P.A. Works: Studio discussion, speculation, and whatnot

[Dawnstorm]

Originally Posted by Pocari_Sweat

Oh I like you. I really like you . Mine is pretty similar but there is some mixing up in the middle tiers:

1. True Tears - my heart says this is my favourite.
1. Uchouten Kazoku - my head says this is my favourite.

*****

2. Tari Tari
3. Hanasaku Iroha

*****

4. Canaan
5. Another

*****

6. Red Data Girl - only PA Works show I never finished lol.
7. Angel Beats - Die in a fire please .

Uchouten Kazoku has the advantage to be a show about tanuki. I've always loved those hedonistic tricksters, and a show that takes them seriously while not adulterating them is an instant winner for me. And if the show is of that quality...

True Tears was my favourite for a vey long time. It does pretty much everything right for me (I don't mind the drama at all).

There's also the Professor Layton movie and the Mai no Mahou to Katei no Hi OVA which would be on the 2nd tier and the True Tours specials which would have been in the 1st tier if it wasn't so damn short!

Hanasaku Iroha movie is out so that'll be added onto the list somewhere .

I have yet to see any of those.

Googles Mai no Mahou to Katei no Hi. Wait, I've actually seen that. Cute but not very memorable. Probably lower mid-tier. Didn't know it was PA Works, when I watched it. Same director as Uchouten Kazoku. Interesting.

I like Tari Tari a lot. It may not have been ambitious or original (despite being an anime original ), but it had a lot of heart and was very genuine. A solid slice of life/drama series with classic PA Works elements such as scenery porn, melancholic/nostalgic/mono no aware atmosphere and the like.

It's a very solid show with no weakness that's obvious to me. I can certainly understand why Archon Wing, for example, thinks it's the best PA Works show.

As far as I'm concerned it has one outstanding strength, and that's how well it handles characters: in only one cour they handled a huge cast very well. The focus was, of course, on the boys and girls of the club, but the entire city felt just alive. Every minor character could be promoted to main character of its own story.

That, and the show took music seriously, without pushing it in your face.

I hear Tari Tari is goint to see a DVD release in my region. I'm certainly going to buy it.

Canaan I thought was a decent action flick though I wouldn't call it great by any means.

Yup. What else is there to say about Canaan?

Hanasaku Iroha had a pretty high standard deviation, though looking back on it I think the majority of the episodes fell into the decent to good category. It's just that some people, including myself remember the BAD ones like episode 3 and the omelette rice arc though to be fair the only truly bad ep was episode 3 and maybe 17 (certain Takako ep forgot the actual number). It had some brilliant highs though like the first two eps, the Tokyo arc and the final few episodes.

I seem to like the "bad" episodes more than most, or maybe they just didn't bother me that much.

Strangely, some of the scenerey shots, although very pretty, did nothing for me. Other shots (such as the shrine/festival scenes) were breath taking.

Uneven all the way through. But, yeah, the episodes you list as highlights are mine as well.

Red Data girl unfortunately marks the only PA Works series I haven't finished. It was frankly boring as hell let alone confusing.

It gets better later on, but probably not good enough, and it ends without a clear conclusion. This show would have needed more time, I think. Some of it is very interesting. Personally, I found the triplets' story a lot more interesting than the main pair (did you get far enough into the show to meet them?).

Anyway, I'm quite happy with Nagi no Asukara so far. I doubt I'll end up liking it more than Tari Tari, but who knows. We're only three epiosdes in, so far.

[Dextro]

Tari Tari was, imho, such a well written and directed show that it's a shame it isn't more popular. It didn't do anything particularly new or risky and for that it passed mostly under the radar for most people but it's pretty much an example of how to pace a show of the genre which seems to be such a lacking skill in so many shows airing every season.

[Miraluka]

Tari Tari is my fav PAW series so far, I would have liked Hanairo more if not for... Minko...

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by Wilfriback

Tari Tari is my fav PAW series so far, I would have liked Hanairo more if not for... Minko...

