good thing. I almost always find 12-13 episode shows way too short -- it seems to me that, too often, they're over just as you're getting into it. Of course that's just personal preference though.

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but there is an English advertising poster for the anime. I guess it's genuine. The English advertising suggests to me that KyoAni may be aiming for quick international licensingWell, because it's from Kadokawa Pictures, they're probably going to partner with a company and release it themselves, just as they've done with FMP:TSR, Haruhi, and The Third.

[Kaioshin Sama]

There are now strong indications (including the ad poster below) that this will be a "2 kuur" (i.e., two season, or 24-episode) anime. This seems like a bad idea for an anime of this kind. One person on 2 channel posted that although he is a fan of the comic, he doesn't think it should go two seasons. We'll see. I love Hidamari Sketch, for example, but 12-13 episodes is definitely going to be enough.

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but there is an English advertising poster for the anime. I guess it's genuine. The English advertising suggests to me that KyoAni may be aiming for quick international licensing:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.jpg)

I suspect that voice-recording is already underway, so I hope they made the decision to go 24 episodes based on the excellence of the first couple of episodes, lol.

Hey, well now we'll finally get to see how they can peform when they don't have the script all but written and handed to them to animate. Unless each episode is 5 minutes long of course, which is always a possibility given the nature of the comic.

[relentlessflame]

Unless each episode is 5 minutes long of course, which is always a possibility given the nature of the comic.Do you mean like "episodes-within-an-episode"? I guess that would be one option; it's definitely been done before. The actual episodes themselves, though, will be full-length.

[NeoSam]

Wow >.< the cover of volume 4 is so moe >.<

Here's the cover of volume 4 of the seinen manga Lucky☆Star

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8315/200604000038sf8.jpg

Seinen manga.
Currently serialized in the male oriented magazine Comptiq (http://comipedia.com/magazine/comptiq).
Release date: April 10, 2007
Price: 798 yen

[Vexx]

It depends completely on the amount of material they have from the manga to work with. Azumanga Daioh had the entire 4 volume set to work with -- arguably they could have lopped off 4 or 5 episodes worth of material with no loss of continuity but somewhere some fan would have been a sad puppy.

If L*S has enough material (I've got to look up that star alt code) to run two seasons... then w00t. Since what I've read of it really seems "day to day" rather than some long storyline, it'll depend on the quantity of funny per second (kind of like Penny Arcade has good days and not-so-good days).

edit: Lucky☆Star (ah that works)

[Shiroth]

Wow >.< the cover of volume 4 is so moe >.<
You're right as always --- its scenes like that i'm hoping shall appear in the series. :3

[NeoSam]

You're right as always --- its scenes like that i'm hoping shall appear in the series. :3

With 24 episodes these type of scenes will surely appear >.< and with the combination of KyoAni's animation quality, the moe-ness of these scenes will be uncomparable to any other anime :)

[FireChick]

24 eps! Cool! Just like Kanon!

[suguru]

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1679/date35856iv4.jpg)



It must be a rule that any slice-of-life anime about girls has a character that doesn't look even remotely fat but thinks she's overweight anyway...in Lucky Star looks like it's Kagami. Is going on a diet moe?

[Vexx]

It may be "realistic" but its actually kind of sad (aka the girl in Hidamari Sketch who isn't remotely plump) rather than funny. I guess its tragic humor because usually they have "diet girl" trapped right next to "hummingbird metabolism girl". Lots of arghhhh!!!!!!!!

[Shiroth]

With 24 episodes these type of scenes will surely appear >.< and with the combination of KyoAni's animation quality, the moe-ness of these scenes will be uncomparable to any other anime :)
Have to admit originally i thought that 24 episodes might be to much --- though with the level of moe this show is going to bring, i'm happy to know that its going to last a good length of time. I can already just imagine what kind of OP & ED this one shall have. :3

[WanderingKnight]

There are now strong indications (including the ad poster below) that this will be a "2 kuur" (i.e., two season, or 24-episode) anime. This seems like a bad idea for an anime of this kind.

Uhm, AzuDai was made into a 2 kuur, too, and hell that didn't made it bad at all. I could even ask for more episodes :D

[houkoholic]

I don't know if this has been posted here before, but there is an English advertising poster for the anime. I guess it's genuine.

It's genuine. These flyers were available at the Tokyo Anime Fair at the Kadokawa booth which began yesterday. I got one myself.

[Skane]

To the people who keep rambling about KyoAni needed to script their own script...

1) This is NOT the first time KyoAni is doing a humour series. I am sick and tired of people who keep spouting ignorant NONSENSE. If you want to be snide/condescending about a company, make sure you are pointing the barrel the right way, lest you make a fool out of yourself (unless of course, making a fool of yourself IS your objective).

2) KyoAni has made original material before. No, I am NOT going to tell you what. Go do your damn research and find out for yourself.

3) If fact, this will not be the first time KyoAni is doing a humour series semi-based on original material. They have proven themselves to be capable of fleshing out the source material with their OWN material.

4) If you want to condemn a company for sticking to the plot 100%, go harass Madhouse's adaptations first before KyoAni. KyoAni has never been one to not modify the script when necessary.

5) SHnY is NOT the first series KyoAni made, it is not even the third that they have made. If you keep referencing to SHnY in your arguments haphazardly, you are going to do yourself a lot of discredit, because SHnY was not what made KyoAni so well-loved in the first place.
~~~~ ~~~~

Maybe Lucky Star will bomb big time. Maybe it will equal AzuDaioh (I hesitate to say exceed because I really, really love AzuDaioh). We can't really tell until the episodes start airing.

Given KyoAni's track record however, and their "notoriety" for comic-timing, Lucky Star should be in good hands.

Cheers.

[Eleutheria]

To the people who keep rambling about KyoAni needed to script their own script...

1) This is NOT the first time KyoAni is doing a humour series. I am sick and tired of people who keep spouting ignorant NONSENSE. If you want to be snide/condescending about a company, make sure you are pointing the barrel the right way, lest you make a fool out of yourself (unless of course, making a fool of yourself IS your objective).

2) KyoAni has made original material before. No, I am NOT going to tell you what. Go do your damn research and find out for yourself.

.

I just came into the thread so I hope this vitriol is not directed at me.

Nonetheless, I don't know what original material Kyoto Animation has produced in recent memory. Since this is a forum I expect that you may be willing to share your ideas and fruits of your research with me.

Fumoffu was not original material, so I suppose you might be referring to series before that. I'm not aware that Kyoto Animation has produced any 100% original material before Fumoffu.

EDIT: ANN lists "Munto (2003)" as originally produced by KyoAni. I can't say I've ever heard of this OVA, nor seen it referenced in any posts on Animesuki since I joined (Nov 2003). Given that directors and animation teams come and go- the director for Munto hasn't done anything since then- it's probably a good bet that none of the current KyoAni teams have worked on any completely original material.

I've read the current three volumes of Lucky Star, and there's no way KyoAni can make an anime series without their own input.

That said, Kyoto Animation needs to prove they can produce a 12/24 episode series based on their own original intellectual property. Munto was an OAV. I want to see something along the lines of BONES's Ayakashi or Rahxephon.

[Kaioshin Sama]

It must be a rule that any slice-of-life anime about girls has a character that doesn't look even remotely fat but thinks she's overweight anyway...in Lucky Star looks like it's Kagami. Is going on a diet moe?

Hahaha anime girls being fat, that's too funny. Plumpness is reserved for older and by that I mean much older female characters usually. You know the jolly and wise older woman who usually pops up to give advice to somebody and is very kind to everyone who comes her way. It's almost a rule that females in anime are by default perfect bodywise by the authors definition of perfection. Slim and big busted for the older girls with provactive clothing, or very slim and flat chested for younger loli girls also with the possibility of provactive clothing or Gothic Lolita. Anyway thats my two cents, its appealing to the eyes, but about as realistically achievable as the rail-thin supermodel look is.

I'm hoping Kyoto doesn't try to bury me with moe again, every time somebody suggests a Moe overdose I cry a little, I can really only take so much and the market is more than a bit saturated with it right now. Comedy is perfect though as I've been short on the laughs lately and The Daily Show has been my saviour over the past 6 or so months. Funny Moe rather than Moe for the sake of Moe would be very uplifting right now AND in reasonable and restrained doses. My impression was that this was supposed to be a clever and witty look at otaku girls wasting their time doing things like playing games and chilling out, trying to make it through school life and then growing up. If this turns out to be another Manabi Straight I can't say I'll be finishing it.

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

EDIT: ANN lists "Munto (2003)" as originally produced by KyoAni. I can't say I've ever heard of this OVA, nor seen it referenced in any posts on Animesuki since I joined (Nov 2003). Given that directors and animation teams come and go- the director for Munto hasn't done anything since then- it's probably a good bet that none of the current KyoAni teams have worked on any completely original material.

I've read the current three volumes of Lucky Star, and there's no way KyoAni can make an anime series without their own input.

That said, Kyoto Animation needs to prove they can produce a 12/24 episode series based on their own original intellectual property. Munto was an OAV. I want to see something along the lines of BONES's Ayakashi or Rahxephon.

I'm pretty sure there was a sequel to Munto with the same director a year or two ago. I've seen references to both on AnimeSuki. I've only seen reference to Munto 2's pending release, however, although I do think it was.

I'm not sure if Kyoto Animation has to prove it can do a full series based on their own, original intellectual property. I just don't see why. For almost the entire history of moving pictures, adaptations have been considered entirely valid works of art. Many of the world's great directors made their reputations with adaptations. Many of the world's great films are adaptations. If there isn't a stigma in live action filmmaking -- even high-minded, "serious" filmmaking -- I don't see why there should be in a popular, genre-oriented medium like anime.

[suguru]

I'm pretty sure there was a sequel to Munto with the same director a year or two ago. I've seen references to both on AnimeSuki. I've only seen reference to Munto 2's pending release, however, although I do think it was.

Yep, Munto 2 came out in 2005 I think, two years after the first Munto. I have both on region 1 DVD--Munto 2 ends on a cliffhanger so it's pretty much a given there'll be a Munto 3 somewhere down the road. I like the storyline and characters in Munto overall, although there are definitely times it felt like they were trying to cram too much into too short a series.

Hahaha anime girls being fat, that's too funny. Plumpness is reserved for older and by that I mean much older female characters usually. You know the jolly and wise older woman who usually pops up to give advice to somebody and is very kind to everyone who comes her way. It's almost a rule that females in anime are by default perfect bodywise by the authors definition of perfection. Slim and big busted for the older girls with provactive clothing, or very slim and flat chested for younger loli girls also with the possibility of provactive clothing or Gothic Lolita. Anyway thats my two cents, its appealing to the eyes, but about as realistically achievable as the rail-thin supermodel look is.

I'm hoping Kyoto doesn't try to bury me with moe again, every time somebody suggests a Moe overdose I cry a little, I can really only take so much and the market is more than a bit saturated with it right now. Comedy is perfect though as I've been short on the laughs lately and The Daily Show has been my saviour over the past 6 or so months. Funny Moe rather than Moe for the sake of Moe would be very uplifting right now AND in reasonable and restrained doses. My impression was that this was supposed to be a clever and witty look at otaku girls wasting their time doing things like playing games and chilling out, trying to make it through school life and then growing up. If this turns out to be another Manabi Straight I can't say I'll be finishing it.

I'm looking forward to it, as long as it's funny I'll be happy--I loved Fumoffu, so I'm confident Kyoani can pull off comedy well. Haven't read any of the Lucky Star manga, but from what I've read in this thread I'm hoping it'll be good.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Yep, Munto 2 came out in 2005 I think, two years after the first Munto. I have both on region 1 DVD--Munto 2 ends on a cliffhanger so it's pretty much a given there'll be a Munto 3 somewhere down the road. I like the storyline and characters in Munto overall, although there are definitely times it felt like they were trying to cram too much into too short a series.



I'm looking forward to it, as long as it's funny I'll be happy--I loved Fumoffu, so I'm confident Kyoani can pull off comedy well. Haven't read any of the Lucky Star manga, but from what I've read in this thread I'm hoping it'll be good.

The manga is like reading a joke everybody is in on but you. That's basically how 4-Koma breaks down though, a lot of it deals with in jokes, you either don't get it and are confused, or you get it and its unbelievably gut-bustingly funny because of how true and yet absurd the joke is. I'm liking the idea that a lot of it will be based on games an such, and Konata Izumi reminds me a bit of myself, wasting time playing games 24/7, but still getting solid grades in school due to innate perceptivety. You wouldn't believe how much you could learn in a 1 and a half hour lecture by starring at the wall and fiddling around with your pen instead of taking notes and missing something the teacher says when you go to double check what you've written. I do it all the time at University.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