There's bigger problems than Minko imo like... ahem... the entire male cast

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Dextro

Tari Tari was, imho, such a well written and directed show that it's a shame it isn't more popular. It didn't do anything particularly new or risky and for that it passed mostly under the radar for most people but it's pretty much an example of how to pace a show of the genre which seems to be such a lacking skill in so many shows airing every season.

Tari Tari was an anime original without a lot of big names attached to it (most successful anime originals at least have those big names). That means Tari Tari had almost no built-in audience to speak of, and needed to earn viewers every step of the way. The fact it gained the amount of attention and success that it did speaks to its good quality.

[Haak]

From my understanding, most of the attention Tari Tari initially got was from the HSI audience and general fans of PA works? By built in audience, are we just talking about this forum?

Actually, regarding big names, I've been meaning to ask: Has Masakazu Hashimoto been doing anything recently? I would've hoped the success of Tari Tari would push him into more prominence but I've not heard anything since.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Tari Tari was an anime original without a lot of big names attached to it (most successful anime originals at least have those big names). That means Tari Tari had almost no built-in audience to speak of, and needed to earn viewers every step of the way. The fact it gained the amount of attention and success that it did speaks to its good quality.

That makes sense. It's a shame that more people didn't stumble upon the show though because I truly believe it to be one of the finer examples of the genre.

Originally Posted by Haak

From my understanding, most of the attention Tari Tari initially got was from the HSI audience and general fans of PA works? By built in audience, are we just talking about this forum?

Actually, regarding big names, I've been meaning to ask: Has Masakazu Hashimoto been doing anything recently? I would've hoped the success of Tari Tari would push him into more prominence but I've not heard anything since.

That's a good question, been wondering the same myself. Anidb doesn't list him on anything other than Tari Tari and the Professor Layton movie.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Haak

From my understanding, most of the attention Tari Tari initially got was from the HSI audience and general fans of PA works? By built in audience, are we just talking about this forum?

Well, PA Works gets a fair bit of attention on this forum, but I haven't seen the same thing on other internet forums and blogs focused on anime.

So yeah, I'm talking about the anime fan community as a whole.

Originally Posted by Dextro

That makes sense. It's a shame that more people didn't stumble upon the show though because I truly believe it to be one of the finer examples of the genre.

I agree. Tari Tari was a very well-made and enjoyable show. Definitely at the high end for me amongst PA Works shows.

[Tyabann]

I liked Tari Tari until I watched Manabi Straight, which has a similar story but executes it much, much better.
Few people seem to have seen it though, unfortunately.

[NoemiChan]

I dislike Tari-Tari since it's like a musical series... I find it corny... But I appreciated the drama, and hope for more romance though it's like impossible...

[totoum]

Originally Posted by Dextro

That's a good question, been wondering the same myself. Anidb doesn't list him on anything other than Tari Tari and the Professor Layton movie.

He did the latest crayon shin-chan movie that came out this spring, I figure he might storyboard a Nagiasu storyboard at some point

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Well, PA Works gets a fair bit of attention on this forum, but I haven't seen the same thing on other internet forums and blogs focused on anime.

Originally Posted by Haak

From my understanding, most of the attention Tari Tari initially got was from the HSI audience and general fans of PA works? By built in audience, are we just talking about this forum?

PA Works is well liked and popular on MAL too, though you should take it with a grain of salt considering series like Sword Art Online and Oreimo and the like are well liked there as well.

But if you have a look at Theron Martin and Bamboo Dong from ANN, you'll see they see PA Works very favourably. And this is from a website that is infamous for "hating" or being very critical of moe, so they are definitely doing something right. I mean have a look at some of Bamboo Dong's reviews.

I agree. Tari Tari was a very well-made and enjoyable show. Definitely at the high end for me amongst PA Works shows.

It definitely is one of PA Work's better series and an example of where execution trumps ambition unless ambition is also coupled with great execution which is very rare.

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

I liked Tari Tari until I watched Manabi Straight, which has a similar story but executes it much, much better.
Few people seem to have seen it though, unfortunately.