That said, Kyoto Animation needs to prove they can produce a 12/24 episode series based on their own original intellectual property. Munto was an OAV. I want to see something along the lines of BONES's Ayakashi or Rahxephon.

Weta Studio must suck as a movie studio then. LotR trilogy(Based on book!), King Kong (a remake!) and now Halo (based on book!).

When will Weta make anything original?:heh:
They are just not good enough if they just copy other people!!!!:twitch:

[Eleutheria]

Weta Studio must suck as a movie studio then. LotR trilogy(Based on book!), King Kong (a remake!) and now Halo (based on book!).

When will Weta make anything original?:heh:
They are just not good enough if they just copy other people!!!!:twitch:


There's quite a big difference between small animation studios and movie studios with enormous budgets, don't you think?

The market is also quite different for anime and Hollywood, not to mention the business structure and audience.

You simply can't compare the two like that. Many of the biggest hits in anime have largely been original material -- Evangelion being a prime example, Geass and Gundam another. These franchises started out as anime.

Contrast that with the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood? Lord of the Rings, as you said; all the superhero movies, Gone with the Wind... very few are totally original like Crash.

[Shinova]

It's just as hard to do a faithful adaptation of a superb work as it is to do a superb original work. Plenty of reasons have been given in the past. I don't know why people here have such a hangup of Kyoani not doing original work. Yeeesh. Get over it.

[Shinova]

There's quite a big difference between small animation studios and movie studios with enormous budgets, don't you think?

It also costs magnitudes more to make a blockbuster movie than it does to make an animated series that runs only on obscure TV channels. (None of the shows here on animesuki are mainstream)

[dKiWi]

It also costs magnitudes more to make a blockbuster movie than it does to make an animated series that runs only on obscure TV channels. (None of the shows here on animesuki are mainstream)

But to me they are 4 times better than mainstream entertainment :D

I more or less stopped watching local tv except for news (which is probably heavily censored) and don't go to movies unless my friends want to. Non-mainstream anime is superior :)

I've read the 1st 3 manga episodes of Raki Suta and can't wait to hear Hirano Aya voice teh female Otaku ^^

[Sheba]

Well, they are kinda all otakus. Since most of the girls' hobbies are mostly otakuish, one plays visual novels, another read light novels, etc...

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

We can throw around the differences of scale and business models all we like, and it doesn't really have much to do with aesthetics and quality -- or what Kyoto Animation has to or doesn't have to prove.

Obviously, many of the world's great films made outside of the Hollywood studio system with relatively small budgets. For years, the term "franchise" was used as a term of derision. It's a business term -- largely used in reference to fast food chains -- and it was used (again, as an insult) to point to the dichotomy between art and the more craven business interests that came to dominate Hollywood after the 1970s. Like "blockbuster", it has little to do with art or quality, and that's what I thought that we were talking about.

There have been great live action films and TV shows based on both preexisting and original material. The same is true of anime. Kyoto Animation has made its reputation with what many consider high quality adaptations. I just don't see how that's a bad thing.

[aorta]

I think we're forgetting about this:

Kanaka's Dream Magic (http://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/data/e/original/kanaka/kanaka_index.html)

[herbert]

Well, they are kinda all otakus. Since most of the girls' hobbies are mostly otakuish, one plays visual novels, another read light novels, etc...
Well, Kagami does read light novels and play video games, but reading light novels does not necessarily make her an otaku as long as she is not addicted, and I don't think she like to be thought as Konata's same kind. OK, I am biased to Kagami, I admit. She is my fav character in this manga.

[Level E]

no, no, usa-chan, err, Kagami-sama is a closet otaku :heh:

Not all the girls are otaku tho. Kona-chan and Patricia are extremes, Kagami is somewhat middle ground (understands the lingo and Konata's comments), then there people like Tsukasa (私分からなかったよ~) and Hikage-chan... poor poor Hikage-chan ガンバ！

[Pellissier]

New scan:

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4744/117481286802118yk8.th.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117481286802118yk8.jpg)

with the further confirmation of the "24 episodes", in the bottom.

Also an alternative version of the scan with Konata & Haruhi that I posted two pages ago. Texts wiped out and background added.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/6572/117484557616502zr1.th.jpg (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117484557616502zr1.jpg)

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1168/1175027460654502607x391fi7.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1175027460654502607x391fi7.jpg)

[Kensuke]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1168/1175027460654502607x391fi7.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1175027460654502607x391fi7.jpg)
Looks like she is reading SHUFFLE! manga. :heh:

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

Looks like she is reading SHUFFLE! manga. :heh:

LOL! You're right. She is. :)

[Shiroth]

Looks like she is reading SHUFFLE! manga. :heh:
Yeah, and she's probably playing Shuffle! On the Stage (the PS2 version). I'm in so much love.

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6950/117505402189929ab3.th.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117505402189929ab3.jpg) http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2107/117505405029564ul4.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117505405029564ul4.jpg)

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

This looks informative. Unfortunately, I can't read it. :)
http://img02.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/27/1175055333117505381630623.jpg (http://img02.yourpix.org/view/03.07/27/1175055333117505381630623.jpg)
2783x3488, 1.7 MB

http://img02.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/27/1175055333117505387661424.jpg (http://img02.yourpix.org/view/03.07/27/1175055333117505387661424.jpg)
2791x3491, 1.7 MB

http://img02.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/27/1175055333117505393335662.jpg (http://img02.yourpix.org/view/03.07/27/1175055333117505393335662.jpg)
2780x3492, 1.7 MB

http://img02.yourpix.org/thumbs/03.07/27/1175055333117505399305204.jpg (http://img02.yourpix.org/view/03.07/27/1175055333117505399305204.jpg)
2786x3487, 1.7 MB

[ZODDGUTS]

I didn't really like the artstyle/character designs at first but it's started to grow on me. I'm liking the expressions that they do as well.

[herbert]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6950/117505402189929ab3.th.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117505402189929ab3.jpg) http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2107/117505405029564ul4.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117505405029564ul4.jpg)
As far as I can tell,

1). Kagami is reading Fullmetal Panic(novel more likely), but dont know what is Konata reading nor the books on the table.

2). The manga Konata holds as a cup is vol. 3 of The Enchained Spiritual Beast. And the book on top of that pile of books is...Future dairy!?! WOW I love the female lead in Future dairy, she is so crazy so kick@$$.

[Vexx]

I think its the moppy hair that I find cute....

[FireChick]

Nyuuuuuu! Characters look soooo cute! They did a good job on Yutaka-chan! But the 2nd picture showing her and Miyuki only shows the first top half for me. Wonder why? Also, who's that pink-haired, yellow-eyed girl next to Nanako-sensei?

[Shiroth]

I think its the moppy hair that I find cute....
Indeed, very Otakuish. :3

[velocity7]

To be honest, I think the series, though it will probably turn out all right, is really just a filler series KyoAni's doing so they can have more time to prepare for CLANNAD.

[FireChick]

Hold on...doesn't Yutaka remind anyone of Tomohane from "Inukami!"? Hair in pigtails, small, cute, and same seiyuu (Hasegawa Shizuka).

[aorta]

Looks like she is reading SHUFFLE! manga. :heh:

It's actually Shuffle! - Artbook : Official Visual Guide as found here (http://www.nippon-export.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=16988) or here (http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-j/section-comics/pid-1004105854/).


As far as I can tell,

1). Kagami is reading Fullmetal Panic(novel more likely), but dont know what is Konata reading nor the books on the table.


Novel Vol 18 - "Side Arms 2 - Kyokuhoku Kara no Koe" (http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%A5%B5%E5%8C%97%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%81%AE%E5%A 3%B0%E2%80%95%E3%83%95%E3%83%AB%E3%83%A1%E3%82%BF% E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%91%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82 %AF-%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%83%89%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%8 3%A0%E3%82%BA%E3%80%882%E3%80%89-%E8%B3%80%E6%9D%B1-%E6%8B%9B%E4%BA%8C/dp/4829118423/ref=sr_1_2/503-8274405-4243953?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175112801&sr=8-2)

The books on the table look like copies of Shonen Ace since one of them says Fate on the spine.

[Skane]

Is KyoAni trying to hint at something? :heh: This is the second time they have inserted some "Shuffle!" references. :heh: Are they planning to make their own version of that franchise? I can see it happening, especially since Sugita Tomokazu is already voicing Rin. :heh:

Heh.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Let's see, this thread already has over 14,000 posts and the show hasn't even aired yet. That's almost as many posts as Jigoku Shoujo 2 or Hidamari Sketch, which have been on for almost six and almost three months respectively.

If the characters end up acting and sounding as cute as they look, I think KyoAni may have done it again. The bucketloads of anime-manga-game references are like an intensification of the anime self-referentiality they used in SHnY. For one thing, putting those Wii controllers into some of the publicity images was a stroke of marketing genius, I'd say.

As for this being just marking time in preparation for Clannad, I believe that's what was being said about Suzumiya Haruhi in relation to Kanon, a year ago.

But that "looking and acting as cute" will not be a simple matter. As a fan of Hirano Aya, I like her best in roles that have some kind of secret sorrow infusing their words, like Haruhi and Layla, and even Sanae and Mei. As far as I know that doesn't apply to Konata, but perhaps I'm wrong. I'm eager to see how she and the director decide to play the role. And I'm eager to hear how well the bevy of young seiyuus do.

[WanderingKnight]

Let's see, this thread already has over 14,000 posts and the show hasn't even aired yet.

I'd rather say this thread has over 14,000 views. It's only 184 posts long.

[aorta]

The books on the table look like copies of Shonen Ace since one of them says Fate on the spine.

Found it:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1525/200602000261se3.jpg

[Kaioshin Sama]

Let's see, this thread already has over 14,000 posts and the show hasn't even aired yet. That's almost as many posts as Jigoku Shoujo 2 or Hidamari Sketch, which have been on for almost six and almost three months respectively.

If the characters end up acting and sounding as cute as they look, I think KyoAni may have done it again. The bucketloads of anime-manga-game references are like an intensification of the anime self-referentiality they used in SHnY. For one thing, putting those Wii controllers into some of the publicity images was a stroke of marketing genius, I'd say.

As for this being just marking time in preparation for Clannad, I believe that's what was being said about Suzumiya Haruhi in relation to Kanon, a year ago.

But that "looking and acting as cute" will not be a simple matter. As a fan of Hirano Aya, I like her best in roles that have some kind of secret sorrow infusing their words, like Haruhi and Layla, and even Sanae and Mei. As far as I know that doesn't apply to Konata, but perhaps I'm wrong. I'm eager to see how she and the director decide to play the role. And I'm eager to hear how well the bevy of young seiyuus do.

What do you mean "May have done it again"? It doesn't strike me as phenomenally difficult to make characters look and sound cute, just look around you and you'll see its actually easy. If we are talking in comparsion to something in particular then maybe not, but does it really matter. Aren't we losing sight of what really does matter, i.e the laughs we intend to get out of this show and possible identifiication with one or more of the characters. The cuteness is meant to be the icing on the cake, not the base, unless I told missed the point of the manga. Basically if all Kyoto Animation's goal turned out to be is to make cute looking and sounding characters they have no business claiming to be a serious and prestigious studio. I don't think that is the case at all though. Though that might even not be what you mean, cause I seriously have no idea.

One thing I do know though is if you're worried about there not being some sort of secret sorrow with Konota, I wouldn't fret, because:

As a teenager growing up having trouble associating with even her closest friends (playing tricks like stealing their homework),having a deadbeat father who stays at home and plays bishoujo games, and being bored with anything other than video games and anime (possible Hikikomori-Otaku themes here)I 'm sure that she's bound to have a quiet a few issues and character flaws to work through.

Whether she can actually pull this off I'm not sure because I haven't found her particulary good at anything other than hyper-genki characters, which she does almost as good as Kotono Mitsuishi

So yeah its like a Japanese version of Peanuts in a way.

Oh and this is now 185 posts. Perhaps you've spending a bit too much time on 2chan(el) where posts routinely reach into the 10000's.

[Kaoru Chujo]

What do you mean "May have done it again"? It doesn't strike me as phenomenally difficult to make characters look and sound cute, just look around you and you'll see its actually easy....Sorry, I wasn't referring to doing cuteness, but to creating a very popular show/franchise that makes them and their backers a lot of money. Like SHnY.

But I'll still take issue with the idea that it's "easy" to do cute. There's cute and there's cute. Some cute shows fall flat, some become big hits. That's like saying it's "easy" to do mecha. They've clearly got character designs that connoisseurs of moe are entranced by. The question is if they can have a script and animation and voices that are as effective as the character design. But thanks for the hints about Konata's character. That makes sense.

>>WanderingKnight: Sorry, you're right. It was views. But the comparison still stands. As for posts, that 184 is more than Jigoku and less than Hidamari.

[CrowKenobi]

I'd rather say this thread has over 14,000 views. It's only 184 posts long.I'd still say that's pretty good for a show that hasn't even aired yet (on this board anyway). :D

Not to mention that the Clannad TV thread is over 15,500...

A question for the mods: As we get closer to the air date of the first episode, is this series showing enough interest to warrant a forum section to itself in the 'current series forums' or will it go into the 'fansubbed' forum until it can prove itself?


:cool:

[Kaioshin Sama]

Sorry, I wasn't referring to doing cuteness, but to creating a very popular show/franchise that makes them and their backers a lot of money. Like SHnY.

But I'll still take issue with the idea that it's "easy" to do cute. There's cute and there's cute. Some cute shows fall flat, some become big hits. That's like saying it's "easy" to do mecha. They've clearly got character designs that connoisseurs of moe are entranced by. The question is if they can have a script and animation and voices that are as effective as the character design. But thanks for the hints about Konata's character. That makes sense.

>>WanderingKnight: Sorry, you're right. It was views. But the comparison still stands. As for posts, that 184 is more than Jigoku and less than Hidamari.

Okay, we're on the same page, phew. I partially agree with you, but I'll say that cute is easy in all but proper execution in tandem with good plot and character progression. That's why I always say just throwing Moe into the pot along with everything else without paying attention to the ratio is like mixing chemicals, odds are if you do it wrong you'll end up with something toxic. In that sense it can be difficult to show restraint and plan the mix properly when under pressure.

In case anybody is wondering what is with the analogy, I've been playing Morrowind again and experimenting with Alchemy. Weeee..... it's not going to well :( :( :( :(

[Vexx]

Besides... I'm reading the manga and the characters were *already* cute before KyoAni got them (as well as subversive, witty, and sarcastic). The "skill" is how successfully can KyoAni transfer static 2-d characters into a moving "3-d" environment and cast/characterize them so that most fans of the manga are happy and non-readers get a kick out of the humor.

[Skane]

If a thread's popularity was an indication of success, then the MSLN:StrikerS (http://forums.animesuki.com/forumdisplay.php?f=60) thread is a resounding success. :heh: 2716 posts and 121962 views at the time of this posting, and it hasn't even been aired yet. :heh:

I am not going to enter Lucky Star with high expectations. It seems to be one of KyoAni more... light-hearted productions (aka, we need a break), and as such, I will not be expecting it to be ground-breaking or anything. So long as it manages to keep me amused, I will watch it.

Cheers.

[Nemo_N]

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2107/117505405029564ul4.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117505405029564ul4.jpg)