I saw it a long time ago. It was okay for its time, though I have no idea why you are comparing the two considering that is a moe comedy and Tari Tari is more of a character drama that happens to have moe in it. And if we were to talk about best moe comedies, then one of my votes would go to Minami-ke season 1.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Thanks to ultimategaex's twitter feed for this:

YouTube

https://youtu.be/dRllTj-rVIw

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

But why the heck would you let Nano.ripe perform live

[totoum]

@ 4:38: epic Ayahi is epic

Maybe they just didn't show it in the trailer but I was disappointed in not seeing sphere singing the 1st HSI ED

[Kirarakim]

Uchouten Kazoku is my only definite favorite from this studio. It also seems very different from everything else they did.

Another started out good but became a disappointment
Angel Beats was enjoyable but had too many major flaws to be truly something special
Dropped Hanasaku Iroha after the 3rd episode.
Dropped Red Data Girl

Have not seen the others.

I am enjoying Nagi Asakura a lot but it's too early to say what my final feelings will be and as much as I am enjoying I still highly doubt it will reach Uchouten Kazoku levels of excellence.

[Lord of Fire]

Originally Posted by Pocari_Sweat

But why the heck would you let Nano.ripe perform live

Maybe because they performed the majority of the songs for Hanasaku Iroha?

Besides, what's wrong with nano.RIPE?

[Archon_Wing]

It sounds all nasaly and shit.

The rest of the songs were awesome. Sono Mama no Boku de is the great insert song to the best (or worst if you don't go that way) scene in True Tears, and of course the power rangers song.

[Haak]

nano.RIPE? The singing could be better but it's generally tolerable. I love their music though. Saibou Kioku is my favourite.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Anyone know what the song that starts from 5:59 is? I don't recall hearing it from anywhere let alone a PA works related show. Extra from an image album maybe?

[ultimatemegax]

Concert track listing (spoilers for those who want to be surprised when they watch the rip):

Spoiler:

01. Reflectie - true tears opening
02. Aburamuji no Uta - true tears insert song
03. Sekai no Namida - true tears ending
04. Prism Sign - true tears 3rd anniversary song
05. Sono Mama no Boku de - true tears episode 10 ending theme
06. sympathetic world - True Tours Nanto theme song
07. Kimi no Inryoku - True Tours Nanto theme song
08. Paslaptis - True Tours Nanto theme song
09. Hana no Iro - Hanasaku Iroha opening
10. Patricia - Hanasaku Iroha image song
11. Hazy - Hanasaku Iroha ending
12. Hanasaku Iroha - Hanasaku Iroha second ending
13. Omokage Warp - Hanasaku Iroha second opening
14. Yumeji - Hanasaku Iroha episode 8/26 ending
15. Kage Fumi - Hanasaku Iroha Home Sweet Home theme song
16. Dreamer - Tari Tari opening
17. goin' my way! - Tari Tari insert song
18. Kokoro no Senritsu - Tari Tari insert song/episode 2 ending
19. Nettou Hero Ganbaraiger - Tari Tari insert song
20. Tabidachi no Uta - Tari Tari drama CD ending
21. Reflectie - true tears opening (choral version from Tari Tari)
22. Kokoro no Senritsu - Tari Tari insert song/episode 6 ending
23. radiant melody - Tari Tari episode 13 ending
24. utopia - Original song
25. Shiokaze no Harmony - Tari Tari ending

Preview track listing:
0:00-0:34 - Reflectie - true tears opening
0:35-1:00 - Sekai no Namida - true tears ending
1:01-1:42 - Sono Mama no Boku de - true tears episode 10 ending theme
1:42-2:14 - Hana no Iro - Hanasaku Iroha opening
2:14-3:00 - Hanasaku Iroha - Hanasaku Iroha second ending
3:00-3:25 - Dreamer - Tari Tari opening
3:25-3:50 - goin' my way! - Tari Tari insert song
3:51-4:22 - Kokoro no Senritsu - Tari Tari insert song/episode 2 ending
4:23-4:58 - Nettou Hero Ganbaraiger - Tari Tari insert song
4:58-5:32 - Reflectie - true tears opening (choral version from Tari Tari)
5:32-5:58 - string instrumental of Shiokaze no Harmony - Tari Tari ending (will have more BGM in full version)
5:59-6:29 - utopia - Original song
6:29-7:04 - Shiokaze no Harmony - Tari Tari ending