Argh. I have this feeling that this is a pun I just don't get.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Besides... I'm reading the manga and the characters were *already* cute before KyoAni got them (as well as subversive, witty, and sarcastic). The "skill" is how successfully can KyoAni transfer static 2-d characters into a moving "3-d" environment and cast/characterize them so that most fans of the manga are happy and non-readers get a kick out of the humor.Well said. I'd add that part of KyoAni's skill seems to be picking the right properties to animate. They've done well with Key on AIR and Kanon. They picked the right novels to do with Suzumiya Haruhi. Now it looks as if they may have picked the right 4-koma. We'll see. "Subversive, witty, and sarcastic" is a great start, lol. What I was seeing was all the anime-manga-game references that should help sell the series to otaku.

>>Skane: Strikers is definitely going to be an extremely popular show. "There's a heaven above heaven." I personally don't enjoy the Nanoha shows, but that puts me in a definite minority, lol. I think the number of views/posts on AS is a good indication of a show's popularity outside Japan, at least with strong anime fans. And I'm going into Lucky Star with high hopes and indefinite expectations.

[7Th]

Read the first episode of the manga posted on 4Chan's /a/. Most unfunny comedy strip I've ever read, up there with unaltered Garfield. I guess this is just not my style of humor and since I laugh at Space-Moose that already makes my mind twisted. Still, I just don't see this appealing anyone who isn't already a fan of anime.

[Rion]

@7Th: It is possible that you didn't find it funny because the translation was bad. As for me, I think it's a nice 4koma, but not outstandingly funny :drop:

[Kaioshin Sama]

Read the first episode of the manga posted on 4Chan's /a/. Most unfunny comedy strip I've ever read, up there with unaltered Garfield. I guess this is just not my style of humor and since I laugh at Space-Moose that already makes my mind twisted. Still, I just don't see this appealing anyone who isn't already a fan of anime.

You're not in on the joke then. 4Koma's stunning ability is to either cause the reader to laugh uncontrollably for several minutes if they get the joke (i.e are in on it) or stare blankly and go "that's it?". I read a lot of Super Robot Wars 4Koma for games I hadn't played yet and was like "huh, huh, huh, what's so funny about all of these, they make no sense", but after I played the games and found out about each of the mecha animes and came back again they were gut bustingly funny most of the time and funny the other times. I think knowledge of otaku culture is a prerequisite to enjoy this manga and anime so brush up on your video games, anime, memes and dating sim lingo folks.

For example (not really a spoiler at all, but just in case)

The second (or was it third) chapter in particular falls completely flat if you don't know what "route" is referring to and being the punchline its pretty damn important to know.

I've seen better written ones and assume Kyoto went for it because its a) cute and b)light hearted and a break from their usual Key (It's like the McDonald's/Disney private contract deal all over again) stuff.

[endy]

so, any news on which group is planning on subbing this?

[darkchibi07]

This site:

http://www.andrewlb.com/fansub/pukiwiki.php?Spring%202007

....says a.f.k. which is good because I like TRANSLATED CREDITS!

[Sheba]

afk sub group is listed as such.

I think that 10-15 mins x 24 episodes is not unlikely, just like Cromartie Highschool. But wait & see.

[cmage]

I think that 10-15 mins x 24 episodes is not unlikely, just like Cromartie Highschool. But wait & see.

A scan that's been posted says 30 min x 24 eps. :)

[Ascaloth]

Okay, we're on the same page, phew. I partially agree with you, but I'll say that cute is easy in all but proper execution in tandem with good plot and character progression. That's why I always say just throwing Moe into the pot along with everything else without paying attention to the ratio is like mixing chemicals, odds are if you do it wrong you'll end up with something toxic. In that sense it can be difficult to show restraint and plan the mix properly when under pressure.


On the same note, just throwing Mecha into the pot along with everything else without paying attention to the ratio is like mixing chemicals, odds are if you do it wrong you'll end up with half the lab gone. Like GSD, for example. Or Idolmaster Xenoglossia; Moe + Mecha = I'm not giving this a sniff of a chance.

:D :p :heh:

Really, Kaioshin-kun. What you've said here can apply to almost anything else. Why are you picking on one particular genre?

I am not going to enter Lucky Star with high expectations. It seems to be one of KyoAni more... light-hearted productions (aka, we need a break), and as such, I will not be expecting it to be ground-breaking or anything. So long as it manages to keep me amused, I will watch it.


On another note, I think I've read somewhere that the director for Rakisuta is not the same director that helmed such great hits as SHnY, AIR, and Kanon. Which is why I'm thinking; Rakisuta might be KyoAni deciding to conduct an experiment into a different, more light-hearted direction, which could most likely mean that Rakisuta's going to be lacking the godly sakuga quality that has characterized KyoAni's independent works so far.

I dunno. I'm thinking I'll skip this one, at least until I hear some great blurbs from it.


I've seen better written ones and assume Kyoto went for it because its a) cute and b)light hearted and a break from their usual Key (It's like the McDonald's/Disney private contract deal all over again) stuff.

Strange, I don't recall KyoAni basing their staples off "cute" and "light-hearted"....

[Nightengale]

Really, Kaioshin-kun. What you've said here can apply to almost anything else. Why are you picking on one particular genre?

Because his personal distaste of overly sweet moe is an open fact?

Though I think the whole bad pot for mecha + moe is a bit taking it badly though. I don't have high hopes for Idolm@ster, but mecha has argubly tapped and molted itself into every possible genre there is, and has each own achieved a level of success. Remember Gunbuster? Fans today may not think the original Gunbuster girls as moe, but perceptions change over time.

Either way, each one has their own preference in anime. Kaioshin's vocal dislike on undiluted moe is apparent, just like how some people think harems > reverse harems with gender bias preference or hate mecha. Considering the type of series Lucky Star is, Kaioshin has every right to be worried, and it's not like he's not giving it any chances...unlike you. :P


On another note, I think I've read somewhere that the director for Rakisuta is not the same director that helmed such great hits as SHnY, AIR, and Kanon. Which is why I'm thinking; Rakisuta might be KyoAni deciding to conduct an experiment into a different, more light-hearted direction, which could most likely mean that Rakisuta's going to be lacking the godly sakuga quality that has characterized KyoAni's independent works so far.

Lucky Star's director, Yamamoto is apparently the series director of Suzumiya Haruhi, whatever that role is. Still, I believe that at the very least, Lucky Star will hopefully retain the sharp, witty storyboarding of the general Kyoto Animation fare, even if it may not possess the consistent sakuga quality. Personally, I like Kyoto Animation more for their sharp, quick yet fluid storyboarding flow of scenes which worked very well for Haruhi and Fumoffo, and some parts of their other series.

[Ascaloth]

Because his personal distaste of overly sweet moe is an open fact?

Though I think the whole bad pot for mecha + moe is a bit taking it badly though. I don't have high hopes for Idolm@ster, but mecha has argubly tapped and molted itself into every possible genre there is, and has each own achieved a level of success. Remember Gunbuster? Fans today may not think the original Gunbuster girls as moe, but perceptions change over time.

Either way, each one has their own preference in anime. Kaioshin's vocal dislike on undiluted moe is apparent, just like how some people think harems > reverse harems with gender bias preference or hate mecha. Considering the type of series Lucky Star is, Kaioshin has every right to be worried, and it's not like he's not giving it any chances...unlike you. :P

You got me. :heh:

Personally though, I really don't see why there is a need for certain people to be so vocal about what they hate; if you don't like something, just simply don't freakin' watch it, is my philosophy. Personally, I feel that people harping on their dislikes gets old, then it gets downright irritating, and finally I end up going no-holds-barred on the offender. I mean, the way I go HARUHI-MODE at DanielSong39 for almost everything he says should speak volumes about how irritating I find that kind of behaviour to be. :heh:

Although yeah, actually I'm fairly in sync with Kaioshin-kun on this one; give me diabetic-level moe, and I'll drop it like a hot brick too. But in my case, I'll already have been long gone spending my time usefully, by the time Kaioshin-kun gets halfway with stamping it to death. :p


Lucky Star's director, Yamamoto is apparently the series director of Suzumiya Haruhi, whatever that role is. Still, I believe that at the very least, Lucky Star will hopefully retain the sharp, witty storyboarding of the general Kyoto Animation fare, even if it may not possess the consistent sakuga quality. Personally, I like Kyoto Animation more for their sharp, quick yet fluid storyboarding flow of scenes which worked very well for Haruhi and Fumoffo, and some parts of their other series.

If I remember correctly, I think it means that he directed certain episodes of SHnY, and wasn't in charge of the whole deal. But yeah, as long as KyoAni retains its standard high storyboarding level, I won't even care so much about their other strength of hyper-sakuga either.

Still, I don't have as much time to blow on entertainment as most others here, so I tend to blow it on stories with at least some significant substance to it. An adaptation of a 4-koma with no standard storyline to speak of just doesn't do it for me; that's why, unlike CLANNAD TV, I'm not jumping on this bandwagon from the start. I'll be waiting for the blurbs before I decide whether to start on this one.

[Kaoru Chujo]

...Lucky Star's director, Yamamoto is apparently the series director of Suzumiya Haruhi, whatever that role is. Still, I believe that at the very least, Lucky Star will hopefully retain the sharp, witty storyboarding of the general Kyoto Animation fare, even if it may not possess the consistent sakuga quality. Personally, I like Kyoto Animation more for their sharp, quick yet fluid storyboarding flow of scenes which worked very well for Haruhi and Fumoffo, and some parts of their other series.According to Japanese Wikipedia, Yamamoto Yutaka's 山本寛 title was "series director," using the word for director that is used for episode directors rather than overall directors. He directed some episodes, wrote some episodes, and storyboarded some episodes, and is listed first, ahead of Ishihara, in the lists of people who did each of those things. He did all three jobs on episode 00 and on the concert episode.

And as Hirano Aya mentioned in her blog, he created (and directed) the ED, which was possibly the first thing to bring SHnY the adulation it eventually received. And he wrote the lyrics to God Knows and Lost My Music.

He also storyboarded and directed episodes of AIR, Fumoffu, TSR and Kanon. For what it's worth, here's his picture, with Hirano:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9025/6331yt7.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9025/6331yt7.jpg)

And I notice that Lucky Star and SHnY have the same art director, Tamura Seiki, so the backgrounds should be of the same quality, whether or not they have the same amount of detail.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Really, Kaioshin-kun. What you've said here can apply to almost anything else. Why are you picking on one particular genre?

Yes I know that's true as well. It's easy to make a mecha show, design the robots, the factions, the pilots and the weapons, but difficult to execute it in a that's actually good (See GSD and Sokou No Strain for examples of poor execution and mixing)

The reason I pick on Moe is that not only is the market somewhat saturated with it, but a lot of people seem to think its an invincible ingredient (just visit any anime blog that takes itself seriously and you will see) and I'm just pointing out the faults in order to bring a moderate view to the issue. I don't like anything in large doses such as certain mecha's overuse of certain weapons or plot devices, but I see far more of Moe in almost lethal doses, and that's why I'm upset by people pointing out its presence or saying the most Moe of Moe series needs more of it, like its a cure for what ails a poorly written plot or crappy characters (Shuffle anyone). It's no more useful or no less of a patch for weak series than Fleshy Fanservice or Mecha Eye Candy such as the Hi-Mat attack in Gundam Seed really. That's what Moe is to me a patch or mortar to hold the right series together and make it more appealing to fans, but like a mortar if you get to much of it becomes a stain and you can't see the strength anymore. Lately I see more stains than strengthed series.

Moe's a subgenre at the absolute most prominence and not a full-fledged genre, that's why I'm pointing out that this is meant to be a comedy. I didn't find the characters particularly cute when I was reading it, moreso quirky. Really there isn't much of a moe problem at all, but some people brought up the subject of Moe and I had to give my two (or in most cases 25) cents on the matter.

Looking at the picture above I swear Aya Hirano looks different in everyone of her pictures. Depending on how much makeup she has on she can look either like a creepy looking fresh-faced 18 year old or a creepy looking semi-worn looking woman in her 30's or 40's. No matter what though she still looks just a wee bit creepy in an "I'm hiding something" way. She must be on the IMF team and that's how she keeps changing here appearance.

[Vexx]

I'll admit combining "funny" and "cute" (I'm not sure moe applies here that strongly based on the manga I've read so far) works for me.

The manga ranges from subtle to droll -- if KyoAni and their director can translate that to the screen, then the series should do well. If KyoAni raises the bar for "slice'o'life, funny, cute" --- great... though I speculate what we'll get is something in the same magnitude of funny like (AzuDa, I.M., bits of PPD) but with some really magnificent animation.

Watching the I.M. OVA lately though... I'd say I.M. raised the bar (at least with OVA) so it'll be interesting to see what KyoAni pops out. The manga art is quite cute but it is pretty static (almost a "talking heads" comic). Adding movement and energy is almost completely on KyoAni's head. :)

[Kaoru Chujo]

>>Kaioshin: Creepy is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I love pics that are unusual and non-staged. There are some of other seiyuus in my seiyuu gallery. The current pic of Hirano Aya was taken when she was in the middle of getting her hair dyed. And it was taken with the wide-angle lens of her cell-phone camera held at her own arm's length. Of course that will look different from a large-format camera in a professional studio.

You're trolling, anyway, knowing I'm here to rise to the bait. Many people think she's beautiful. If you don't, fine, but it's hardly very courteous to make a point of attacking a woman's appearance -- or another person's avatar -- in such loving detail. I keep wondering why it bothers you so much.

One thing I agree about is that she has to be putting on a front much of the time. She has been in show business since she was nine, and in the media since she was 14. As for being worn out, I'm sure she is, just from the amount of work she does. One reason I switched to this avatar is precisely because she looks comparatively lively and real in it.

[relentlessflame]

Is KyoAni trying to hint at something? :heh: This is the second time they have inserted some "Shuffle!" references. :heh: Are they planning to make their own version of that franchise? I can see it happening, especially since Sugita Tomokazu is already voicing Rin. :heh:Delayed answer, but it's probably just Kadokawa. The Shuffle Manga ran in Kadokawa's Comptiq magazine, which is also where Lucky Star runs. Also note that Kadokawa's actively marketing Shuffle Memories DVDs at the moment. All the little references like that you saw in Haruhi also had to do with Kadokawa. A little bit of subtle or not-so-subtle cross-promotion on their part. :p

[Kaoru Chujo]

After our discussion yesterday, I thought I'd take a look at the threads for upcoming shows on 2channel. I just made a quick sweep so I probably missed a lot, and I don't know what the significance is, but it's at least parallel to ours here.

Lucky Star is on its 7th thread (6000+ posts), while Nagasarete Airandou is on its 28th. Strikers 12, Hayate 12, Xenoglossia 8, To Terra 4, Claymore 2, Shining Tears 2, Kono Aozora 2, Kaze no Stigma, Kaze no Emily, Darker than Black, OverDrive, RabuKon, Cazador, Touka Gettan, Wellber, RomeoxJuliet, SkullMan, KissDum, Bokurano -- all 1. Idolmaster Xenoglossia already had an anti- thread, so it must be a big deal, lol.

But of course that figure for Nagasarete Airandou (over 27,000 posts) is the big shocker. I guess they like their harem shows. And it does look like it could set a new standard in that regard: a guy who is shipwrecked on an island inhabited only by girls, who are supposedly all desperate for a guy.

[Shinova]

Airantou is practically radioactive with moe and moe characters, so it's not surprising it's famous with 2channel. :)

[Furudanuki]

Delayed answer, but it's probably just Kadokawa. The Shuffle Manga ran in Kadokawa's Comptiq magazine, which is also where Lucky Star runs. Also note that Kadokawa's actively marketing Shuffle Memories DVDs at the moment. All the little references like that you saw in Haruhi also had to do with Kadokawa. A little bit of subtle or not-so-subtle cross-promotion on their part. :p
Oh, yes! Episode #2 of SHnY, when Haruhi whipped out the magazines with Shuffle! on the cover while trying to explain moe to Kyon and Mikuru (same VAs as Shuffle!'s Rin and Kaede). It was undoubtedly cross-promotion from Kadokawa, but it was still funny as hell for those in the know. A true golden moment of "fanservice" in the original non-ecchi meaning of the word. :) It's a great clip to use as an example when explaining to new anime viewers that "fanservice" does not necessarily refer to panty shots and bouncing mammaries.

[relentlessflame]

Oh, yes! Episode #2 of SHnY, when Haruhi whipped out the magazines with Shuffle! on the cover while trying to explain moe to Kyon and Mikuru (same VAs as Shuffle!'s Rin and Kaede). It was undoubtedly cross-promotion from Kadokawa, but it was still funny as hell for those in the know. A true golden moment of "fanservice" in the original non-ecchi meaning of the word. :) It's a great clip to use as an example when explaining to new anime viewers that "fanservice" does not necessarily refer to panty shots and bouncing mammaries.Yeah, absolutely. Both of Kyoto Animation's Key shows also have lots that sort of fanservice (for Key stuff). I love that sort of fanservice in anime and, of course, it makes for really good trivia. :p

[Kaioshin Sama]

>>Kaioshin: Creepy is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I love pics that are unusual and non-staged. There are some of other seiyuus in my seiyuu gallery. The current pic of Hirano Aya was taken when she was in the middle of getting her hair dyed. And it was taken with the wide-angle lens of her cell-phone camera held at her own arm's length. Of course that will look different from a large-format camera in a professional studio.

You're trolling, anyway, knowing I'm here to rise to the bait. Many people think she's beautiful. If you don't, fine, but it's hardly very courteous to make a point of attacking a woman's appearance -- or another person's avatar -- in such loving detail. I keep wondering why it bothers you so much.

One thing I agree about is that she has to be putting on a front much of the time. She has been in show business since she was nine, and in the media since she was 14. As for being worn out, I'm sure she is, just from the amount of work she does. One reason I switched to this avatar is precisely because she looks comparatively lively and real in it.

No not the avatar, the other pictures of her you posted in comparison to others. She does looks so different in a lot of them in the same way Madonna looks different inbetween her pictures. The changing hairstyle and makeup is a part of the game though I suppose. In fact if you weren't hear to clarify what her current appearance was I would have absolutely no idea what she looked like. I never said she looked ugly, that would be a horrible and unkind thing to say, just kind of creepy. Then again wide angle camera shots make anything or anyone look kind of weird. It's the type of photos and the lighting. Here, for example, have you ever seen the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is dating this woman who looks stunning in certain lighting and creepy and worn looking in another, that's kind of what I'm getting at here.

On topic though, you can expect to see a lot of references and parodies in this I can assume. It's all about the Video Games and Bishoujo games as far as I can tell. I really can't see how it won't be fun.

[Ascaloth]

Yes I know that's true as well. It's easy to make a mecha show, design the robots, the factions, the pilots and the weapons, but difficult to execute it in a that's actually good (See GSD and Sokou No Strain for examples of poor execution and mixing)

The reason I pick on Moe is that not only is the market somewhat saturated with it, but a lot of people seem to think its an invincible ingredient (just visit any anime blog that takes itself seriously and you will see) and I'm just pointing out the faults in order to bring a moderate view to the issue. I don't like anything in large doses such as certain mecha's overuse of certain weapons or plot devices, but I see far more of Moe in almost lethal doses, and that's why I'm upset by people pointing out its presence or saying the most Moe of Moe series needs more of it, like its a cure for what ails a poorly written plot or crappy characters (Shuffle anyone). It's no more useful or no less of a patch for weak series than Fleshy Fanservice or Mecha Eye Candy such as the Hi-Mat attack in Gundam Seed really. That's what Moe is to me a patch or mortar to hold the right series together and make it more appealing to fans, but like a mortar if you get to much of it becomes a stain and you can't see the strength anymore. Lately I see more stains than strengthed series.

Moe's a subgenre at the absolute most prominence and not a full-fledged genre, that's why I'm pointing out that this is meant to be a comedy. I didn't find the characters particularly cute when I was reading it, moreso quirky. Really there isn't much of a moe problem at all, but some people brought up the subject of Moe and I had to give my two (or in most cases 25) cents on the matter.


Fair enough, but I still say of this post of yours what I said of your previous post; that if you replace "Moe" with "Mecha", it still holds true in every way. And don't pretend that Mecha doesn't suffer from the same fanboyism that Moe does; I mean, heck, Idolm@ster Xenoglossia is probably the best example of Moe fanboyism at its worst mixed with Mecha fanboyism at its worst, although since it isn't pretending to be anything but camp, I can be relatively lenient on it even though I'm not touching it with a ten-foot pole.

I do understand where you're coming from; you just hate it when uninformed fanboys just come along and throw in unintelligent comments, no? I hate it too, and if you take a look at my post history, you'll see that I don't suffer them gladly either; DanielSong39 and npal should know very well what I mean by that. But ultimately, my philosophy on them is; the onus is on you to treat them as the fools they are.

I mean, if they simply won't stop posting dribble, then they simply won't stop posting dribble; as long as you've managed to make them look like the fools they are, personally I think it's fine to just stop there. After all, who else are you trying to convince by rehashing points that you've made previously? I mean, the majority of us here can see unintelligent bias for what they are by ourselves, thank you very much. No need to overreach yourself here needlessly, you know what I mean? ;)

On another note, for someone who professes to be formal with names to a fault, I'm surprised you're letting me get away scot-free with using the '-kun' suffix after your name. :p

[Kaioshin Sama]

On another note, for someone who professes to be formal with names to a fault, I'm surprised you're letting me get away scot-free with using the '-kun' suffix after your name. :p

That's because its not my real name to begin with and the sama is part of the user name and not a real title. You should see me bug out though when people mispell or misprounce my real name (Which believe it or not is mispronounced and mispelled more than my last name which is french and ends with a silent x). I've mentioned my real name but a few times here. I think it may even be in my public profile.

[NeoSam]

A site from Kadokawa Shoten for Lucky☆Star:
http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/fair/200703-03/

[Ascaloth]

That's because its not my real name to begin with and the sama is part of the user name and not a real title. You should see me bug out though when people mispell or misprounce my real name (Which believe it or not is mispronounced and mispelled more than my last name which is french and ends with a silent x). I've mentioned my real name but a few times here. I think it may even be in my public profile.

Ah, I see. So I guess that means I have a free hand in calling you whatever I want then? Kaioshin-chan, for example? :p

[Theclow]

Ah, I see. So I guess that means I have a free hand in calling you whatever I want then? Kaioshin-chan, for example? :p
I think Kaioshin-chin suits him better.
Anyway back on topic, this look promsing, but even after reading the wiki I'm still having a hard time trying to figure our if the main character is a boy or a girl.(The wiki says she's female, but....she looks male. :eyespin: )
(Feel free to throw slings and arrows at me)

[Ascaloth]

I think Kaioshin-chin suits him better.
Anyway back on topic, this look promsing, but even after reading the wiki I'm still having a hard time trying to figure our if the main character is a boy or a girl.(The wiki says she's female, but....she looks male. :eyespin: )
(Feel free to throw slings and arrows at me)

Kaioshin-chin?!

Alright, alright, let's show poor Kaioshin a little more respect, shall we? We have to use an appropriately respectful suffix for him.....so I move that from now on, we should address him as Kaioshin-oneesama.

:D

[Shinova]

Kaio-chi!!!

[Theclow]

Kaioshin-chin?!

Alright, alright, let's show poor Kaioshin a little more respect, shall we? We have to use an appropriately respectful suffix for him.....so I move that from now on, we should address him as Kaioshin-oneesama.

:D
No, more like...Kaioshin-oneechin :D

Kaio-chi!!!
That's too cute...while we're on the topic how come I don't get a suffix? :p (Bring on your worst!)

[Sai the Dreamer]

Who else finds it amusing how quickly we shafted from Lucky Star to Kaioshin's suffix? :p

Anyway, perhaps this is a baseless assumption, but I have this feeling we're going to be getting the next Haruhi, popularity-wise. :heh: Am I crazy?

[Mirrinus]

Hmm...I doubt it, seeing as this series promises to be even more otaku-ish. As Kaioshin-dono stated earlier, the humor of the series relies on how well you can get all the references to games and anime and stuff. Most casual fans will likely be out of the loop, and miss many of these jokes. I don't even expect myself to get it all.

Then again, what'd I expect from a series where the promotion art features Wii controllers? I'm still interested in watching, though, simply because I absolutely love such trivia.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Who else finds it amusing how quickly we shafted from Lucky Star to Kaioshin's suffix? :p

Anyway, perhaps this is a baseless assumption, but I have this feeling we're going to be getting the next Haruhi, popularity-wise. :heh: Am I crazy?

Apparently I'm more popular than the show now. I am a man though despite what everyone seems to think lately.

[houkoholic]

Having read the manga I can say Lucky Star is not really that otaku-centric. It's just got some reference of general otaku and fandom culture (for example, like getting addicted to net games) that really anyone who is not a complete anime n00b will get. A fairly general level of geeky-ness is completely sufficient to enjoy Lucky Star, which I think anyone who visits this board - those of you who actively seek out anime directly from the source - are already qualified. The level of otaku joke in Lucky Star is only really at the Haruhi level at best, hell the Gyakuden Saiban/Phoneix Wright joke in Haruhi anime is more hardcore than anything I've read in Lucky Star. Things like Nadesico and Gunbuster which pokes fun at specific anime series are more otaku-centric than Lucky Star.

[Vexx]

As Animaniacs proved over and over and over again --- you can positively be reeking of cultural references, inside jokes, and trivia, have less than a quarter of the audience catch those and still be amazingly funny.

What I've seen of the manga humor so far says they can be pretty funny without worrying about "Penny Arcade transience".

[Ascaloth]

Apparently I'm more popular than the show now. I am a man though despite what everyone seems to think lately.

Oh, that's such a pity, Kaio-rin. You were stacking up to be oh, so MOE...... :p

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/HyperionEnergy/1-1.jpg
"Ne, Ma-i?"

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/HyperionEnergy/2-1.jpg

"Mm-hmm."

See? :D

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

Oh, that's such a pity, Kaio-rin. You were stacking up to be oh, so MOE...... :p
I still find him moe. Heck, I find it relaxing reading his posts after a long, stressful day at work, and I'm developing warm, brotherly feelings towards him. In many ways, he reminds me of Petoko from Petopeto-san. ;)

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

I still find him moe. Heck, I find it relaxing reading his posts after a long, stressful day at work, and I'm developing warm, brotherly feeling towards him. In many ways, he reminds me of Petoko from Petopeto-san. ;)

Agreed. It must be the way Kaio-tan is just so Tsun-Tsun about everything, that one can't help but wonder if there is a secret deredere side.:D

We need someone to draw Kaio-tan as a school-girl with a bokken and zettai ryouiki, stat!:p

[Jazzrat]

Not into the whole moe craze as most people are but looking at the scans gives me that good old Ichigo Mashimaro vibe along with the Azumanga Daioh vibe that everyone already mentioned.





Ichigo Mashimaro is an exception... it's an interesting moe......

/ashamed

[Mirrinus]

Agreed. It must be the way Kaio-tan is just so Tsun-Tsun about everything, that one can't help but wonder if there is a secret deredere side.:D

We need someone to draw Kaio-tan as a school-girl with a bokken and zettai ryouiki, stat!:p

I'm sorry, but this is the best I could do with my limited skills, methods, and with such little time...

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7792/kaioshin3ep7.png

[Ascaloth]

I'm sorry, but this is the best I could do with my limited skills, methods, and with such little time...

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7792/kaioshin3ep7.png

.....why am I being associated with Kaio-nyan, again? :heh:

Nevertheless, that was freakin' amusing. Now I'm wondering what MINE would be like.....:p

[Skane]

Ironically, a discussion about in-jokes is starting to turn into an in-joke itself.

Hmm...

[Asrialys]

From Kurogane's blog. (http://kurogane.animeblogger.net/2007/04/01/suzumiya-haruhi-second-season-to-air-this-month-instead-of-lucky-star/)

Haruhi 2 instead of Lucky Star? April Fool's Joke? Of course...no source provided. lol

[flou]

If you'll look a little closely at the entry's date -_-;;;;;;

[FireChick]

It's obvious it's an April Fool's Joke. Kyoto Animation planned Lucky Star to air that time. Haruhi 2 won't be until somewhere in 2008. That's obvious. Besides, I don't celebrate April Fool's Day anyway anymore (that was loooooooooong ago when I stopped celebrating due to mutantous prank my sister pulled on me).

[Skane]

Blessed are those who still have the blissful innocence to fall for these tricks. :heh:

Cheers.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Wow I have pretty high stats. Looks like I probably couldn't take Shana though with her evade and critical rate.

[Asrialys]

Hm? You think I fell for it...

And I apologize for posting it. Didn't see the announcement.

[Narumi]

It's an interesting series, but I'm just afraid too many people will be disappointed by hype for no reason. KyoAni is certainly on the high mark in many people's eyes at the moment, but one must still keep their expectations in check.

Regardless, 5 more days~

[darkchibi07]

I just died in laughter when I read this:

http://kurogane.animeblogger.net/2007/04/04/i-want-to-have-crazy-wild-loli-yuri-sex/

:bow:

[NeoSam]

I just died in laughter when I read this:

http://kurogane.animeblogger.net/2007/04/04/i-want-to-have-crazy-wild-loli-yuri-sex/

:bow:

:heh: :heh: :heh:

That was so great, this must get animated :D

[flou]

You know, that wasn't actually in the manga -_-;;;; It was a joke by the scanslators at Sleeping Forest........:heh:

[Vexx]

It's an interesting series, but I'm just afraid too many people will be disappointed by hype for no reason. KyoAni is certainly on the high mark in many people's eyes at the moment, but one must still keep their expectations in check.

Regardless, 5 more days~

I think I'm looking forward to it simply because I'm just interested in seeing how KyoAni handles what is essentially a talking-heads verbal humor show. It'll certainly stretch their abilities in the opposite direction from something as movement-driven as Haruhi.

[Mirrinus]

Well, I just read the scanslations, and the material certainly looks promising. I haven't seen a good comedy show in quite a while, so I'll definitely be interested in this.

Haha..."No one would choose your route in an eroge." Awesome insult.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Oh, man, the commercial that just showed up is amazing. If they use the same degree of inventiveness throughout the show, it'll be a winner. Has that been around before, or just now?

[orion]

Or it could be a sign of how much this show is hyped. Not many CMs imo will contain only 1 minute of a character snoring with only broadcasting info at the very end.



Edit: Oops, it was 14 sec. :)

[Mirrinus]

That was...really bizarre. Although I admit, it really made me smile.

Really though, if this show is hyped, it's not really by the hand of Kyoto Animation. They haven't even released a promo video yet, just some promotion art and a rather unorthodox commercial (can you imagine them doing that with Haruhi or Nayuki? Actually...I can). They really aren't even trying to hype their own show, it seems. Nearly everything is coming from the fans. Sorta reminds me of what they did with Haruhi, except this time around people are actually expecting something. Will it live up to people's expectations? I'd love to find out. I'll be watching anyway because I need a comedy fix, because I love wacky school comedies, and because their promotional art features Wii controllers.

[darkchibi07]

Ahhh, it took me awhile for me to realize that a.f.k. released a subbed CM for this. :heh:

And what hell was that?! :twitch:

[Blue-kun]

It's certainly... different. But yeah, it made me smile and for some odd reason I can't press the stop button because this uuuuuuuu |3 somehow has its own charm.

Anyway, looking forward to the show.

[orion]

That was...really bizarre. Although I admit, it really made me smile.

Really though, if this show is hyped, it's not really by the hand of Kyoto Animation. They haven't even released a promo video yet, just some promotion art and a rather unorthodox commercial (can you imagine them doing that with Haruhi or Nayuki? Actually...I can). They really aren't even trying to hype their own show, it seems. Nearly everything is coming from the fans. Sorta reminds me of what they did with Haruhi, except this time around people are actually expecting something. Will it live up to people's expectations? I'd love to find out. I'll be watching anyway because I need a comedy fix, because I love wacky school comedies, and because their promotional art features Wii controllers.

Not releasing much video promo material until this CM is a sign of a hyped series imo. They didn't really need to do much advertising. It's been talked about since last year with Kyo-Ani's involvement. They add a Wii controller for coolness factor and let viral advertising do all the work. They have truly avoided the normal scrutiny. No trailers on the website. Nothing at TAF that has made its way to YouTube.

Fans of Kanon wouldn't let them get away with something like this imo. They'd want to scrutinize the animation product of a cherished franchise imo.